Happy Al Fin! Friday, everyone.

Rodrigo y Gabriela are playing tonight at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, my hometown. Until I saw the item in the paper, I had not heard of this acoustic, energetic duo from Mexico City. Just watched a few of their videos. Awesome. The new album is called 11:11.

The Washington Post used the words “contrived”; “flacid”; and “exhausted conventions” in reviewing Our Family Wedding, the new movie starring America Ferrara and Lance Gross. She’s Latina, he’s African-American and neither of their family’s like the love connection…not that they’re racist or anything. (You going to go watch this?)

More than 800 Irish-American immigrants switched sides and fought for Mexico during the US-Mexican War of 1846–1848. How’s that for a little St. Paddy’s Day trivia? The historical fact, mostly overlooked in U.S. history books but honored in Mexico, is the basis of a collaboration between Ry Cooder (of Buena Vista Social Club fame) and Celtic superstars, The Chieftains. The album, San Patricio, was released this week and you can preview the songs on Amazon.

And now, a little good reads link love…
Faithful Provisions, fabulous, frugal living and sweet deals blog.
Striving Bean, talk about a niche food blog! But, there is than frijoles. Promise.
It is time for spring cleaning and decluttering, si? Check out Tanna at Compete Organizing Solutions for tips.
Beauty, art, family, inspiration via The Shutter Sisters.

Enjoy!

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Mira, Mira: El Buzz and Link Love
2. Weekend Link Love
3. Mira, Mira: Dora, Salma and Veggie Cuban

It is happy Hurry Up Spring Friday. Hope you are someplace warm today.

It is Women’s History Month. Let’s start off with a little inspiration: “There is no social-change fairy. There is only change made by the hands of individuals.” – Winona LaDuke.

Here are some ideas for celebrating and honoring the women who have touched your life, and inspiring young women in your life.

Dora has a Happy Birthday
Dora the Explorer turns 10 this year and Nickelodeon plans to celebrate by launching a campaign to help prepare children for school. The celebration launch happened this past week with Salma Hayek Pinault reading a Dora storybook to young children.

Que corazon, esa Salma. The official site, dora beyond the backpack.com, launches next month.

Speaking of reading
Read to your nenes, por favor
Lee y Serás, an early literacy program created by Scholastic. It includes a curriculum for families and child care providers, with plenty of free tips and ideas for creating strong readers and writers.

The site is in both Spanish and English and reminds us to do everything from reading before bed, to visiting the library to storytelling with parents and family. You can can find tips for mixing education into everyday moments.

At the site, if you click on the contents section and head to “Story Time” you’ll find the Spanish and English versions of two great children’s books, Mice and Beans and The Night Eater and you can click “Where we Are” and find free workshops in several U.S. cities.

Why does this matter? Only 14% of Latino fourth graders can read at, or above, basic or advanced grade levels, according to stats the site quotes.

That’s just not right, gente. And, given the projected growth of Hispanics in America, getting Latino children to read — and comprehend — is vital to community well-being and the country’s vitality.

Stuck inside? Organize.
It has been a very long winter, si? Cooped up and feeling cramped with all the cosas in the casa? Good tips from Cristina Acosta at Latina Style.

And now, some fun and food
From the Miami Herald: “Christina Gomez-Pina declared her intention: ”I’m going to tackle Nitza Villapol’s Cocina al Minuto — yes, the Cuban Julia Child’s guide to Cuban cooking — from cover to cover.”

Villapol was the Cuban Betty Crocker, a longtime television personality and the author of the timeless 1951 classic, Cocina al Minuto (”Instant Cooking”).

You can follow Christina’s Julie & Julia-like experiment at the Moms Miami site. Be sure to look at the Pescado en salsa verde recipe.

If you’re willing to give up some meat, try visiting Vegetarian Times, which has a spicy sancocho recipe we’re trying around here this week. Or, if you want to make Nitza poke you from beyond, try this meatless Cuban pressed sandwich.

Blood Orange Caramels with Toasted Almonds and Sea Salt. Oh, si. Did you just fall out of your chair? Visit the supremely talented MattBites for the recipe and for some drooling. (At least reading isn’t calories.)

Happy weekend and feel free to share what you’re reading this week.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Mira, Mira: El Buzz and Link Love
2. Con Pilas: Daisy and Dora
3. Tween Dora is on the way

Happy Viva Viernes everybody. Some cool stuff we’ve discovered this week, and recommended sites you can knock around in during the weekend.

Houston, we’ve discovered a Texas food blog
There are 109 comments on this Carnitas, Houston Style recipe from Homesick Texan. Oh goodness, please go see this recipe and this site. And then check out the breakfast tacos and oh goodness, then the Mexican pancakes with coconut. It all almost makes me want to go to Texas.

And food in Vancouver
Speaking of food, a well-traveled friend is in Vancouver for the Olympics and instead of regular reports on medals and athletes, what I have heard non-stop is how well he is eating — everything from Malay to Chinese to Indian. So, here are some Vancouver food blogs if you’re ever headed that way: Nancyland; Ethnic Eats; Chow Times;  Urban Foodie Blog. Buen Provecho, Aye!

And we’re still talking food
This time, in Chicagoland. Look at this beautiful grocery, Super Mas, that just opened in the New City section of Chicago. It is $6 million worth of a grocery store with a bakery, catering, scratch tortillas and flat screen TVs so nobody misses futbol and novelas. Good luck and happy franchising one day! Pictures here.

A quick hit of news
Americans who trace their ancestry to the Caribbean are pitching the Census bureau to add more race options, given that the Caribbean is multiracial and multiethnic. The story from the LA Times says another group of advocates is asking the Census to allow Mexican-Americans to identify whether they trace their roots to peoples such as the Maya or Mixtec.

America, she is achanging.

And now, the Weekend Link Love

Joscelyn, is the mother of identical twin boys and a pre-teen son. She offers advice and ideas for families with multiples at Mami & the Multiples.

My newest crush is the Hollywood Housewife. Love the blog, the heart and adore the baby girl.

My friend Rebecca is half-Latina. I told her that between the two of us we make one awesome full-blooded Latina. Be sure to look at her children’s book section at Tooth Whale.

Fun and frugal is Jenn Fowler from Frugal Upstate. She’ll teach you how to make snow ice cream, hear that you snowed-in Northeasterners.

Lindsay Maines will remind you that yes, you can rock that minivan. Read her fun at Rock and Roll Mama.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Oye, Mira Mira: Fab Links
2. Weekend Link Love
3. Weekend Link Love

So, how about a regular round-up for World Wide Web fabulousness?

OK, vamos. There’s too much wonderful out there not to share.

From my friend Leisa Hammett, who blogs on writing, art and autism, I discovered this video. Beautiful and inspiring, it was created by the novelist Katherine Center for the Mom 2.0 Summit, going on now in Houston. (Click the headline link if you can’t see the video.)

Center beautifully wrote:

“I have watched you sleep. I’ve kissed you a million times. And I know something that you don’t, yet:
You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day.
And my greatest hope for you, sweet child, is that I can teach you how to write a good one.”

You can see all the words that accompany the video on her site.

I met Cathe Holden a couple of weeks ago at a blog conference, Blissdom, and was delighted to learn she was the owner of a blog I had stumbled on and loved, Just Something I Made. Cathe is a graphic artist in Northern California. She posts about her work, her craft projects and she offers a lot of free downloads. I love her Gift Making Guide…easy, wonderful, hand-made ideas. The whole thing, actually, is amazing. Go see.

Selena Cate from Apron Thrift Girl, also attended the same conference and when she told me she lived in Sonoma County, Ca., I wanted to hear more. My husband grew up there, so I’ve had a chance to spend time in the wine country and love it. Selena told me there is good thrifting there. I had no idea. Her blog catalogs simple, frugal, thrifty living, plus crafts and things to do in the area. It is a beautiful site. I’ve enjoyed her recipes and this Valentine Burlap Banner idea.

Are you subscribing to Groupon yet? If not, let me tell you, it is awesome. Really great deals in your local area, like $10 coupons for $20 worth of food at local restaurants, deep discounts on photo shoots, services and more. Mucho mas.

George Duran is from Venezuela, host of TLC’s Ultimate Cake Off, and spokesman for Hunt’s tomatoes. He cooked a beautiful eggplant parm rolls at Blissdom and everyone’s mouth watered. (Even if you don’t like eggplant, you’ll like this).

Duran also has been on Food Network and MTV. Over on the Food Network, his recipes include Caramels with Salmon Roe. Whoa. And there is also this dessert, Chocolate Soup, which includes all of my favorite ingredients: sweetened condensed milk, chocolate and raspberries.

OK, finally, if you want some real sweetness, click over to Marta’s My Big Fat Cuban Family and read about her nearly 96-year-old mother, Luz, who is heading to Cuba to reunite with her siblings who are 99, 93, 90 and 87. It will warm your heart…and maybe, just maybe, make you wish for the Cuban longevity gene.

Happy Fin de Semana, y’ all…and if you have discovered some World Wide Web fantastics, feel free to share in the comments.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

No related posts.

Lilliana Vazquez of Cheap Chicas

The Tiki Tiki loves connecting readers with writers, artists, news, entertainment y corazon. We like our bote lleno, you know.

So, to start 2010 off in the spirit of connecting Latinas to Latinas and Everyone Else in El Mundo, here are some blogs we’ve recently discovered and are loving. The writers are smart, talented and inspiring.

Just like our readers.

Muchas cosas buenas to all…and be sure to check out our blogroll. Each of these sites will be added so you can keep up with them easily.

Maceo Nafisah Cabrera Estévez is a Brooklyn-raised Cuban-American writer with heart and opinions. Her writing, published in a variety of publications, is lovely and lyrical and honest we are hoping she posts something new soon. Her blog is called Dripping River Water.

Lilliana Vazquez of Cheap Chicas is really no cheap chica. The Mexican and Puerto Rican stylist and reporter just knows you can get looks for less. And, her blog shows you how too. She has regular features like “Cheap or Chic” and “Look For Less” and there are regular links over to her picks on Shop Style, a new addiction for your style-seeking editor.

We like Liz over at It’s Unbeweavable. She’s a former make-up artist who does PR and marketing and makes us wish we were 26 again. Fashion, fun, honesty, with a little cursing on the side.

Erin of CaliVintage, is 26, a California girl, and lover of fashion and vintage. Go look at the pictures she takes of herself in outfits she styles and then go look at all the places around the Web where she has connected. Smart, modern girl. And, check out her giveaways, especially if you like vintage.

The description at Previously Owned is “A place for art, music, FASHION & Random Outrage.” We can get behind that, especially when it’s mainly cool fashion, Etsy finds, giveaways, and discount codes to high fashion. The site is owned by Yarin “Fi.” Figueroa of San Juan, Puerto Rico, who just opened a brick-n-mortar store by the same name on la isla.

At the Latina Beauty Blog, Claudia — a natural beauty — gives us the details about products and trends, especially as they apply to Latinas.  We’re a fan of the categories that tell us which products are free of the scary and toxic chemicals.

Tracy Iglesias posts inspirations and reflections on her site, Ascending Butterfly. There are reminders to live in gratitude, aligning ourselves with our intentions, letting go. And, of course, giveaways.

Meet Jennifer from Mami 2 Mommy, a Peruvian New Yorker living in Georgia. We’ve met her, and she rocks it. Mothering, reviews, notes, sales, giveaways.

Clementina at Taza de Chocolate writes about comforting, traditional Mexican foods — just like Abuelita used to make. We love when she posts and we especially love her for this Mexican Paletas recipe.

Anamaris promises to add new themes to her blog, Chef it Yourself. Things like chef tips such as prepping techniques; dishes inspired by just three ingredients; photo posts; and foodie guest posts. Her recent recipes have been mouth-watering: Shrimp and Grits; her version of Pollo Loco and yes, Ham Biryani. She does clearly state her food love is all over the map. We like that.

Missy Diaz writes the Groovy Vegetarian, a site about vegetarianism and eco-friendly lifestyle. If you are thinking about giving up the lechon, visit Missy and get a glimpse of the community she’s created.

And, if you really want change from all those asados and cosas fritas, check out Miranda Martinez, who lost 66 pounds when she went raw vegan. She posts mainly to her Twitter stream, but you can find links to her other sites from there.

Claudia at Handmade Con Amor makes cool and beautiful stuff — clothes for herself, and her children. Sometimes, she gives you instructions. The pictures on her site are warm and colorful and after a visit there, we wish we knew her. Her blog is written in English and Spanish.

Do you like looking at artists’ web pages? Getting inspiration, deals and freebies? We do too. Go meet Valentina Ramos, a Venezuelan living in Miami. Her art is beautiful and happy and fun. She also was kind enough to offer a free 2010, downloadable calendar called “This Will be My Year.”

So, here’s to a great 2010, with lots of love and new amigas…

(Special thanks to the sites, Blogadera and Blogs by Latinas for always keeping us in the loop).

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Meet the Latinas
2. Your Virtual Plaza
3. Top Latino Businesses and Frugal Finds

Today’s el buzz is about the online sites where you can connect with Latinos all over the country and world. (Besides, el Tiki Tiki, of course.)

We’ve noticed several sites have revamped and some have recently grown very fast and we want to share them with you to keep you en todas.

A new Facebook group, Wise Latinas Linked, is about connecting Latina women to network and inspire. It has grown very quickly and was recently written about in USA Today. There’s lots of good energy there and more than 2,300 members.

La Blogadera has just launched its most recent and most wonderful incarnation and is one of the best places to go look for interesting blogs, businesses and Latinos hanging out on Twitter.

Twitteros is a Ning community that will offer up some cool gente to connect with as well.

Keep an eye over at Latism, for they will be posting a Latino blog directory pronto and on Thursday nights — tonight — you can find a #latism party on Twitter. (Hmmm? Grey’s Anatomy or a virtual pachanga?)

And last, but not least, Latina Lista, has redesigned and relaunched, adding “Hometown News” and “Linking Latinas” to the mix.

Happy web surfiando.

Did we miss any other good ones?

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Meet the Latinas
2. Your Typical Latina
3. Weekend Link Love

Self Portait with Tiaras by Carol Cain, right.

I got a lot out of going to Blogalicious — the blogging conference for women of color. Especially great were the connections made with other Latinas whose work I have read but whom I had never met. I could go on and on about them, and the conference.

So, it is my pleasure to introduce you to bloggers I met this weekend — all women I wish I could han-geh-arr with in person, regularly.

Xochitl Gonzalez is a New York City-based wedding planner with a great name. The blog, Always a Blogsmaid, is a treat too.  I have been married nearly 17 years, and still drool over wedding pictures of dresses, cakes and flowers. (I cry at every single wedding, so being a planner would not work for me.)

Veronica Arreola writes at Viva La Feminista, the space where she offers a Latina, feminist perspective on the news and culture. Veronica is of Mexican descent. She’s smart, interesting, from Chicago, and was just featured in Ms. magazine.

If you have a cultural, or complejo, problem with using coupons, get over it, nena. Frugal is the new Fab. Hang out with Yoly from Cuponeando, who works tirelessly to help you learn the game. Yoly is based in Atlanta with her gringo husband. The site has an English version too.

I know Ms. Latina’s name, but she goes only by the moniker. La Ms. Latina, a New Yorker, blogs about beauty, fashion, health, money, reviews, giveaways, you name it, at Latina on a Mission. She’s a hoot.

Jennifer from Mami2Mommy is a Peruvian, New Yorker transplanted to Atlanta. She writes about motherhood, culture, reviews and recently became executive director of BabySpot Atlanta. She also has a super cute baby.

Boni Candelario is a career strategist who writes at Coach’m Up. Her tag line: “Know your value. When you believe it. You can sell it.” Don’t we all need to know someone like Boni during these hard days? She’s Puerto Rican, by the way.

I have been reading Aliza Sherman for many years. It started when I landed on her blog, Baby Fruit and I soon learned she has a wealth of web knowledge, she’s a great writer and this weekend, when I watched her dance non-stop at a Blogalicious party, I learned she has a Mexican abuelita.

Rachel Linares of Hyland’s, the homeopathic brand, can be found via Twitter, @comienzos, talking about Latinos and homeopathics. (I don’t know about the rest of you, but my grandmas believed tilo and cocimientos fixed everything.) Rachel has the best eyebrows ever.

Carol Cain of NY City Mama, pictured up there with me, writes about New York and travel. She’s a dominicana nuyorquina who has an MBA in International Relations and I’d give her a doctorate, or above, in Smart and Fabulous. Carol, who was the official Blogalicious photographer, recently wrote this essay for the Tiki Tiki.

Sandie writes about “entertainment, motherhood, and grief,” on her site, Urban Mama. Sandie’s Mami passed away last year and Sandie has written some really heart-warming and beautiful posts about Mami.

And, here is an Honorary Latina: Christie Crowder swears she’s not Puerto Rican. But, I say there is a boriqua hiding in her family tree somewhere. Christie’s blog is My Life…a work in Progress and she co-owns the Blogrollers, a social media company. She has chispa.

Next year in Miami, Latinas?

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Blogalicious: Celebrating Women of Color
2. Contribute to the Tiki Tiki
3. The Wedding Mantilla: Fading Cultural Connection?

There is not much more beautiful than a woman who knows her mind, follows her heart and speaks her truth.

I met dozens of such women this weekend at Blogalicious, a blogging conference for women of color. It was an impressive rainbow.

First, the organizers: They did a great job of pulling off a first and of creating a space that was about growth and truth, while addressing the messy and somewhat complicated business that blogging can be.

They are the Mamas of MamaLaw . They’re attorneys by profession and awesome by nature, let me tell you.

Before I left for Atlanta a friend e-mailed me to say I was one lucky chica because I would meet a favorite of hers — Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks. Indeed, she was mind-blowing and her blog is a visual dish of delight and peace.

Karen’s upcoming book is “The Beauty of Different’‘ and when she spoke at Blogalicious, she said to us: “That something different, actually is our superpower.”

She had us laughing, and thinking. She will do the same for you.

Denene Millner and I spoke on the telephone on bloggy matters a few weeks ago and we instantly connected. So, it was my delight to meet her in person. During the closing session, she read an essay about her mom, who passed away, and had us crying from the first sentence.

Denene is a former reporter, a popular author and ghost writer who blogs at MyBrownBaby and also at Parenting.com. Go meet her.

I saw this tall, beautiful woman across the room just before a break-out session started. She was in a black dress and a huge multi-string of white pearl beads. I had to go over and tell her she was somethin’ somethin.’ And, then I learned her blog name was The Broke Socialite. Let me tell you, there ain’t nothing that looks broke about Shameeka Ayers.

Stefania Pomponi Butler, author of City Mama and Kimchi Mamas, kicked off Blogalicious with a reading of a post she wrote a couple of years ago asking marketers why they don’t seek out women of color in the same way they work with white bloggers. That post, and Kimchi Mamas helped inspire the birth of Tiki Tiki, by the way, so imagine my joy at getting to shake her hand.

I am exactly twice the age of Corvida Raven, which freaked me out a little. If I could grab all she knows and combine it with all I think I know (at 42), wow, would I be one powerful woman.  If you’re into tech, net, geek, stuff, she’s the one to follow and read.

There will be more on these pages about the awesome Latinas of Blogalicious on posts later this week, and more about the panel I was on (The Pitfalls and Possibilities of You on the Net) over at Bilingual in the Boonies.

In the meantime, visit these women. You will be richly rewarded.

And, get ready for next year. Blogalicious 2010 will be in Miami. Babalu!

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Powerful Women: Running Countries and Dominating Your Fall TV
2. The Drama of Old Women and Little Girls
3. B as in Beauty. Pretty pretty.

Summer has finally made it’s arrival!  Hopefully you’ll be enjoying the beach or a BBQ with friends.  For those moments you sneak inside to cool off, here are some refreshing links.

• Our family’s summer is filled with birthdays so this season is filled with many celebrations and lots of singing.  This post might have us singing a new song.

Looks like we’re a damn happy people!

The Hispanic youth market can’t be ignored.

If you’re looking for a good summer read, this book is on my must read list.

If you’re a blogger, then this carnival is for you.

My mami has always been a lucha libre fan so this would look great in her room.  A Christmas gift, maybe?

Apparently, some Latinas are nuts.

Here is another book for your summer reading list if you’re all about the Chica lit.

Be sure you sign up on the Tiki Tiki to win a copy of America Libre, a new book by Raul Ramos y Sanchez, that has won rave reviews.

Alright, now you tell me.  What should I be reading?

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Weekend Link Love
2. Weekend Link Love
3. Weekend Link Love

Aqui estamos otra vez! The start of another weekend but this one a long one.  Since most folks will be enjoying an extra long fin de semana, this is a hefty round up of good reads from around the web.  Whether you’re going to a BBQ or the beach or just enjoying a cold one on your stoop, take it easy and savor the moment!

• My Spanish and your Spanish and fulanito’s Spanish may not be the same Spanish. Here’s a what I mean.
• Univision is doing something right!
• Here’s an interesting read on Latinos and social medi
• Check this, this and this out.  What are your thoughts on the Walter Lara case?
• Can social media really help you learn another language? This article offers some great links if you’re looking to improve your Spanish (or learn a new language).
• If you’re like me and raising your kids to speak Spanish and English, you’ll appreciate these free language resources.
• The hip shaking, belly dancing diva is back.
• Assimilation is not the road to having a happy teen.
• Are you a fan of HBO’s Entourage?  Check out this casting makeover with a little sabor.

******* We want to know your story! Share your cuentos, videos and fotos about growing up, and living Latino, in the U.S.How to contribute to the Tiki Tiki.Come on, no seas penosa!

Un poquito mas:

1. Weekend Link Love
2. Weekend Link Love
3. Weekend Link Love