#Hispz15 - 4 months later and Still Recuperating

This is a recap of  Hispanicize 2015.

 Like all conferences/fiestas there were goodies,swag,promo items given out. 

HOWEVER, no matter how BUENISIMO the regalitos were, 

Babushka is still Babushka and is stating mis sentimientos. 

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Hispanicize 2015- the 4th Hispanicize conference/event BB attends. 

It has been 4 months, 10 days since that week and Babushka still glazes over when she thinks of it.  Quee? 

You think the infamous Cuban exageracion is working here??  JU SO FONII!!! 

Obviously you've never attended a Hispanicize event.  This was Babushka's 4th year going. 

A little sample of the pace-

In that chiquitico, 15 second Instagram video slide show you saw:

Los Pichy Boys, Vive Mejor, Coca Cola, Target, Olay,Orgullosa, Founder Manny Ruiz in one of the many excellent sitdown meals, LatinaMomBlog now rebranded as DiMe Media,Kelley Blue Book, Nespresso Love, Amanda Dufau, Disney World Resorts, Home Depot, Project Enye, Florida Blue, Rebtel, Hasbro,Sprint,Aspira, WellsFargo, AEM, Janie Flores&Erica Chao, McDonalds,Don Francisco, Juana La Iguana and al final a very happy and grateful Babushka who can't believe how Blessed she's been to have done so many things thanks to blogging.

BB's said it before and will forever say and be grateful to the Hispanicize team,especially to Manny Ruiz for inviting me to BB's first blogger event in 2012.  Yes, it's been 3 years, 4 Hispanicizes, and 15 posts about it- y los que me faltan!!  The first on camera video for Babushka-

The Spanglish esta igual, but BB hopes she's gotten a little bit better in front of the camera.

Ok Beautifuls, let the Vieja dream Si?
jehe  At the very least estoy less stressed about it.

Also less stressed about the Hispanicize 2016 event- even though this one runs 5 days too. 

From April 4 - 8 Miami will be host to "the largest annual event for Latino trendsetters and newsmakers in journalism, blogging, marketing, entertainment and tech entrepreneurship." For the next Hispanicize Sweetie will be accompanying me since he would have been a blogger for over a year.  Can you imagine my laidback Sweetie in the Den of Dizzying Delicias that is Hispanicize?  Don't think there's enough cafe Cubano to bring him up to speed.  Pero that's ok with BB.  This being my 5th Hispanicize, it'll be like visiting distant relatives, catching up on their stories and making some new ones with our actividades. Live, Learn, & Lovely Loot. Si, that about sums up Hispanicize.

 Oh, and por supuesto, es BUENISIMO!!

BB2U

P.S.  There were many more sponsors,sessions & actividades, pero for 15 seconds y 5 dias de nonstop going, creo que pa' esto post estamos bien.  As my eyes start losing their glazed look, tal vez vendran mas... pa' que vean  https://youtu.be/TVG9vBmpJJc


P.P.S. And for those curious on prior Hispanicize posts or just want to reminisce with BB-

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NrrCF5eN8KSthpn5sfVzmV1TD5vrQr77SXue6N5Lp_M/edit?usp=sharing

And the Flow continues: Further with Ford- 2013 Trend Conference

My thanks to the Ford Motor Company for providing my flight,lodging and meals during this event. There was no request to write about my experience, nor was BB given monetary compensation. The post is Babushka's thoughts of the adventure.

As I mentioned in my last post, apparently the S Sisters wanted me to see the Universal Flow we're all part of, how each of us can make a difference, because they kept sending me to events that emphasized just that. Next, BB was sent to Detroit to go "Further with Ford". Queeee?? JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, when we think of Ford we think cars and not anything else, but they're so much more. It has been said that with great power comes great responsibility and Babushka was pleasantly surprised by what was talked about during the conference. To give you an idea of what the mindset was behind the event, before it even started Ford asked its' attendees to complete a Myers-Briggs personality test to see what our preferences would be. Oh si My Beautifuls, this was not to be a regular car show event.

The colored dots represented the different panels/discussions- chosen by the results of our test,

 pero let's follow the steps of my prior Ford trip and begin with the trip itself.

Cachita guardando & one overhead suitcase.  BB's getting used to this airplane travel.

Another thing Babushka can get used to-

The hotel right inside the airport.

The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel,

i like, i like.

Once we checked in we were given our badges, our room keys, and told to board the bus for dinner at the Henry Ford Museum.  Now, you know BB loves an adventure, but seriously, a museum? Ford Museum?? Carros and all that??  Y'all can imagine the jetlag, but being Cubana the thought of dinner won out. In all honesty, I'm glad my growling tripas led me, because again my assumption was all wrong; the museum wasn't all about Ford and their cars.    

The beautiful decor and architectural details of the original Ford era.

So much to see, and they promised we could explore later, but first, our welcome.

Alan Mulally 

President & CEO Ford Motor Company

Our first speaker of the conference, who in Babushka's opinion set a tone that was hard to surpass. Obviously an educated man, but his speech was easy to follow- even when he touched on some of the technical aspects Ford is working on, and he genuinely seemed impressed and content to be working for and heading the Ford team.  Management who is down to earth and actually enjoys his job and the promise of all it entails. Who'd of thunk it? But then again, not much about "Further with Ford" matched the preconceptions of esta vieja.  BB for one found him fascinating and was sorry we didn't see him again during the rest of the conference.

Now what we did see lots of during the rest of the conference-

A celebration of 150 years and excelente comida, with details Ford is known for.

After the wonderful meal, we were invited to continue visiting the museum. 

In truth, a full day is needed to just visit this part of the complex, but from my mini visita some of BB's Favs- 

Hot wax souvenir maker,old style McDonald's, working diner,Baby Boomers, and a fellow re-enactor portraying Henry Ford.

Bueno, si, there were cars and motorized vehicles,

but not your average everyday variety.

Model T,Presidential limos,Wienermobile

The actual bus Rosa Parks rode when she decided to seek justice for all.

Now My Beautifuls, after that last exhibit BB couldn't imagine anything could top it, so con barriga llena y corazon contenta- my belly and heart full, it was time to return to the hotel.  Day 2 had a full schedule y escapades of enlightenment for Babushka- and some thrills and chills too.  

Until the proxima My Beautifuls,

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

p.s. BB was flown in, fed, and given a place to snore,

 the rest- like her post & opinion, was all Babushka's. 

Mixed on McDonald's- La Gallina Vieja's 1st Guest Post

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Today Babushka is letting La Gallina Vieja write her first post- y por supuesto, it's a bit confrontational.I've known her my whole life so BB assures you her heart is in the right place, she's just more opinionated than Babushka.  Queee??  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, BB definitely has opinions, but LGV is more vocal about them.  Continuing.

MIXED ON MCDONALD'S  by La Gallina Vieja

While in Miami, I usually stay with my grandmother, La Tata in Little Havana.  Along with many other things, Little Havana had a neighborhood McDonald's that really was a neighborhood McDonald's.  The architecture was Spanish style shingles,they served Cuban style coffee, the menu was bilingual and the playground a nice diversion for children with no nearby park. FUERA! GONE! Totally demolished and rebuilt to match everyother cookie cutter McDonald's they're making across the nation.  Well, before I continue w/the tirade let me share the good times-because we all know there's good/bad in everything.

Grandsons w/their best "Ok Grandma,
we're smiling for this picture- now can we go play?"

Funslide, Face Painting and Frisbees 

not to mention a Funky Ronald-

Fun times yes, but fleeting and fragile.  In a community proud of its' Hispanic roots they've totally removed everything Spanish- except for the employees and the cafe con leche which is the only Spanish item left in this McDonald's.  The language isn't the only thing missing from our culture.  Latins have a very strong sense of community and that includes knowing what everyone else is doing- they've taken the prior configuration where you could see everyone and compartmentalized the place. Ciao Chismeria and socializing.  Another very essential part of our upbringing is being good hosts and sharing whatever we may have.  Anyone who's ever been to a Cuban's home knows the first thing asked is "Would you like anything to drink?"

So you KNOW this is so WRONG.

Also wrong- how can you put calorie count on the now all English menu, especially stressing how health and weight concious your brand is and then turn around and take away the playground?  And adding insult to injury you've now added a video game section, further immobilizing our youth and curtailing their physical and social skills.  Que? Our children don't get enough of that?  Is that what your ultimate goal is?  To have a world that looks all the same with drones who follow blandness because individuality is not welcomed? Easier to control huh?  Bueno, so sorry con escumi but not here.  We've already lost our individuality somewhere else,  and I for one don't take this lightly.  

White bread is fine for others, but in this neighborhood bring me my pan Cubano. 

 Obviously it's all about the buck for you Mickey D,

therefore I'll be going to a place where my culture is King.

Hasta la proxima- LGV

further info:  http://www.littlehavanainc.com/Mcdonalds.html

LGV  facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Gallina-Vieja/297314457051368

Babushka's Booty

And Boy there's a lot of it!  Hispanics believe bigger is better and if you've got it share.  Oh si, we are a giving bunch and in Miami BB's booty was impresionante. 



BB's Hispanicize 2012  Booty

Que???  What did you think BB was talking about??  Oh.  JU SO FONII!!!

Ok, si, bueno...

 that one  is impressive too, especially after a visit to Miami, but I was talking about

Hispanicize 2012

  and the great goodies attendees received.

As you can see from the picture there were many great sponsors and plenty of swag,

but this post will be a shoutout to the sponsors of the main events. 

In no specific order I gratefully list:

DISNEY

 They gave all of us 2 park hopper tickets- Oh si they did!!!

PLUS 

 BB received 4 adorable Mickey shaped chocolate dipped rice crispie treats

for 4  adorable grandbabies. 

Disney's details- ya can't beat it.

CLOROX

 

for their wonderful and slightly wacky

(think virtual bowling, scavenger hunts, etc.) reception party

BLACKBERRY

The BlackBerry Black Carpet- National Latino Film Showcase.

Where we got to preview films, dance, drink and definitely be merry.

McDonalds

Yacht cruise anyone??

BACARDI

Mingling in a mansion- oh my!

Babushka's booty be bountiful, beautiful and bastante

because she dared to dream, dared to ask,

and dared to eat that extra helping of life!

How big is your booty??

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  Martinique my Muse informs me this will be the first in a series sobre Hispanicize2012.  

Of course this suits me perfectly as there were so many experiences,panels,and events! 

Let's just say Babushka is still bushed- but still so happy that I joined that baile.