Sooo Babushka! Books,Baubles & Bellezas -March Fun Finds #AmazonAssociate

As an Amazon Associate Babushka will receive a small commission on items sold.

bit.ly/BBFunFinds

bit.ly/BBFunFinds

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Babushka, like most of you shops on Amazon. Found so many nice cositas that BB thought you'd enjoy, so became an Amazon Associate. Hope you enjoy the items listed, porque running Cubantime Babushka hasn't promoted and she needs to have at least 3 sales to keep the association. Did Babushka mention she has until the 15?  Quee?? Do things ahead of time? JU SO FONII!!! 

Main Loves- Books

#beginnersguidetotheuniverse

"The beloved creator of Notes from the Universe distills a career's worth of inspiration into elegant, brief lessons for making our way through the world--conceived as a guidebook for his young daughter yet relevant to everyone who's living a life on earth. (In other words, everyone.)"

If you're into LOA, positive attitude, a better world, then this is a libro you'll love.

And speaking about love...

Have I ever told you?

A little book that'll grab your corazones with it's powerful illustrations and wording.

You'll be catching your breath and heart with this one.

(So good that BB asked for 3 copies)

Have I ever told you?

Now, we have the mind going with some fun, how about our outer selves? No reason we can't look good while dancing con la vida. Here are two items Bohemians gotta have.

Here's hoping you like these as much as Babushka does- 

and that BB meets her goal so she can share some more! 

BB2U

P.S.  ALL items on Babushka's list are found at bit.ly/BBFunFinds

New Traditions- Thanksgiving 2012

"When a father gives to a son both laugh.

  When a son gives to a father both cry."

~Shakespeare

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  This year Babushka and La Tata spent the holiday at my son MarineMac's home with his lovely wife, her mom, her SIL, her brother's 5 children and my 2 grandsons.  Yep, a full house- and my son couldn't be happier.

MM- My son MarineMac

Our gracious hosts with their grateful guests.

La Tata glowing w/the family love- and her second cup of wine.

I promise you, there's a pie underneath that.

The love of this holiday was passed on from my mom to me and then to my trio.

A wonderful time was had by all and my son has started his own family traditions. 

And now I understand the Old Bard's quote.

MM is grown and it's time for Babushka to let go.

JU SO FONII!!!

Let go? BB added a new tradition- a family movie after the cena.

A new tradition to calm the crowd and the digestion.

They liked it so much they asked for an encore the next morning.

And so a new tradition was born and I am secure in knowing my son remembers holidays past and will instill the tradition of family gatherings for his family.  

What traditions do you follow? Who comes to mind?  

No matter the how or why memories are celebrated, it is the joy of the memory that brings about traditions. 

 It's the love of the moment that make traditions and brings life- and life,

Life; it is Bueno.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Understanding BB- Day 2 of SMCSF 30 day challenge

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  I know many of you are here because of the SMCSF challenge and are wondering just what is this crazy-old-Cuban-lady Babushka all about.  Queee?? JU SO FONII!!! Ok si, maybe I should re title this as "Deciphering BB" because sometimes even BB doesn't understand what BB's all about.

Today I will school you on how to read my posts and bring you up to speed on my family,some of my sayings, views on life, and whatever else pops into Babushka's head. Viste? There's the first clue in deciphering BB; I'm soooo random- or so it would seem.  If you like roller coasters you'll catch on in no time.

I write in my native tongue of Spanglish and I'm sure by now you've realized how colorful BB is. Well, so are my posts! They're usually words that have links attached and some of them refer to prior posts.  Go ahead, try clicking on the neon blue link, it'll take you to my very first post, Introductions. Que fun right?

 Now, my family:

My Trio- MAC, My Little One, My Eldest & La Gallina Vieja Sonia Guerra

Babushka and  La Tata

she's either 90 or 92

My silly fiance, Sweetie

and THE GRANDBABIES

El Dr. & La Princesa

Rinquincaya y PicaPica

BB's Sayings

BB2U = Babushka Besos To You

You ain't just whistlin' La Guantanamera = You ain't just whistlin' Dixie

::BOPASO::

ESO!!! = Exactly! or YES! or That's the way! or EXACTAMUNDO!

A BAILAR SE HA DICHO!! = LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!

And the main phrase/slogan/tagline of Babushka is also my view of life.

If someone doesn't see YOUR brilliance, you look at them, smile, and say-

JU SO FONII!!!


And that My Beautifuls is the Reader's Digest rendition of Babushka and her Baile.
  I hope you come back real soon because BB loves a full dance card.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

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.

BB's an Original, but Ms Olivia is the Real Thing.

Saw her at the bus terminal and knew right away I was seeing my future self.  Older but oh so stylish, she meshed the retro past with the boldness of today and gave it a flair of her own.  She was marvelous.

Traveling with her two daughters and her granddaughter, you could see she had loved and lived and continued to do both with grace and a natural air.  I was all excited with plans and strategy for the Hispanicize 2012 conference and was in my own little world- and then I saw Ms. Olivia who reminded me what my real world should be.

Here was a woman who had found her way a long time ago, was comfortable in her skin, whose very essence exuded "this is my style, this is my life, this is me- and I like me".  Her beauty - inner and outer brought tears to my eyes.  Have you ever sensed the presence of true beauty?  The knowledge of self worth and the radiance of self acceptance- THIS is true beauty  and Ms Olivia embodied it.

I had to take a picture of her, to remind myself of what is possible, to remember what I aspire to be,  and so I shyly approached my new idol to ask her permission.  Ok si, I hear you- "BB, You- Shy?!?  JU SO FONII!!!"  And you'd be right 99% of the time to doubt, but this was the 1% of our human race who had actually attained self love and BB was in awe and humbled. 

She graciously heard my petition, smiled, and told me she'd discuss it with her daughter.  Her daughter of course wanted to be assured of my sincerity and asked why I wanted to photograph her mother.  I explained how I wanted to capture her mother's style and love of self.   Apparently she believed me because she came looking for me when we had a stop over and I didn't give her a chance to change her mind.

Ms. Olivia was pure joy when she posed for the camera as was I that she had allowed me the honor. I believe her daughter had known her mother was exceptional and thanked me profoundly for noticing.  But how can one not notice?  It would be like not noticing the Lady Moon as she shines and shimmers, not noticing her beauty naturally escaping and filling our nights. No, I'm the one who is thankful to Ms. Olivia for her example and hope this does her justice as she inspires us all to embrace our lives and ourselves. 

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Life is but a dream

Row, row, row your boat- gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

Wow- how deep is that? Almost scary the simplicity and how "in your face" that is.

¿Que creen?  What says you? Should we go gently but with a smile on our face?  No se, I'm Cuban- the smile esta bien, pero the "gently"?  Ok, Si,  I hear you.  "Pero BB dear, you're getting older you should start doing gentle." JU SO FONII!!!  Slower mayyyybbeeee pero gentle?  So sorry, can't do it.  It's not in my constitution, not in my soul.

Perhaps it was all the sofrito, but I need a bit of "oomph" in life, a bit of spice.  I need the passion, the energy- everything felt and done with every atom of my being and down to my very essence.  There is no gentleness there, for even in a tender caress the intensity of my beliefs come through, and though "this ol' gray mare ain't what she used to be", she can still give a pretty good kick!

 "Life is but a dream"?  No, no, no- it's not how most interpret that.  Life is not something that happens to us while we're in a dreamlike trance.  Bueno, if you think about it, maybe that's why it's usually interpreted that way- because most people are living lives that were pre-programmed by someone else.  Por fa gente, MAKE your life YOUR dream.  Set your own sights, chart your way, and since you picked the destination, don't fight the voyage.  Si, in this way you truly can go merrily down the stream.


BB is living her dream merrily, still with gusto, focus and style.  Perhaps the pace has slowed and the baile I dance is now a waltz, but the choice of song is always mine.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. The video is from YouTube titled "Viennesse Waltz".  A waltz performed by the SUU Ballroom Dance company during their 04 Spring concert  Music by Goo Goo Dolls, song title Iris, posted by willowbrook32. BB thanks them all for the brilliance and beauty of this piece.

February- The Month of Love Part V

Hearing, that powerful sense that brings on so many reactions and emotions... 

The sound of waves relaxes me,

 the sound of my daughter making espumita for el cafe makes me salivate, 

and the sound of "I miss you Grandma" can make me smile and tear at the same time.  

Thus ends the series of love through our senses, but not on the subject of love.

BB can go on all night about amor, but I think the bottom line is this:

To love is to live, and to truly live we must realize how blessed we are to feel, to be.

To be grateful- is to feel love.

Grateful for life, and for having you join me in the dance.

Babushka Besos a Todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  And for those of you who thought I had forgotten... JU SO FONII !!!

February- The Month of Love

February, the month of amor. As you know by now BB doesn't look at life in the typical or "expected" way. To most, February brings thoughts of Valentine's Day, presents, boxes of chocolates, sweethearts and romance. JU SO FONII!!!  Por fa people, if I had to wait until February for my sweetheart to romance me, give me presents or chocolates, we wouldn't be sweethearts for too long! Nope, for me the whole month of February is about love.  I know, you're waiting for a story about the grandbabies here aren't you?  Not happening, at least not in this post... but we've got 29 days this February so you never know.


A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness; but still will keep a bower quiet for us, and a sleep full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing...    John Keats 


I love art.  I love how it enlivens ones surroundings and emotions.  Yes there are those who say art should make one think, an intellectual statement, a provocation to react.  Naaaahhhhhhhh-  nada de eso.  Too much thinking brings gray hairs- and I've enough of those thank you.  Encircle me with art that makes my heart sing, reminds me of the beauty of the world, of its existence, and of the promise of its continuity. Of course, being BB this may encompass many styles and subject matters, but for now let's start with the beauty of nature.

Morning Glories

Hollyhocks

 folkrockartist's Store at Zazzle

Bello.  This would be the yin side of Babushka.  He manages to portray the vibrancy of life while also the sweetness of subject and gentleness of a natural style  - excelente.  

So Bohemian, so BB.

Tony Mendoza Art

Talk about Yang for the buck!!  Hablamos about vibrancy- between the colors, the lines and the subject (and those who say coffee is not nature have never seen the beast that is BB w/out her cafecito) this is an artist who gets my Cubana side. 

Bailando just looking at this.

The beauty of balance

Bird of Paradise 3

Cuban Coffee and Lime- Red

Spanish Shawl

Maria Soto Robbins

Vibrating passion and life while "just being"- 
that is my final destination. 

 These paintings make it seem possible.  To live, to love- this is art.

Babushka Besos a Todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.   If you enjoyed the works of the above mentioned artists- who I thank for their permission and contribution- then please visit their sites. I never did like the phrase "starving artists"; it's so un Cuban Grandma...

 P.S.P.S.  There's a saying "Por el amor al arte" which means to do something because you love it, not because of monetary gain. I received no monetary compensation and literally posted this por el amor al arte, but should any of the artists want to send a print of their work BB won't say no.    ; )

Fall, Football, and Fabulous Fashions!

North Florida, a place of actual season changes. Coming from Miami, believe me when I say this is no small miracle in my eyes; I'm LOVING IT!! Up here,Fall, is one of the favorite seasons, and being a college town you know football is a favorite too. De veras, in reality, if I may be totally truthful- and BB knows no other way to be- I really don't care which Florida team wins as long as it's a Florida team. Si, Si, I hear the gasps. No preference in Florida teams, but definitivamente a preference in seasonal fashions. Little Summer nadas para mi? JU SO FONI !!! BB abhors them! Fabulous Fall Fashions? BB adooores them!!! What's not to adore? Not quite the nakedness of Summer, but not the Eskimo attire of Winter. Fall fashions- very BB. Classy, covering y Coqueta!! And nobody fabricates Fall Fashions around here like Ms. Evelyn.

Ms. Evelyn and I go way back. When I worked for the state of Florida Ms. Evelyn was my coworker- one of the best dressed coworkers if I may add. So much talent couldn't go unnoticed and we began asking for custom orders and she's continued designing and creating them. Her gift for garb isn't confined to females; she creates for children and naturally a North Florida wardrobe wouldn't be complete without hometeam garments!

All very nice, but for the real Style and Flair-

Bohemian

Babushka

Bohemian Babushka

¿Que te dije?

Classy, Covered, y Coqueta.

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

P.S. Ms. Evelyn's information cell # 850-556-0076

her facebook page is being developed

Midnite Muse

Midnite, la medianoche, on Tuesdays, this is the time my Muse decides to be a minx and starts to meander in my mind.

Never mind that I know BB's blog comes out every Wednesday. Never you mind I need complete quiet... maybe that's part of the problem. Complete quiet? In a Cuban household? All together now- JU SO FONI !!!

I actually was able to have a post written a week before time, but that's like losing 5 pounds before the holidays. You lose it to look good but then start partying and gain back the 5 plus an extra 10 pounds. The time I wrote the early post I was up South, but I've been with family in Miami for almost a month now so I've gained those 10 pounds figuratively and literally.

Seriously though, what is it about waiting until the last momento? Is it perspiration over procastination that thrills me, or am I waiting for a better subject for my post? Perhaps it's both. I'm Cuban, so I'm always in a hurry to savor the good things in life. I know, Extreming.

My Midnite Muse- of course being Cuban she isn't always punctual. If I'm lucky she'll be running on time (which for Cubans is an hour late), if it's a milagro she'll be running American time (which is the actual time specified) but for the most part she starts cooking around 2 a.m. Si, 2 a.m. This is the hour she's had her cafecito and is positive hers is the only voice I hear.

Aha, a true CAP pero que vamos hacer?

Es mia, she's mine-

and besides, she's brilliant.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

La Tata

La Tata- Tatarabuela, Great Great grandmother of my grandchildren, Great grandmother of my trio, grandmother to Babushka, mother of mi Padre. Wow- that's a lot of mothering and a lot of love.

But if you think this was a typical stay at home kind of mothering - JU SO FONII !!!

Born in Cuba, in the Province of Oriente, she was the second youngest of twelve. Always with fire and liking the finer things, she was nicknamed "La Faraona" (the Pharoah) by her siblings; little did they know how well that was going to help them all. Her take charge "it's gotta be done" attitude helped her survive and succeed in a life that seems almost made for TV.

In a place and time when women didn't work outside the home, she was a single mom raising her son by selling insurance policies door to door. Her tenacity captured the heart and hand of a Count, but when he became too strict with her boy she kicked the Count to the curb. Sensing the political unrest on the island , she refused to let the new government indoctrinate her teen, so she left her beloved family and headed to the US- just her and her son. Arriving in New York she found the immigrants life, working in factories and learning the language, but she also found love. Marrying "Nonno", a handsome Sicilian with a talent for cooking, they scrimped together enough to open a restaurant in The Village. Thanks to their hard work and love of family, they were able to bring most of her siblings and their families from Cuba.

But as in all good novelas, the union was not to last, and though it was true love they had to go their separate ways. By this time they had moved to Miami, he had opened another restaurant and she decided she wanted music and distraction- so she opened a nightclub. Again, ahead of her time, in a man's world, she was the owner of the club, while wearing long sequinced gowns with a gun holder under the plumes. It was Miami in the 80's, Cocaine Cowboys had the bucks, but they didn't get to ride in her saloon.

Didn't I tell you this would be a great mini series ?!?!

Bueno, para no cansarte, she made it through the 80's and now is almost in her 90's. Legally papers say she's 87 pero en realidad they didn't keep the best of records in her little town in Cuba and she's 2 years older. ¿Viste? She's still living a story- and I'm grateful to be there to listen.

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen

Another Year, Another Candle- Almost 50

Last Thursday I turned 49.  Almost 50.  ÑO.

As I start this 49th year cycle towards 50 let me reflect.  I've completed 7 full cycles (cycles of 7 years each- a mystical, metaphysical grouping, which I'm  into, but more on eso another time) and just what have I done so far?  Bueno, let's break it down shall we?

0 - 7  Pre birth to 7    
I hear mi mamá had a good pregnancy, nothing extraordinary except for it being her first child, and of course it being me.  ; )   At school I  was very shy and quiet.  Yo se, no need to say it- I know what you're thinking; I definitely grew out of that one. JU SO FONII !!! Don't blame you though-  if I wouldn't have seen those teacher's comments I wouldn't have believed it either.

7 - 14  Child, Tween and Teen
Woah- what a span.  Is it just me or does it seem like my generation didn't have much variance between the groups?  I for one was still playing w/baby dolls at 12.  And still had my baby fat at 14.

14 - 21  True Teen and not too true Adult
Now 14 marked a real shift.  It was during this year that I decided I was no longer a baby, thus I no longer was going to need my baby fat.  No way was I going to be a  Quinceañera gorda.  So good bye baby fat and hello bulimarexia.  The rest of the cycle is the start of dating, social blooming and suffering.  Oh the poems I wrote during those years!  And let's not forget the nights of chocolates and  Diet Pepsi with girlfriends as we pondered the mysteries of life- and boys.  Then the college years.  Being a good CAP  (Cuban American Princess for the uninitiated) I went to a community college while living at home.  Truth be told I kinda liked this arrangement and kept withdrawing from classes because breakfast at Denny's with my BFF was infinitely more satisfactory than Algebra....

As in life, the following cycles will be quick.


21- 28  Adulthood and Motherhood- not necessarily in that order
Got a car, got a job, and since I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, got a husband.  Ok, ok, I feel your sejas raising and eyeballs popping, but I had already tried to go into the armed forces for "direction"  pero the jobs they offered weren't appealing so I took the traditional route.  Sooo Private Benjamin right?  Bueno, by the end of this cycle I had another car, another job and on the way to another husband, but my beautiful babies made everything worth it.

28 - 35  On A Roll-  up and down hill
Went back to college and actually graduated.  Go me!!   Life lessons were also in store as I remarried and had My Little One.  The marriage ended, and at the end of this very emotional and challenging cycle I was sustained by my children and strengthened by their love.

35 - 42  All a Blur - trio of teenagers
Who remembers?  It must be true, self preservation through memory blockages.  I vaguely recall this being the period my children hit puberty.  And we all know my view on that subject.  ::shudder::

42 - 49  Change of Scenery-  coming out of the trance
A trio of teens, a mini breakdown, and a feeling of perpetual claustrophobia, I had to move from CAP mecca Miami.   By this time my two eldest had their own families and it was just me and My Little One.  Both of us growing up in a little rural town south of the state's capital.  Que?  You thought I'd go farther than that?  Por fa-  once a CAP.... besides, with nietos no way I 'd stay too far away.

"In these years we move from old stereotypical roles with a new found confidence in our individuality. We are prepared to please our self, rather than society and gain a real understanding of our uniqueness, accompanied by a sense of urgency to express our true self before it gets too late."

 http://dreamhawk.com/body-and-mind/every-seven-years-you-change/

49 - 56  I've Gotta Be Me-  what else can I be?
The above quote describes perfectly my past year.  I left a "steady" state job ( oxy moron perhaps?) to pursue my inner calling.  I am a performer, a storyteller, a believer in beauty in all its' forms.  And I'm ready to blab it too!  Be it in person, in blog, or over the airwaves, I will follow my music, singing and sharing.  Y siempre, te lo voy a decir BAILANDO.


So all in all?   I done good!  And looking forward to the next round.





Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.




P.S.  Plans for this cycle start off with a radio show for BB, so if you are so inclined please donate towards this, humbly speaking, very worthy cause.  Corporate contributions and sponsorships are also very welcomed.

Don't you just see it now?  ""BB Bailando con Bustelo"    Oh SI!!!


P.P.S.  If you are truly inclined and "no quieres perder la costumbre", donations for BB are also greatly appreciated.  Mil Gracias.