VivaFlorida 500 is Going WILD(flowers)

Babushka is an avid fan of the VivaFlorida 500 celebration.  For you Beautifuls who don't know what that is,  the state of Florida is commemorating 500 years of being discovered,named, and colonized by Europeans- namely, Spaniards. Looonnnggg before Jamestown and its group. Queee??  JU SO FONII!!!  Si, for real, and BB's glad it's being highlighted, but it's not just the re enactments of the original settlers, but also the originals of other categories too.  There are so many categories taken with VivaFlorida 500 that something is sure to please everyone.  For Babushka, I'm just so happy they're going wild- with wildflowers! Who'd of thunk it?  What a beautiful tie in to show the beauty that was here when Ponce de Leon landed and saw all the flowers (flores).  Bello verdad?  They've got a VivaFlorida -La Florida's Wildflowers web page, they've lined up a webinar on March 8 to " learn more about the best methods for planting your own garden with wildflower seeds supplied by the Florida Wildflower Foundation. "

Couldn't figure out how to paste a picture of their page- 

so Babushka just took a pic of it!

This is based on Xavier Cortada's visionary Flor 500 project. 

You remember Xavier right?  

The artist behind BB's Favorite painting.in the Museum of Florida History.

And here's a video of Xavier explaining his project commemorating the Florida quincentenial.

Que cool right??

Y si eso no fuera suficiente- and as if that wasn't enough, they're having a webinar on Friday to help us start commemorating Florida's natural beauty by growing our own wildflowers.  Here's the official wording:

Viva Florida 500 Wildflower Project   In 1513, Ponce de Leόn made landfall on new soil and called the place La Florida, meaning land of flowers, based on its beauty and vitality. The Viva Florida 500 Wildflower Project is a collaborative effort between the Florida Department of State and libraries statewide in celebration of Florida's native plants, perhaps the very same flowers which Ponce himself saw upon his arrival. In recognition of this special and enduring piece of Florida history, the Viva Florida 500 team invites your library to join in our webinar and become a wildflower partner. During this presentation, you will learn more about the best methods for planting your own garden with wildflower seeds supplied by the FloridaWildflower Foundation. The brief overview will last about 30 minutes and allow for Q and A at its completion. For more information, please contact Samantha Stratton, Viva Florida 500 Wildflower Coordinator, atSamantha.Stratton@dos.myflorida.com or 850.245.6537.

Oh the beauty of natural flowers- 

Oh the beauty of not having to cut my lawn!!

Quee??  Y'all know Babushka never passes on a twofer. 

; )

I hope you join BB in this celebration while learning a little bit more about our bella state, it's history, and our natural beauties.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  For more information on Florida's Spanish roots the Fundacion España-Florida has wonderful posts. 

The First 15 Days of 2013

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!! How is 2013 treating you so far? For Babushka this year is promising to be a year of firsts, favorites, and fun.  Quee??  JU SO FONII!!! Ok si, 2012 also had those things, but this year BB expects it!  To start off, I did something that was all three.  Gracias to my makeup/fashionista blogger friends I tried something I would have never done in 2012-

TWINKLY TOES!!!

Nothing like the pampering and decadence of a pedicure. BB felt rich, like a Princess/ChristmasOrnament/NewYearFireworks all at once. Funny how a little thing like that can make one feel giddy and confident at the same time- which was perfect for my first "professional/business" party of the year.

@MCGLatino 

Sweetie and I were invited to the Three King's Day celebration given by MCG Latino, the Hispanic division of the award winning PR firm Moore Communications Group. The fantastic Ferns, Fernando Rodriguez and Fernando Senra along with the entertaining Emilio Estevez made us feel very welcomed. They did a really nice gathering with explanations of what that day traditionally means to Latins and how we celebrate it. The props, the food, the drinks, all very true to a homestyle party.  As a matter of fact, it was such a homey feeling that Sweetie waited until the end to leave. What can I say?  He was liking this- A lo bueno se acostumbra facil.

The next day my beloved TWAM  was helping Mission San Luis celebrate "The First Christmas en La Florida", the first VivaFlorida500  official event commemorating Florida's 500 years of Spanish colonization. Of course this deserves a post by itself, but here's a glimpse via their Feibu page. It was an unforgettable day with re enactors, visitors, and even the Archbishop of Florida giving a mass. I promise to share more about this glorious event.

The following week BB was on a roll- everyday that semana had something good coming to my door.  

Of course that spurred me into reading more blogs and entering more contests, but there's no bigger contest/giveaway than the loteria!  

And BB of course was right there when they celebrated that too.

FLORIDA LOTTERY 25 YEAR CELEBRATION

Oh si, Oh yeah- BB's all about the fiestas and the winning.  Not a bad mantra verdad?

Pero y'all know Babushka's also about the giving.

I love volunteering and supporting those causes and people I care about, so of course when Mission San Luis had its Volunteer Thank You Celebration I knew Ben Gunter, the director of TWAM was sure to receive an award.  Sweetie and I took rum cake and enjoyed the dinner and company immensely.  Ben deservedly got his honors, but he wasn't el unico who received an award that night. 

Oh my and Oh yeah.

I truly didn't expect this honor, and believe me when I say it isn't often that BB gets surprised.

Another first, favorite and fun thing I'm participating in 

Latina Lifestyle Bloggers

What a joy and challenge to come up w/something a little "out of the caja" for the daily prompts. 

 I'll be making an album on Feibu for the total 31, but for now: 

Day 9    Nail Art

Day 13 Literature- Curious George

heje  cute right?  What's not so cute was the reason for Babushka's Breakesito.  

Lastly and definitely Least... 

CLEANING!!!

As of this writing the kitchen- still w/backed up sink, looks like this

It's gettin' there, it's gettin' there! And so are my 2013 aspirations.

Also in the first 15 days I was accepted as a panelist for HeartCamp.  My vision to be a public speaker/motivational/just a fonii vieja viajera is becoming a reality.  I will be appearing with La Gallina Vieja AT THE SAME TIME.  No te dije?  2013- year of firsts, favorites, and fun. 

I hope you'll join me in my dance.  BB's always loved a full dance card.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.   Cuidensen.