BB Blabs 'Bout 'Buela- Show 2 w/ @AbuelaDeMiami @Juanis111

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!!!

Show 2 of BB Blabs 'Bout 'Buela just wrapped up, y no por na' but it was BUENISIMO!!!

You know how it is when you get together with friends, the time just goes by bolando.  If you've been reading Babushka's blog you're no stranger to Janie Flores. She's been a member of Bloggin' Mamas for years now. Together we've been to Woman Executive Events, Carnaval Miami, and numerous Ford y Hispanicize events. Pero this was the first time we actually got to have a conversation for more than 15 mins, and if we could have kept going it would have been much longer than the 30 we taped. Especially since it was about our favorite subject, Grandchildren.


Now don't be thinking that's ALL we talked about, los abuelos of today are into many things and can speak and do more than that. Matter of fact, Janie's schedule and interests are impressive - tv production, real estate, organizing empowerment tours to Israel, oh si, the topics were so varied that at times it seemed the shows Grandparent premise was forgotten. JU SO FONII!!! Go ahead and see for yourself how abuelos and their importance is ever present.

BUENISIMO verdad??!!??!! Como abuelos, this is our legacy, to show future generations that advancing age does not equal diminishing worth, one never gives up or stops dreaming.  The lessons of our abuelos are not just part of our past; they also shape our present and future. And BB's still got a lot of shaping to do.


Gracias to Janie for being such a great guest, who will have to visit the show again because you 30 minutes wasn't enough. Es mas, here are her social media info/handles because after you've seen the video, Babushka KNOWS you're gonna want to know more and follow all her projects.

Feibu :

@BuenaVidaMedia

@MiamiAlMaximo

@AbuelaDeMiami

@AmoraIsrael

Tweety:

@BuenaVidaMedia

@MiamiAlMaximo

@AbuelaDeMiami

@juanis111

Instagram:

@jflores111

#AmoraIsrael

Hope to see you next Sunday at 9:30 pm ET Beautifuls!

BB Blabs 'Bout 'Buela - 

Where Grandparents Gloat & Grandkids Remember

Have a memory you'd like to share? Babushka looks forward to your stories.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen

Summer of the Gypsy Wagon - #Familia #FloridaKeys #Ford

@Ford_Southeast lent Babushka & Sweetie the Ford Transit, but the story, opinions and memories are totally our own.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!!

BB can hear y’all now. “Summer?? Pero Babushka, it’s fall!! Talk about running Cubantime!!!” 

Ok si, we’re now nearing Thanksgiving and there’s a nip in the air. That’s exactly why this memory came to mind.

Unlike the lower part of our beloved state, Up North in The South starts to have a season change in November and the temperatures really can dip.  Around now, when we start to plan out the menu for Thanksgiving, we also start to look back at the events of the year and begin our fond recollections of the blessings enjoyed till now.  It was actually cold enough this weekend that Sweetie started taking out winter clothing, and the memories of the year's summer adventure came out with them.

“You remember the great time we had at the Keys hun?”  “The Gypsy wagon was a beaut wasn’t it? Wouldn’t mind going on another trip with her.”   “You know, we really could camp out in her with no problem at all. Now wouldn’t that be great?”

Quee? Esta bien, it didn't have all those BB markings on it, but it did have the following that made it feel like ours.

Vieron to' eso Beautifuls? Chargers in the back, in the front, cup holders all over too!! Y con BB you KNOW you have to have all those little compartment spaces for the various pamphlets, cameras, cell phone, tablets... things we all carry everyday. The Gypsy Wagon was a diesel and mas que amplio, so it was ready for any clase de trip we'd ask of her. Roomy, spacious, note the amount of trunk space,the bags fit comfortably- and so did Sweetie!! Look at that smile on him. Midiendo 6'4" there aren't many vehicles he can stand straight in.

To tell the truth Beautifuls, when we first saw the Ford Transit, we were "OMAIGAA, it's a bus!" Babushka had expected the midsize version, pero knowing we were going to visitar The Grands they sent the grande. Believe it or not, when we decided to go ahead and drive, it drove like any other car!! Unbelievable pero cierto. Matter of act, es mas, BB forgot it wasn't regular size and nicked it on the top in a parking garage. Also unbelievable, pero cierto. Quee? JU SO FONII!!! Ok si, maybe not so unbelievable.

Oh, what fun adventures we had in the Gypsy Wagon!! From mid state Lake Wales, to Miami, down to the Florida Keys, back through Miami and then ending at Lake Wales again. TREMENDO VIAJE y TREMENDO TRANSIT!!

Just a sampling of what's to come.

BB2U

Warriors in Pink- Pa' lante con La Pelea ! A Giveaway and Gracias.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!!

Como saben, BB is part of Una Familia Pa' Ford, but what you may not know is how many ways Ford helps the familia of (wo)man too.  For over 20 years Ford has donated 100% of the net proceeds of their Warriors in Pink program to help against the Breast Cancer Battle. 

"From raising funds through our Warriors in Pink apparel, to raising awareness through unique media content, to giving breast cancer patients and survivors more good days – we are always looking for ways to help people go further. - See more at: http://www.warriorsinpink.ford.com/?fmccmp=150428-bca-wipmoregooddays#sthash.wVjGuamc.dpuf "

This is a personal twofer post for Babushka.  When I approached the Ford PR company and asked for items for a giveaway, they knew of my mother's passing from cancer (the first one she had was breast cancer) and graciously gave me these items, to share them and the message with my Beautifuls.

Mi madre would have loved these items. The colors, the fashion, vibrancy and life asserting hues are exactly the message behind Warriors In Pink. And now you can help share in the celebration of life and the lucha of surviving.  There will be 3 winners of the following:

TShirt

Tie

Bandana

Pashmina style scarf/wrap

Ford Tote

BB modeling el  Pashmina style scarf y el Bello Fern Senra of Moore Communications 

who facilitated the wonderful giveaway. 

Entry-Form

Life affirming, message carrying, these items make statements on all types of levels.

Buena Suerte Beautifuls!

BB2U

And if you think this is the only way place Warriors in Pink estan, JU SO FONII!!!

Twitter  YouTube  Instagram

P.S.  Ford has pensa'o en todo.  

A link of ideas to "Simple acts to give breast cancer patients more good days." - 

See more at: http://www.warriorsinpink.ford.com/more-good-days#sthash.ggUQyBMF.dpuf

Where it All Began... Introductions, A BB Bounceback

Just a sampling of the fun and special moments in the last 4 years.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

The following is BB's first blog post; it was written on August 3, 2011. Si Beautifuls, it's been 4 años. Wow and Woah. A lot has happened in the course of those years. The family has gotten older, there have been marriages and there are new grandbabies. Mucho memories made and new friends along the way.  For those dancing for the first time with Babushka, hope you enjoy BB's dance steps, and for those who are regulars on the dance card- A BAILAR SE HA DICHO!!

Hola- or as we say around here, "Howdy".  Yep, Babushka's in "The South", which is funny if you think about it, because I spent most of my life in South Florida (Miami) which is further South than here, yet it's NEVER considered part of "The South".  North Havana maybe, but never "The South".  But I go off topic... get used to it- it's one of my many talents.

Babushka, full name Bohemian Babushka, BB if I like you, or THE Bohemian Babushka if I don't, has had in my 49 years, 2 marriages, 2 divorces, ____ lovers (being presently in "The South" I fall back on the Southern Belle's code of propriety and leave that blank, instead of a Miami "¿ Y Santa quien? )  many jobs, many businesses, many heartaches, but many heart sings as well.  Of course my Number One heart sings are my children.  Si, they also gave me heartache, but we all made it through puberty so, why dwell on that?  Borron y cuenta nueva.  My trio are my rocks- ok, at times rocks in/at the head, but again- why dwell on that?  My rocks, my reason for being (being crazy- sorry, beginning to dwell on that), my joys my true loves.  Until the grandchildren came into the picture.  Not that my trio aren't my true loves anymore, it's just that grandbabies are so tiny, so precious, and still so far away from puberty.  Ok, I'm dwelling- ever heard of shellshock?

Grandbabies- I've got 4 so far.  I say "so far"  because my eldest ( a 26 yr old beauty) has 2- a boy and a girl.; my son (a 25 yr old ex-Marine who has done his mom proud in so many ways)  has 2 boys and my little one (19 yr old intense yet sweet girl/woman who is striking, intelligent, gifted and better not be thinking of making babies yet) are still young enough to add to the family.  But not right now- por fa.  Let BB enjoy people saying "but you look so young to be a grandmother!" a little longer.  While I can still semi believe them.


Babushka has enjoyed this immensely and hopes you will dance with me again.  This has been but a little tease of who I am.  Tease- reminds me of my high school days, but again I'm going off topic. (such talent!) My blog will be on family,being female, being bilingual, being human -while always being brilliant.

And to those who don't understand YOUR brilliance, just look at them, smile, and say-
JU SO FONII !!!

Babushka Besos a todos-  Cuidensen

P.S.  If you've enjoyed this post please go to Facebook and "like" my page.  Mil Gracias.

And with that Beautifuls we started/conclude.  

Hope you've enjoyed the dance and join me in the next one. 

BB2U' All!!!

The Shower for @BabushkasBebe - Blessings All Around. #MundoLanugo #AVENTparents #WinnDixie #Ford

This is BB's thank you card to the wonderful brands who sent gifts for BabushkasBebe baby shower.

Our appreciation can't be expressed enough- though Babushka is certainly gonna try.

BabushkasBebe, La Princesa, Daddys Sweet Science,El Dr.

Pic taken during Baby Shower

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!!

At 1 am Sunday, my daughter Babushkas Bebe went to the hospital with contractions.  Turns out it was a false alarm, but before it becomes the real thing and I'm an abuela for the 5th time, BB thought this would be a good moment to write about the baby shower.  Actually, not so much about the shower as much as the gifts given by some very special folks.

The first to give to the shower was Ford.  

Without them there was no way all the preps, nor the party itself would have been possible.  

Fabi the Fabulosa- and she definitely was!!

Gracias to Fabi, BB was able to get the supplies to make the centerpiece diaper cake. And gracias to blogger friends Ana of +Miami Mommy Savings and Tiffany- +Broward Saves ; through their Tweety Fiesta I was introduced to @WinnDixieLatino who in turn was able to give me a  +winndixiestores gift card.  By the way, talk about a giftcard and place that has so much to offer!! 

So now mi hija and future grandbaby had Kuddles products and a toy, but what about the other necessaries??  Here another blogger bella, Erica aka @MamasMission  introduced BB to the wonderful folks of @AVENT_US .  They were darlings who made sure to send my daughter bottles, pacifiers, and a state of the art baby monitor. 

And for those of you who don't think a baby monitor is a necessity... please read up on La Princesa.

Now the last group of presents come from a company who BB has written about before.  Babushka has personally met and become amigos with the owners of this company and cherishes that friendship.  Upon receiving the gifts my heart was touched and eyes teared.  This is not a big company, yet they shared their cariño and gifted Babushkas Bebe their quality goods, wishing the family and new baby love y bendiciones.  LANUGO

Onesies, Burp Cloths, Baby Lap Tee

Just seeing that video BB knows she's surrounded by bendiciones, by blessings.

My daughter, my child who is happy and looking towards the future.

Companies and Beautifuls who believe in and enjoy Babushka.

To All of you and for All of you.

1000x Gracias

de ♥.

BB2U

P.S.  And if y'all think that's all I'll be writing about the above gifts/companies.  

JU SO FONII!!!

The Fantastic Week w/Fabi La Firey Y Fabulosa #FordFiesta

The Folks at @FordLatino lent Fabi to BB for a week to facilitate this story. 

 All opinions and happenings are strictly Babushka's.

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!

This little cuento was supposed to be on my Tumblr blog, PERO it turned out a lot bigger than first anticipated. Quee?? Ok si, JU SO FONII that seems to be the verdad on most of BB's adventures doesn't it?  Bueno, what was supposed to be un carrito to help Babushka with Babushkas Bebe's baby shower, in reality took BB back to when she was a baby.  Well, not really a baby, but when Bb got her first car at 16.  Bb (that's the adolescent BB) picked a stick shift, manual car for her first set of wheels; it was small, new, and oh the adventures in it! Si, BB got to re live her younger days, only now we're both smarter and looking better- just look at what Ford me presto.

The "we" spoken of is BB and this hot looking Ford Fiesta.  Of course being this hot, Babushka had to name her Fabi La Firey y Fabulosa.  Believe me when I say she definitely deserved the nombre.

The adventures began when the maravillosos de Prestige Auto dropped Fabi off at La Tata's.  

For some reason BB thought the world of stick shifts had stayed still- 

so needless to say, after 30+ years Babushka had a little demora starting things up...

When it was discovered how to turn it on, all was ready for Fabi to fly.

And boy did she fly! Truly took me back to my highschool years.  

Even the part about staying out late...

Friday- Day 2

Day 3

Actually, it went up to 100%, but Fabi was only Firey in color & espiritu- inside she was chillin.

In every sense of the palabra.

Day 4- Babushkas Bebe's Baby Shower

Was so busy,excited, exhausted, that I didn't take any fotos de Fabi. 

 Especially when I lost her keys...

always an adventure with BB.

Anyways, the day was for my daughter.

Bella verdad?

Day 5

Day 6 -Bloggin' Mamas Business

Had a business meeting to attend, and BB thought it perfecto that besides reminding me of younger years, Fabi actually took Babushka to one of my favorite places from those years. 

Hialeah Park 

To say it went well would be an understatement.  To say we look Bella- another understatement.

; ) 

And now we fly fast y furious to business meeting #2.

That one also went well at MMMM Wynwood.

Day 7

Fabi knows Fabulous, so we went to cheer on mi primo @RickyUbeda11.

And si, he truly is my cousin. His bisabuela and La Tata were sisters.

Day 8

#IKEAMIAMI  5 AM

Wow and Woah.  What a week.

Now you know Babushka takes public transportation when in Miami, or gets rides from kind friends;

 there was no way BB could have done most, if not ALL that was accomplished.  

Mil Gracias to @FordLatino for making this all possible.

Fabi- Fuistes Fantastica.

BB2U

p.s.  All grammatical errors on any Instagram photos BB blames on autocorrect. 

Y porque no? Everyone else does.

jehe

Living the Moment- My week with El Dr.

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!

Oh my. It's been so long since I've written that and so much has happened. Life changing events , episodes of chance that in retrospect brought me to this moment. BB danced with social change advocates, went to Ford's Challenge in Michigan, had a major family emergency, and was cut off from my Bloggy Familia for the most part due to other priorities and broken computers.  Boy, when the S Sisters want you to get a message they don't fool around do they?  Babushka will share the other adventures soon, but let's just say there was a lot of re-evaluating and illumination on the roles we play with fellow planet dwellers y what can be accomplished when we believe. And the main lesson: to focus on your actions and the people in your life, especially family. BB was so enriched by this last lesson, spending a week with the eldest grandchild El Dr. , relearning to live with a young child and the precious moments that brings.

In true Babushka style, let's let the heart lead and start at the end.

After a week with my grandson it was time for the bus trip home.  When I first offered him the chance to go w/me he was super excited for the actual bus ride.  He especially looked forward to "room service". We chuckled at his joy, trying to educate him on the hours of travel, how all he'd be doing was looking out the window.  "That's ok" he informed us; "I like looking at trees."

But that was before the week with Babushka- all for him. I hadn't really spent quality time with him since they moved back to Miami 5 years ago and every moment of the week I realized how much I had missed. On the final day in "Crosswordville" (his prononuciation of Crawfordville), BB crammed in going to the local beach w/Grandpa Sweetie and the dog, the library, the "gift" shop (actually it was a thrift shop, but it was so cute that he called it that I couldn't correct him), and playing an old fashioned video game.  In the end, it was video games that saved the day because only the promise of unlimited IPad playing cheered him as the hour to leave came closer.

That hour came much too quickly for us both, and running Cubantime My Alter Ego was on full steam.  Poor El Dr. was so kerplexed he looked her straight in the face and said- "You're stressing me."  QueQue??? HE SO FONII!!!  You know BB had to take over at that point! Between Grandpa Sweetie's guffaws and him assuring the child that that's what women do to speed up their hombres, Babushka had to smile and savor another moment of sabiduria that the child shared with us.

And the lessons continued.  Remember that El Dr. is the gentle child who loves those younger than he.

Seems like children his age "stress him out" too, but he definitely knows his way around adults.

Running Cubantime we were not the first ones to board, as a matter of fact, by the time we boarded there were no two empty seats together.  

Not waiting for Babushka, El Dr. looks at a gentleman and says,

 "Excuse me sir.  Could you please sit in another seat?  My grandmother and I would like to ride together."

No se which was bigger- my open eyes or my proud smile, but we got to sit together.

The rest of the ride was uneventful.  Babushka had chosen a late nite departure/early arrival bus.  Queee?? JU SO FONII!!! Ok si, it had been quite awhile since I had little ones, but some tricks are unforgettable.  In the few hours that he was awake he played with the IPad to his heart's content, snacked from BB's overflowing Poppa Bag, and planned what to do in his return visit to "Tala HA si"- because the visit was too quick. 

So was this bus ride.

Lessons:

Find joy in each moment- but don't rush them.

Don't forget to love those who will bring you no apparent advantage.

Speak your wants with respect and sincerity- you'll likely receive them.

Never underestimate the memories of a grandmother.

Never underestimate the powers of a grandchild.

Oh si, living again with children- the precious moments it can bring and the growth in those moments. 

Even for the children.

; )  

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  No, this was not a sponsored post, pero Greyhound and Apple IPad are siempre welcome to change that.

With ♥ - Con Corazon at Hispanicize 2013

There are many aspects of a blogger's association with sponsors. The first post BB wrote on Hispanicize 2013 was about pitching- that's the body, the physical.  The second post was the fun, the song, the soul.  But it's incomplete without the heart.  As Babushka's said before, it must be "with heart, from the heart."  This post is to thank the sponsors who showed their caring side, the corazon of giving to others because they can and believe sincerely that they should.

Coca-Cola,  The Adelante Movement 

The Wisdom of Latino Legends

To believe that one's dreams are attainable, and that one is worthy of those dreams-That is Empowerment. Y eso is what The Adelante Movement tries to instill in Latinas.  This year we were privileged to hear from "Latina Living Legends".  Believe BB when I say this title given to these marvelous mujeres was not in vain.  They all came from humble backgrounds, faced adversities and made national/international names for themselves. Everyone in the audience was in awe and in love with all the ladies.  Quee?? JU SO FONII!!! Of course I'll show who they were.  

Rita Moreno, Charo, Maria Elena Toraño

In a future post Babushka will get into more details & pics, but for now 

you can read the fabulous post by mi amiga Ezzy Guerrero-Languzzi who graciously let BB use this picture.

 Ford w/ their Driving Dreams Through Education

foto via the Ford en Español Feibu Page

This program is geared to helping young Latinos strive for a better future through education.  

"the Ford Driving Dreams through Education grants offer LULAC Councils the opportunity to develop projects 

that address high school dropout prevention in the Latino community"

Next, a little closer to home.  

Hispanicize Digital

In memory and honor of Hispanicize co-founder Louis Pagan, an educational fund was started for his two girls.  Not a dry eye was left in the house when P & G announced it would match the starting $5,000 donation for the children.  The full article is here. Donations are still accepted and greatly appreciated- https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/1972/louispaganmemorialfund .

The last sponsor Babushka will thank follows the belief BB has in her daily mid day Gigasecond of Gratitude.  There is something bigger than us the individual, call that what you may, and amidst all the commotion and craziness of a conference it's nice to be reminded of this.  Quietly and sincerely it declares- 

I am Second/ Yo soy Segundo. 

I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others.

Especially touching to BB was the video w/Scott Hamilton sharing his story.

http://www.iamsecond.com/es/seconds/scott-hamilton-2/

"The only true disability in life is a bad attitude."

And isn't it nice to know there are sponsors who believe this

con ♥?  

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.