Tween Spring Break Readings 2020- It's Gonna Be Historic!

**BB was sent these books, no payment received, just enjoyment.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Time again for Spring Break. A time of season changes, time off of school, and bored children. Quee?? Y’all think Babushka doesn’t remember when The Trio were on break? And during their ::shudder:: PUBERTY??  Almost broke BB- mentally, physically and monetarily! Thankfully The Grands have more options of entertainment, pero there is no topping the language of libros. Besides our loved libreria, Babushka was blessed to receive some books that will be much read during school breaks. Aqui estan-

From biblical to modern times, there are many different historical figures from diverse backgrounds that will inform and entertain as they introduce history in a fun form.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Show-Me-History!

El Dr. 13 yrs, oldest Grands
amazon.com/Amelia-Earhart-Pioneer-Show-History

In true Tween/Teen forma, gotta drag the words out of them when it wasn't a tema they instigate.

 Pero all in all, he did well no creen? 

Next book is one that BB has no doubt he'll like. Es mas, Babushka is reading it first because she knows that once El Dr. sees it she'll never get her manos on it again!

History's Weirdest Deaths

“Death comes in many forms—sometimes peaceful, sometimes tragic, sometimes dramatic . . . and at other times just plain weird. In History’s Weirdest Deaths (Portable Press, ISBN: 978-1684127573, Hardcover $12.99, 128 pages), you’ll read the true stories of more than a hundred people who met their end in a bizarre fashion. Each cautionary tale is unique. Meet the victims of stunts that went horribly wrong, ordinary people who made boneheaded blunders, and famous figures who realized too late that celebrity isn’t a cure for stupidity. “

 

This is gonna be sooooo popular on Tik Tok!   😆


Ok Si, BB knows you're thinking that just because Babushka is now a member of Neptune's Society, la muerte is mucho on the mind. Bueno, ok, there's no shock to it, but ya gotta admit this helps to see humor at the end.  Vamanos, be fair, do the flip side.

Hoping everyone stays safe and sane this Spring Break.

BB2U

Office Depot: Teachers Change Lives - They did BB's

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!

Today Babushka would like to join Office Depot in highlighting one of our most important and unsung heroes. Quee?? Ju So Fonii!!! Mother's are celebrated next month- today we celebrate teachers! Sometimes these dedicated souls have a bigger impact than even we as parents have; this was the case with BB and MAC.

Y'all know the impression (trauma) The Trios' Puberty ::shudder:: had on Babushka.  Being a single mom of 3 wasn't easy and in all honesty BB had no clue how to raise a teenage son.  MAC was/is a kind soul who loves his mama, but the testosterone was trying and climbing; he had to test it out- and not always in the smartest of ways. Needless to say, Babushka was very happy when he was attracted to his high school's ROTC program, and in particular when his Sgt. took a special interest in his welfare- in and out of classroom.  He was the male example MAC never had and we are forever grateful for his help and caring.  Imaginate how much he was a part in MACs life, how significant a role, my grandson's middle name was chosen in honor of the man. A lifelong gesture for a life changing and lifelong lesson.

Please help BB,Office Depot and Adopt-A-Classroom change more lives for the better.  The impact teachers have on our children's lives truly can be life changing and lifelong- let's acknowledge all they are to us and how vital they are to our future.  Do you know a teacher you'd like to celebrate and thank? Please share and have the non-profit organization, Adopt-A-Classroom bring attention to their efforts.

• How to Register Your Classroom as a Teacher
1. Go to Teachers Change Lives website 
2. Click on the red box that says "Register Your Classroom," which will take you to the Adopt-A-Classroom website
3. Follow the corresponding steps from there
• How to Donate to a Teacher
1. Go to Teachers Change Lives website 
2. Click on the teal "Donate to a Teacher" box on the Teachers Change Lives website , which will take you to the Adopt-A-Classroom website
3. Follow the corresponding steps from there

A lifechanging and lifelong impression- it happens more often than we realize.

To our Sgt. and ALL Stellar Teachers:

1000x Gracias.

BB2U

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all BB'S.

Proud Portrait of a Padre- My Son. Who'd of Thunk It??

How do you tell the greatness of a man? 

By how proud and surprised his mother is.  

Quee?? 

If you've lived through your son's Puberty  ::shudder::  you'll agree w/Babushka 100%!!

First, you have this little handful

Who quickly turns into a bigger handful.

Then in a blink of a heartbeat has his own little handfuls.

Who are quickly turning into bigger handfuls.

"Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys."~Anon

Bueno mijo lindo, don't know where you got your influence from, but I know your sons will be Big Men.

Gracias for sharing your love and helping raise sons whose portraits you too will share with pride.

Happy Father's Day

And to all of you Beautifuls, may today be a day of happy memories.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S.  To clarify the title- JU SO FONII !!!  

It's not that I ever doubted my son's parenting capabilities, 

it's the fact that he's actually old enough to do it that boogles BB.  

Santa is a Wannabe Grandpa

Santa is a wannabe Grandpa, for sure for sure. And not only is he a wannabe grandpa (at least I've never heard stories of his kids), but I think he was Cuban in a past life. Oh si, because BB recognizes a fellow extremist when she sees them.

By outer everyday appearances we grandparents keep busy in a simpler, more even paced lifestyle. Note as an example Babushka and Sweetie's Christmas tree.  A true reflection of us as a couple- his obsession w/anything Peanuts related and BB's obsession w/anything chocolate related.

HOWEVER, inwardly we are mischievous elves reliving Christmas's past and waiting to share the joys of those memories.  In abuelo language that's called Puberty ::shudder:: Payback Presents y Santi Clo is the Numero Uno hombre honoring this tradition. Queee?? JU SO FONII!!! Por supuesto, and but of course BB has proof.  How else can you explain this?

My grandsons PicaPica y Rinquincaya 

Are you looking at those faces?  

Who else but a grandparent, someone who remembers Christmas's past would give these two- 

PicaPica  ninja/legos  collection

Rinquincaya with drumset and piano w/mic

Santa's the poster child of Grandparents.  Not only does he give these kinds of marvelous presents, but he then disappears into the night until the following year, leaving the parents the sounds and pieces of the season.  And he gets milk and cookies for doing this!!

As Babushka sits here, far away Up North in The South ,  seeing the pictures via Feibu and sipping her coquito spiked café, I am missing my grandchildren and can't wait to see them.  Once again the Man in Red sent the perfect gift to BB. In total solidarity and knowing, he sent me earplugs and combat boots.

Santi Clo, every year I believe in you more and more.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

PicaPica's 6 and ready to party!- Day 19 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Yesterday was the sixth birthday of  PicaPica, my son MAC's eldest son. And everyday he looks more and more like his dad. Oh si he does- even the XBox said so when it greeted my son while it was actually scanning PicaPica.  What's worse (better?) is that everyday he acts more like his dad too.  And better (worse?) is that MAC is incorporating some things I used to do to him.  Like: 

Little Bro Rinquincaya is looking and hoping there's one for him too...

Birthday Wakeup Donut!!

Loved doing this for my trio- it always brightened everyone's day and started it off with smiles.  No tired sleepyheads on birthdays.  My DIL said they actually got up quickly and laughing!!

Rinquincaya showing how old HE is.

A day of laughter.

Rinquincaya y PicaPica

Now really, shouldn't that be what birthdays are all about?

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

P.S. For those of you who think I'm counting the days until Karma comes for Puberty ::shudder:: .  

JU SO FONII!!!

and you know me too well.

; )

Maaaa.... how do you??? Day 4 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

This 30 day blog challenge has inspired Babushka. Queee?? To write a daily blog?  JU SO FONII!!!  No way!
But I will start a monthly feature titled "Maaaa.... how do you???".  And it goes something like this:


It’s happened.  You have found your parents' brains.  They had lost them while you were going through puberty ::shudder::, but now that you’re the new parent the new grandparents are once again reliable and valuable sages.  I know this to be a true and never ending saga because I did it to my mother and now my trio is doing it to me.  Maaaa...How do you???

It can be anything and everything.  True, the first child is always raised via “the experts” as in doctors and child psychologists of the era, but when that fails, then common sense & experience are more reliable than “experts”.  It seems to me that today’s parents try to reason and cajole their offspring into doing what’s good for them.  Whatever happened to good old fashioned trickery?  Don’t look at me like that- we’ve all done it.  Or did your baby’s spoon really fly in the air or make choo choo sounds?  Ahuh... so today’s lesson is getting your children to eat their greeneries- veggies and salads.  

Don’t know about your children, but my trio loved the boxed Mac & Cheese and they loved hot dogs.  So I made macaroni & cheese with little bits of cut up hot dogs in them.  Once they started looking forward to that dish I added frozen vegetables cut up into small pieces “for color”.  “Look” BB would say, “Isn’t that so pretty?”  Naturally the first batch was lotsa cheese and hot dogs.  As they grew accustomed to the combination I would gradually add more veggies or have bigger pieces of veggies in them while tapering back on the cheese and hot dog.  The ratio was easily played with and calculated and they learned to eat their vegetables!  To this day I have grown up friends of my son admit to me that the only way they’d eat vegetables was at my house when I made them in mac & cheese.  

Now I know “the experts” are always touting the evils of sugar- but you know the evil of not eating greens is worse. So, Maaaaa...How do you???  make the child eat salad?  CATALINA DRESSING.  Yes it’s watered catsup w/lots of sugar, but it works!!  And like the mac & cheese you play with the ratio until they start to like other greens.  My eldest, now in her late 20’s still brightens up whenever she sees the bottle of Catalina in my home.  Think about it.  I’m sure there’s a food or ingredient that your parents have in their home that reminds you of your childhood.  Hopefully it’s a good memory and you’ll be using it in your home too.

Now what events, problems, questions did or do you have that you just had to ask- Maaaa...how do you???

So, que creen? How y'all like the first post of the series?  

What questions would you like BB to answer or topic you'd like her spin on?  

Or maybe you'd like to share a "Maaa....how do you???" moment of your own? I'd love to hear from you.

¡¡A BAILAR SE HA DICHO!!

; )

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

Fall Part 2

OK, so I continue my discurso on Fall. In case you didn't gather from the last post, this is my favorite time of year. The temperature starts dropping (of course that's up here in North Florida, in Miami? JU SO FONII !!! ), there's pumpkin pie and caramel apples in the grocery stores, the fashions are fabulous, and the holiday lights are beginning to twinkle in the darker crisp nights. Si, yo se, I didn't state the obvious, the reason Fall is called Fall. The leaves, they are a changin' colors and faaalllliiinnnggg, but that's not the only thing that's falling.

Let us go back to fashions shall we? Even though BB adooores fall fashions, I do concede there are possible drawbacks. Last week, BB went to apoyar-support- a performance given by fellow actors of the TWAM- Theatre With A Mission troupe, and of course had to look every bit the distinguished diva that she is. The nightime temperatures were going to drop into the low 40's so out came the box of winter clothing and I picked my ensemble. My divine divaness decided on the flowered black fan, my BB headscarf, my black cape, a lime green turtleneck, a black background flowered see through long sleeved shirt, black dress slacks, black tights and black high heeled boots. I should have left the last two items in the box. Apparently the tights and the boots, as well as BB, had aged in the last year and the proof of that would be apparent before the end of the evening.

Now, I did notice the tights were not quite as snug as they should be- at least not in the right places. Oh they were tight enough up to the upper thighs and then it seemed the elastic powers of the poor dears could take no more. They just hung there, mid thigh. Running behind schedule (Cubana remember?) I rationalized that my pants would keep them up, so off my daughter and I went. Arriving at the location, I jump out of the car only to have my smarty 19 year old ask why I'm walking funny. She's sooooo lucky I had my hands in my pockets trying to hold up the tights and couldn't give her a good ::BOPASO::  with my fan...

I quickly found the nearest ladies' room and did what any self respecting nifty, almost 50, diva abuela would do. I undressed, put my granny panties on top of the now midthigh "tights" and put my slacks and boots back on before they became knee highs. If you're female I know you've felt my pain.

Bueno, para no cansarte, we watched the brilliant performance of our actors and in the glow of their well deserved applause they asked the rest of the troupe to join them on stage. A little background info here- my daughter asked why I was going if I wasn't going to be acting. I informed her that BB didn't always have to be the center of attention- to which she laughed/choked. "Mom, you can't help yourself- it's who you are, what you do." And y'all wonder why puberty ::shudder:: has left me shell shocked.

Continuing. I go towards the other actors and finding no steps attempt to climb onto the stage. Notice I wrote attempt. Between the high heels, the midthighs-almost-knee-highs tights and my age, you can forget about it. My right foot was on the stage, with me trying to get momentum by pushing off the ground repeatedly with the left foot while sputtering "Ahem,hem,hem" to cover any creaks or cries from my joints and bones.

It was not a diva moment.

In all fairness, my 19 year old showed self control. She did not say anything until the ride home. Then the hysterical laughter shook the car windows.

"See? You can't help yourself- it's who you are, what you do."

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

I looooooooovvvveee Winning!

Oh yeah, Oh yeah, que si, que si! Can't help doing my "winning dance" as FedEx leaves 2 big packages at my side door. Naturally this totally embarrasses my 19 year old, making this a double win!!! Whaaaaatttt??? Puberty payback and it's soooo goooooddd, try to do it as often as I can. ; )

Winning- isn't that the best feeling? Ok, ok, we're supposed to be in life for the experience... but is it so bad to enjoy the winning experiences??? I for one get high on that feeling and it shows in my addiction to contests. Contests, sweepstakes, online, instore, wherever- whatever. Do I spend a lot of time entering? You betcha. Do I get a lot of stuff I'll never use? You betcha. Will I ever stop? JU SO FONII !!!

The joy of getting something free-( also why I am an avid couponer, but that's for another time) and that your name was picked above countless others, that if only for the instant of picking, you are special. The knowing that the Contest Gods smiled upon you and that you're in their graces is a feeling like no other. As Tata says, "No hay dinero como el dinero ganado." She's so right, "There's no money like money won." because everyone likes good surprises! Of course it's better when it multiplies- when you're "in the flow"- and Babushka is basking in that river now and loving it.

#4

From: Silvia

Wednesday November 14, 2011 11:50 a.m.

Congratulations! you are the winner(s) of the PAM cooking toolkit at Mama Latina Tips!

http://www.mamalatinatips.com/

#3

From: Lidia Sagastume

Sent: November 10, 2011 3:43 AM

Subject: Giveaway Winner

Hi Bohemian Babushka,

Just to let you know you won the Cars 2 combo pack giveaway. Congratulations!

http://www.spanglishbaby.com/

#2

From: Desiree Eaglin

Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 11:50 AM

Subject: You are the Suzuki Mom Fest Winner!

Congratulations!

You are the lucky winner of the Suzuki Mom Fest "junk in my trunk" giveaway!

THANK YOU for being a loyal, valued reader to the blog!

http://daytrippingmom.com/

#1

October 3, 2011

From Marta Darby- Blogger Extraordinaire -

Whose blog "My Big, Fat, Cuban Family" enriches so many lives daily

http://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/

( no idea how she does it -weekly postings me sacan la lengua and leave me beyond bushed.

Daily postings? Estan crazy!! )

The official prize was her marvelous book,

but my treasure is the handwritten note that she included with the cookbook.

Classy all the way.

Mil Gracias to these 4 sites for their wonderful postings and giveaways.

I'm riding the wave of winnings and looking forward to more!

Yes, the joy is in the playing, but the dancing is in the winning!!!

♪♫♪¡A Bailar Mi Gente, A Bailar!♪♫♪

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

P.S. My little one read the post and said "You did not embarrass me, I'm used to it by now."

Quick- somebody bring me my white fan!

::BOPASO::

Introductions

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.