Way to Go Wakulla!! 8 Years of Keeping it FRESH.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Babushka has been living Up North in The South over a decade now. Naturalmente it was a bit of a culture shock moving here from Miami, but My Little One and BB quickly fell in love with North Florida, especially Wakulla. Y sabes que? Every dia we fall more in amor with our community. As the local theater group, Palaver Tree Theater says in their hashtags, #SmallTownNotSmallMinds . And it definitely is a community, one that takes care of their own- especialmente the children.

For the eigth year in a row Wakulla has made sure that any child that needed assistance with BTS, Back to School, would be able to have it. FREE . Si, you read that correcto. Beautifuls, FREE.  From school supplies, backpacks, clothing, physicals, to haircuts, the children of Wakulla are ready for that primer dia.

Is it a community effort by only a handful of people? JU SO FONII!!

Local Government

Businesses, Organizations, big & small, Volunteers and Vendors

Constant stream of  familias. Palaver Tree Theater one of the participating organizations. Cristyl's Crew enjoying offerings.

Special Kudos for those who entertained and attended outdoors

it was in the upper 90's that dia!!

Family Palooza Party Rentals, Florida Lottery,  Woodmen Life 

Pero inspite of the heat and the crowds, there was gratitude and smiles abounding.

The Sponsors- The ones BB found on Feibu:

Crawfordville Lion’s Club    

Crawfordville United Methodist Church 

Grace & Truth Restoration Ministries, Inc.

Little Salem Primitive Baptist Church & Men on a Mission Ministry 

Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church #2 

Rivertown Community Church 

Capital City Bank Crawfordville 

Centennial Bank  

Prime Meridian 

Crum's Mini Mall 

Family Palooza Party Rentals 

Howdy’s Renta A Toilet

Jessica Johnson, Realtor Wakulla Investment Properties 

Jimmy John’s 

Lindy’s Fried Chicken 

Myra Jean’s Restaurant 

Operation Santa 

Pepsi 

Amazing Mail Solutions

St. Marks Powder 

Super Lube 

Tallahassee Diamond Center 

Tony’s Hairstyles 

Walgreen’s Crawfordville 

  Wave 94.1 Radio

Waypoint Properties

Woodmen Life 

GOVT.
Department of Forestry  

Fl. Dept. of Health, Wakulla County 

Florida Lottery

Florida Wildlife Commission 

Wakulla County Fire Rescue 

Wakulla County Parks & Recreation 

Wakulla County Republican Party 

Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office  

F.R.E.S.H. (fully refreshing and empowering students holistically: mind, body and soul) is the name and vision of this event and thanks to community donations and incredibly giving and dedicated committees Babushka is sure that when children started classes this past Monday they were ready.  

1000x Gracias for bringing so many smiles to parents and their little ones.

Babushka Besos a Todos. Cuidensen.

BB2U

Memorial Day means Mucho Up North in The South. @VisitWakulla Wakulla County Florida

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Many of you have questioned Babushka as to why she would leave Miami, her familia, to come up to Crawfordville, a little rural town in Florida's panhandle. Bueno, it's been almost 15 años and BB doesn't regret the decision at all. Es mas, now The Eldest has brought her clan here too.  Perhaps after this post you'll understand mejor part of the charm.

A true example of small town America, one feels the calm of community. And the power.  The Memorial Day service was a perfect show of both.  In the middle of town, in front of our courthouse was held the ceremony. With bowed heads, we all joined an invocation for paz and appreciation for the day, it's meaning, and for our country.

El amor de comunidad, the joining of past history, and the importance they hold to the citizens of the county. We make sure those beliefs are still held high here and are quick to bring them to mind lest one forget.  A proud patrulla who knows, the backbone of greatness is honoring those who came before and try to follow their examples. And we don't forget. Nor do we let them be forgotten.

We teach our children the importance of honor,civic pride, loyalty and good citizenship.

And as adults we make sure to show that honor too.

Vietnam, Korea, various and vast are our veterans.

Gracias to WCTV for sharing our celebration/rememberance/memorial.

Apparently this was a newsworthy event. Sadly there aren't enough of such memorials still going on.  Thankfully Babushka lives in a county that still believes in its importancia.

And in the importance of gatherings de comunidad- and comida.

Quee?? BB last in a county where they don't know celebrations must have good food?

JU SO FONII!!!

Gracias to local sponsors, 

hotdogs with all the fixin's, bottled water, iced tea and cake were given to all.

And In memory and Gratitude from All.

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

Wakulla Weekend of #MLK & Community - I Have A Dream Celebration- Inciting Insight

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

January 16, the great MLK Jr. was celebrated and remembered across our nation. Martin Luther King Jr was celebrated in BB's home town Crawfordville, Wakulla County too, but here we believe in doing it with style, relevance, and heart.  No son tan over the top or loud as Babushka's Miami, but the passion is just as strong. One day is not enough, so the celebraciones started Friday con musica and culminated in community reminiscing, union, and hope for the futuro.

The schedule, the place, the sponsors, one of the many questions asked.


The theme this year was "Inciting Insight" and the speakers eloquently shared their stories.

We are all called to be difference makers. ~Eddie Metcalf  Educator

It's community- it's on us.~Simeon Nelson   Educator on Wakulla history and on values

There isn't much that separates us if we don't allow it to.~Chuck Hobbs Lawyer

The sharing of  Andrea Carter and her senior year of highschool, when desgregation became a reality, was a sudden realization of truth.  It wasn't a story just to be read in history books, it happened, to real people;  it made a difference, they made a difference. Things weren't perfect by any means, but a start had been made. Now it was up to nosotros to continue the charla and the change.

Ahora, if you thought it was all seriousness, JU SO FONII!!! Would Babushka permitir eso?  Habia comida, comic moments, y raffles.

BB with Community Center & Palaver Tree Theater Director Herb Donaldson

Prizes won by Babushka, looking forward to reading and sharing with The Grands.

When BB says Wakulla has style she means it has an essence, and here the essence is our community, our history.  Generations of families have been born and raised here and we're proud of that. There is a feeling of community which one can sense and see.  It's the bond that makes it home.

A symbolic gesture for the sweetness that is Wakulla and the promise del mundo 

que Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned for all.

Hoping it was a day of paz, pensamientos, and 

"Inciting Insights" for you too Beautifuls.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Crawfordville Cares- Operation Santa 2016

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!!

They say Charity begins at home, and if there’s a town that embodies that, it’s Babushka’s home town of Crawfordville .  It’s wonderful living in a place where people come together to help others, usually total strangers. The sense of community is strong here and BB hopes to share some of the amor, starting with the unbelievable Operation Santa.

“Operation Santa is a community effort sponsored by the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth (WCCY) who with its partners build support for the youth, individuals and families in Wakulla County. In the past six years, Operation Santa has helped thousands in need of a hands-up to experience the joy of the Christmas Season. 2016 is the seventh year of Operation Santa of Wakulla helping Wakulla residents in need of a hand-up. There is no qualifying; we expect only those that truly need help, to experience a joyful Christmas, will apply.

This effort could not be done without the help of volunteers, businesses, the adoption of families, donations of new and like-new items and cash donations.” 

BB not donate? JU SO FONII!!! Babushka likes to give Thanks that The Grands and The Trio have always received gifts during the holidays and that we have always been blessed with shelter and comida, so for every child/grandchild we give at least the same amount back. That was 9 regalitos for Operation Santa, and this year we went straight to Santa’s Workshop.

At 6'4" Sweetie is enjoying being Santa's biggest elf. 

Este año  there were 181 familias that signed up for holiday assistance. 81 of them were “adopted” by individuals, leaving 100 for Operation Santa to provide for. And that they definitely did. With help from the community, with toy drops around town, online monetary donations, 100 families will be having a better holiday. Pero it’s not only the families receiving the presents that are having a better holiday. Did you notice the volunteers (they call themselves elves) arriba? They came in different shifts, were from all demographics and ages, and the spirit of giving filled them all. Gracias to the “elves” for being part of Babushka’s home town. They fill the air with love and goodwill, raising the vibes all around, making Crawfordville a place that cares.

Hopefully BB will highlight other such giving groups and individuals, at least one per month.  Try to do the same Beautifuls.  If we all are on the lookout for givers, we will receive so much. To know there are those who care for our community helps us see the beauty there, and that in turn will spark more care and love from us. Imagínate if we all raised the vibes, how vibrant we’d all become.

Who will you highlight in your home town ?

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. If you'd like to know more about Operation Santa Wakulla,

to donate or maybe even start one in your hometown,

Feibu Wakulla Operation Santa

Website http://www.operationsantawakulla.org/

Quarters in Crawfordville Go A Long Way!! #Charity #SmallBiz #ShopSmall

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with mucho to be grateful for. Babushka por her parte added my community of Crawfordville in her lista of blessings y bendiciones.  This isn’t the first time BB’s written about the generous souls here, but it’s been awhile and this event was special in sooo many niveles that it’s más que worthy of a post. Not only is it a novel idea, but tambien it’s the kinda twofer Babushka loves- shopping while giving back. Now you know that deserves a great big ESO!!I So what exactly was the novelty? A “Quarter Auction” for charity. Not sound like mucho verdad? Bueno Beautifuls, you’d be surprised how it adds up. A quick explanation.

“Guests purchase one ($2) or more ($1) bidding paddles when they arrive. They spend time visiting the vendor booths, networking, shopping for holiday gifts, enjoying snacks, registering for door prizes, and having fun. When the auction starts, vendors take turns introducing their businesses and showing their auction items up for bid. The vendor tells the audience how many quarters it takes to bid for each paddle held up, in the amount of 1 – 4 quarters. If they choose to bid on that item, guests and vendors drop their quarters in the bucket and hold up their numbered paddles. If the number drawn matches the number of an auction paddle being held up, that person wins that auction item. It is fast-paced, generous, and fun! All funds raised are shared between Education Enrichment Council scholarships and the charity chosen for each auction.” En Noviembre, the charity partner was Operation Santa, another wonderful local nonprofit that helps local families who need a little help celebrating the holidays.

And they even fed us!! Special shout out to yummy Mae's Southern Delights.
 Babushka's Paddle.  Lucky double number.

And the auction begins!!

It was a night of winning on so many levels. Do you know how much was raised Beautifuls?  Entre peseta por peseta, a quarter at a time, in a little under 2 hours over 2 thousand dollars were raised!!  Increible pero cierto. And it was only their segundo time having an auction!  Not love my little town??  JU SO FONII!!! A noche of community spirit, fun and good times for two great causes. 

Babushka's Win. A Bella set of  Lilla Rose hair accessories!
Gracias Jodi, BB will be back for some hair sticks. ; ) 

Por supuesto, but of course, it would have been imposible without the great volunteers and vendors. Gracias to Nancy Floyd Richardson for putting together this lista. 

Veronica Forns Wold - Effortless Travel
Cyndi Rasberry Dotson and Shaina Dotson - Rodan & Fields
Nancy Floyd Richardson - Thirty-One
Heather Houser Gray, Yese Reyes, and Melinda Lee Porterfield - Young Living Essential Oils
Kim McMillan and Suzanne Pope Leigh - Plunder
Lisa Latimer Scott - MiaBella Creations
Debbie L. Drum-Smith - LimeLight by Alcone
Nance Nadeau - Scentsy
Cyndi Dewey McKuhen - BeautiControl
Thadra Palmer Stanton - Pampered Chef
Tracy Spencer Britton - Damsel in Defense
Jodi Crone McIver - LuLaRoe
Casie Knight Arciaga - Premier Jewelry
Jodi Franklin - Lilla Rose
Lois Wise Abbott - Noonday Collection
Brandie Oscar - Tupperware
Lola Harrell Pouncey - Magnolia and Vine
Jessica Johnson - Southern Threads
Darlene Roberts - Omnitrition
Sara J. Marchessault - Joyful by Design
Trisha Lee Strickland and Jessica Balchuck Goldin - Fight Like a Fish for Augie
Toria Schmookler - Ornaments for Orphans and Fair Trade Chocolates
Rachel Ogle - Beach Body
Ann Spano Fulghum - A'doorn by Ann

Donations:
Libby McFalls Stewart - Photography Session
Emily Irvin Manley - Usborne Books and More
Angies Marine Supply
Tractor Supply Store
Shannon McDermott - The Garden Center by Gatortrax
Alix Kalfin - Wildtree

Magnuson Hotel

A wonderful time was had by todos. Who are the vendors/small business owners in your comunidad? No se about y'all, but these are the type of people worth helping,buying from. BB gives to those that give from el corazon. How about you?

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

We're Wild in Wakulla- Let the Partying begin!!

Whoever said only Latinos go all out, are over the top, has never been to my home town of Crawfordville.

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!  

Do you recognize our town/park mascot?

Quee?? Yes, it really is him.

Viste?? What a great job they did, right?  

Here are some other fun Halloween decorations.

And the pumpkins?

We love them here and take them quite seriously.

Another thing we love here-

Our Veterans and families.

Bellas verdad? 

 Yep, we go wild for our holidays here in Wakulla.  

And if you think I'm missing the weather in my other hometown...

 JU SO FONII!!!

; )  

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Day 6 of #SMCSFBlog Challenge