Spanish Friday - Recuerdos Navideños!

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Re-posting this from last year to once again share the music we used to listen to during Christmas time in Puerto Rico. Enjoy!

This post is written in Spanish for Spanish Friday. The English version is after. You can also use the Google translator on the sidebar to translate the entire page in Spanish.

Ayer estaba viendo los Latin Grammys Awards. Los grabé en el DVR y como necesitaba espacio decidí verlo. Me trajo muchos recuerdos de cuando vivía en Puerto Rico. La primera canción de Calle 13 (Latinoamérica), me gustó mucho. Nunca había oido la música de ese grupo. En fín me puse a pensar en los tiempos de antes, las navidades y de toda la música que se escuchaba en aquellos años. Las navidades se pasaban tan bien. No eran acerca de regalos sino acerca de pasarla con la familia y amistades. La pasabamos bailando, comiendo buena comida y después a llevarle parrandas a los vecinos y a familiares que vivían en otros pueblos. Nos quedabamos hasta las 3 y 4 de la mañana! Ay, tantos recuerdos! 

Ya que me dió nostalgia decidí buscar en youtube algunas de las canciones para compartirlas con mis lectores y a la misma vez añadirlas a mi lista de música Navideña, salsa y merengue. Espero que las disfruten tanto como yo..

Si quieres participar en Spanish Friday visita Latinaish.com

Yesterday I was watching the Latin Grammys Awards. I recorded it on the DVR and since I needed space I decided to watch it. It brought back memories from when I lived in Puerto Rico. I really liked the first song from Calle 13 (Latinoamérica). Never heard the music of that band before. Anyway, I started thinking about back in the days, the holidays and all the music we used to listened to in those years. The holidays were good. It wasn't about gifts it was about spending it with family and friends. We would dance, have good food and then to take the parrandas to the neighbors and relatives living in other towns. We would stay until 3 and 4 in the morning! So many memories!

Since I was nostalgic I decided to look for some of the songs on youtube to share it with my readers and at the same time add it to my music list of Christmas music, salsa and merengue. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do..

If you would like to participate in Spanish Friday visit Latinaish.com.












image credit: De Puerto Rico Pal Mundo

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President Obama Meets Parents Of Boys Lost During Sandy.

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Pete Souza/The White House

If you remember I posted about the parents who lost their boys during hurricane Sandy. How difficult it must be for them to have lost their two sons in one day. During his visit to New York City yesterday, President Obama met privately with the parents of the boys. In the video below he praised police officer lieutenant Kevin Gallagher who helped the Moore family with the search for the boys and stayed with them until their bodies were found. If you rather not see the whole video, you can forward it to 5:30.    

I hope it gives them some comfort to know a lot of people are praying for them. For God to give them strength during this difficult time...♥

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Growing up Bilingual, Bicultural, and Bi-happy.

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Las Fabulosas: Success

By Bryna Bates Jean-Marie for Las Fabulosas

For parents who are raising kids in a bicultural household, teaching them to speak Ingles y Español is something of a passion. That’s why developing habits that incorporate both cultures into kids’ daily routines, says John Baugh -- chair of the Public Relations Committee at the Linguistic Society of America and professor emeritus of education and linguistics at Stanford University -- will bring bicultural happiness to la familia.

Engage them in activities from both culturas.
“Watch television in both languages, particularly the one that is not dominant in your speech community. Sing songs and nursery rhymes from both cultures. This will instill respect and familiarity with both,” says Baugh, the Margaret Bush Wilson professor in arts and sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

Give both cultures equal importance.
“Depending upon the context in which people live, circumstances may imply that one culture may be devalued in comparison to the dominant culture and language,” adds Baugh. “If this impression exists, family members should do everything possible to maintain and value their family heritage, language and culture, while doing what’s necessary to gain fluency in the dominant language and culture.”

Baugh offers this final note: “The benefits of bilingualism and biculturalism are tremendous. Chinese, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese are growing in global influence. People who are familiar with more than one language, and more than one culture, will be better equipped to participate more fully in the future global economy. This familiarity with languages and cultures besides English is an underutilized asset in a global economy that demands linguistic and cultural dexterity.”

Photo: Corbis Images

Bryna Bates Jean-Marie  Bryna Bates Jean-Marie has contributed to People, Black Enterprise, Glamour, Marie Claire, O, The Oprah Magazine and Tyra.com.



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Memories: Sept. 11 10th Anniversary.

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Reposting this post in memory of those lost on this day 11 years ago...✞

Today is the 10Th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. I wasn't sure I wanted to write a post about it because just last night I had a nightmare (reason why I posted it so late), but here I am. First, my prayers and blessings to the families and friends of those lost on this day 10 years ago. 

It's hard to believe 10 years have passed. Feels like it wasn't too long ago that I was riding the bus after dropping the kids at school. I was going through a rough time then so I was feeling depressed (that's another story). I turned on the radio on my phone to listen to some music. As I was thinking about the apartment I was going to see I heard about the first plane. I thought, wait did I hear right? I wish I could have pressed rewind at that moment. At first, I thought it was a prank or an accident. Then I heard them say a second plane just hit the second tower. I kept looking around the bus to see if everyone else heard the same thing because I still didn't believe it. Everyone looked normal.

After the bus, I took the train to get to Roosevelt Avenue and there from the platform I could see the Twin Towers filled with smoke. My mind was racing trying to think about every possible explanation. I kept trying to call my kid's school but the cell phones weren't working. When I looked up again there was only one tower standing. At this point I still wasn't sure what had happened so I kept trying to call my kid's school but couldn't get through. While I'm trying to look for change for the pay phone I glanced over and the second tower was gone. I could hear people gasping and crying. Me, I was stunned for a moment. I couldn't think. I thought, what is happening? Then I see everyone else going down the stairs when I heard the announcement that there were no trains running. I started panicking thinking how am I going to get to the kids. I kept calling the school from a pay phone but nothing. I finally got through to my ex (we were together at the time) when he tells me that we were attacked. I said to him what do you mean? He tells me again, I started crying. I could feel my heart beating really fast, feeling like someone just dropped a bucket of cold water on me. I told him I have to get the kids, I don't know how but I'll get there. He was further away so he couldn't get to them. 

Everyone was leaving the train station so I followed them. We ended up in Northern Boulevard, trying catch a bus from there but the buses that kept passing by were full. People were trying to call their families to pick them up. I didn't have anyone to call so I keep trying to catch a bus but none of them were stopping. People started talking to each other trying to keep calm, asking where they were headed to see if they could get a ride. A lady started talking to me, she told me that her son was going to pick her up that she could drop me off at the nearest bus stop. I said to her, Ay, Gracias! Que Dios se lo pague/Oh, thank you! May God bless you! Every time I think about it I wish we would've asked each others name, would've liked to stay in touch. If it wasn't for her God knows how much more I would've had to wait to get to my kids. From the time we got there to the time we left it was almost 4 hours. 

I finally got to the school, I literally ran to them to hug them. I kept asking them if they were ok. At the time they were 11 and 8 years old so they didn't really understand the magnitude of what was going on. I told them I was trying to call the school and that's when they told me someone had called in a bomb threat. On a day like that why would someone be so cruel, and call a bomb threat to a school, is beyond me. We took the bus home, and as soon as I opened the door I ran to turn to the TV. I remember vividly seeing the first images, I was sobbing. Finding out that they not only attacked New York, but also Virginia. The third attack prevented by the heroes of flight 93. God bless them for giving their lives for us. 

All that time I thought that the people inside the buildings had had enough time to get out. When it was clear most of them didn't, I felt angry and helpless at the same time. As silly as it may sound (I'm sure I wasn't the only one), I wanted to help somehow. Go down there to help with the digging, serving food, anything. Of course that didn't happened for me, but I am glad so many people did help in one way or another.  

For the next couple of days, weeks I was glued to the TV. My problems were secondary at that point. All I could think about were the people under the rubble waiting to be rescued. I wanted to know every little bit of new information. That, for some reason gave me some comfort (until this day I don't know why) even though when I went to sleep I would have nightmares. 

I remember people being nice to each other after that day. Asking how are you doing today? Saying hello and good morning. Something that not many people used to say, and still don't. I remember feeling so proud of being an American. Thinking we are now at war, our soldiers will find them. We will show them how strong United States can be. Our way of living may have changed, but we are as strong as ever. We Will Never Forget... 



Note: I uploaded some photos I received through emails years ago. I don't claim this photos as mine, I'm simply sharing them.

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A Wedding Planner - A Must Have!

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From the moment we are born our parents start thinking if we are going to get married, who are we going to marry and when. Getting married it's one of the biggest moments of our lives besides having a child and going to college. Some people choose to do a big wedding where even the mailman is invited. Some do a small private wedding where only immediate family and close friends are invited. Whatever the case may be, planning a wedding can turn into a nightmare if you don't know what to do or have the right connections.

That is when a wedding planner comes in. This is an infographic giving you details of what a wedding planner would do for you. From all the connections a wedding planner has, to an example of a few nightmare moments that can happen at a wedding. There are also some fun facts. Who tends to pay for weddings more often, how much the average wedding costs, what wedding supplies you will need and what is popular these days. Very informative indeed!

Infographic Provided by EquipSupply

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Familia Values.

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Las Fabulosas: Home & Happiness

By Michelle Herrera Mulligan for Las Fabulosas

As children, we rolled our eyes when our padres demanded we speak fluent español and attend our neighbors’ quinceñeras. But in the process of acclimating to an American lifestyle, we may leave too much behind. Here are nine nuggets of Latino wisdom we should never forget, and how to incorporate them into our complicated modern lives:

1. Familia comes first. In good times and in bad, no one is there like the family. But it’s not just obligation that should compel you to put the ones closest to you first. After all, what’s more relaxing: reality TV drama or story time with your children?

2. Pool your resources. Saving in groups has helped Latin-Americans around the world to start businesses and buy homes. Combine energy with like-minded professionals by starting a Latino affinity group in your field.

3. Dinner is sacred. At least once a month, make a whole meal from scratch for a small group of close friends. The memory will last longer than a night at the movies.

4. Don’t spend what you don’t make. Immigrants don’t use credit cards, but we have to sometimes. Make sure to keep a careful log to justify each charge.

5. Never complain. This may be unrealistic, but do we really have to whine so much? Try cutting all negative comments for one week.

6. Invest in people, not things. Our families helped out the neighbors; we barely know who lives on our block. Create a sense of community by joining a local parent group, cultural organization or food coop.

7. Romance is king. Our abuelitos never quit dancing or date nights.

8. A little fat never killed anyone. Even research backs Mami up on this one: the body needs monounsaturated fats -- so bring on the guacamole and pepitas. (Skip the chips.)

9. Don’t bring work home. If you can’t pull this off, budget at least 30 task- and media- free minutes a day. You’ll be more relaxed and effective in the morning.


Michelle Herrera Mulligan is the managing editor of Las Fabulosas.




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Happy Father's Day!

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Wishing all the fathers, single mothers or anyone who plays the role of both parents in a child's life a Happy Father's Day! That you get to spend the day with people who love you and make you happy! We are not doing anything, although I was thinking of maybe going to the city to walk around. Who knows...

Enjoy your day and stay safe!♥♥



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Happy Memorial Day!

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Happy Memorial Day to everyone! Hugs to those with family and friends serving, keeping our country safe everyday. Prayers to those who have lost their lives protecting us, and many thanks to those who risk their lives protecting this country's freedom, for their sacrifice.♥♥

We didn't do anything special this weekend. We stayed in enjoying each other's company, watching movies and playing video games. I even played some Resident Evil 5, lol. Or at least tried! It's difficult for me to control the camera and move at the same time. I like the game, but I have to master moving both analog sticks, lol. Give me Tekken, now that I can handle!

Now, back to doing laundry, cleaning up, making dinner, doing my nails and getting ready for the week. Stay safe and enjoy what is left of the weekend...


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A Mother and Her Support System.

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This is a Guest Post by Heather Von St James. Heather is a mesothelioma survivor, she's raising awareness for mesothelioma by sharing her inspirational story.

It takes a village to raise a child. I found how true that was when my only child, Lily, was born by C-section on August 4, 2005. She and I made it through delivery with flying colors, and a host of family and friends gathered around us with well wishes and congratulations. My husband and I could never have imagined the trials awaiting us in the coming year.

Shortly after I returned to work full time, I began feeling low on energy, breathless and exhausted. While most of these symptoms might be chalked up to the stress of being a new mother, something seemed wrong, so I made a visit to my doctor. Tests were run, and on November 21, I received the diagnosis: malignant pleural mesothelioma.

This cancer in the lining of my left lung mostly likely resulted from asbestos exposure in my youth. Now, 30 years later, I face a fight for my life through the trials of aggressive treatment for mesothelioma. Since the prognosis for mesothelioma patients is grim, my husband and I chose to fight as hard as possible against the disease.

That winter we left Lily with my parents in South Dakota and traveled to Boston. There I underwent treatment from one of the finest mesothelioma physicians in the world. On February 2, 2006, my left lung was removed, along with the lining and the cancerous tumor. For the next 18 days, I recovered in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Lily was growing and developing, hundreds of miles away. My mom sent regular emails with pictures of her eating her first baby food, scooting around and other cute things. My husband would print these photos on a community printer and bring them to my room. There my nurses would surround me and ooh and ah over Lily’s developmental progress. They were a part of my village in Boston.

In South Dakota, a village surrounded Lily to help her grow into a healthy toddler. Girls I had cared for when they were young took turns watching Lily while my parents worked. People from the church where I had grown up stepped in to help as well.

When my husband and I returned to Boston, I recovered at home for two months before beginning chemotherapy and then radiation treatments. As I grew stronger, I was able once again to care for Lily.

Our family has learned to truly appreciate life and all it has to offer. My favorite quote comes from the 1958 movie Auntie Mame “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.” Despite the difficulties that came with my battle with cancer, I am thankful for the valuable lessons cancer has taught me.


Heather Von St James is a mesothelioma survivor and a guest blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Her story is one of hope and inspiration and she hopes to spread her message to anyone who may be going through similar situations to her own.
Check out Heather’s story on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

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Happy Mother's Day/Feliz Día de las Madres!

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Happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas out there! I hope your day is full of love, hugs and kisses. That you are treated like the Queen that you are! My daughter gave me a present this morning. Can you guess what it is? They look like candy but they are handmade soaps! The lady told my daughter what they are made out of, but she forgot. One of them is made with honey as you can see in the picture. They smell divine! They look so pretty, I don't want to use them, lol.

I commented on Facebook that I wasn't going to do anything special today, but my daughter asked me if we could go out. So we are going to the city, eat dinner (no cooking for me, yay!) somewhere and walk around. Maybe go to Central Park, love sitting there for hours. I'll be taking pictures that's for sure.

Enjoy your day, mi gente!

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A Much Needed LOL.

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I have been having some blah days lately due to some personal things but mainly because of an inconsiderate neighbor playing loud music. I have been taking steps to see if the situation can be resolved. Meanwhile I am trying hard not to let the situation bring me down, but it's hard. Yesterday it was a bad day, I wanted to pull my hair out I was so upset. Thank God my son manages to make me smile when I'm most upset (I don't let mis hijos know how upset I am). I was trying to distract myself by reading other blogs and Twitter, but it wasn't working. I decided to do something else, so I asked my son to help me. This is how our conversation went.

Me: Can you help me do something?
Son: What do I get in return?
Me: Lots of love.
Son: What's love? Can I spend it?
Me: LOL, I see!
Son: LOL, I was joking Ma'.
Me: ¿Me vas a ayudar?
Son: Sí.
Me: Ok.

I felt a bit better after that laugh. Took a shower and went to bed. Woke up this morning anticipating what my day was going to be like. If it was going to be the same as yesterday. So far it hasn't been the same, but the day is not over so it can start at any time. People who have been through this or are going through it, know how this can affect someone. I went through this before moving here, for four years. It was hell. After two years of peace, I find myself in a similar situation again. Like they say in Puerto Rico after a while eso acaba con uno/it takes a toll on you. Please send some prayers my way...

Today again, I was looking for some good LOL by reading the blogs I follow. Wasn't long before I found one that made laugh so hard my face hurt. The blog, Me & The Mexican. Her post titled Mexican-isms made me have a good laugh. I have been there. When I make mistakes with my pronunciation mis hijos correct me. I tell them you understood what I meant right? They say yes. I tell them, then that's what matters. No me jodas!/leave me alone! I tell them this with a smile on my face of course. Here is an example, when I'm talking about sheets it's hard for me to pronounce it so I end up saying shit, lol. Same with beach and bitch! Anyway, check out her blog. Thanks to Tara and my son for making me laugh.♥♥




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The Challenge Of Shopping On A Holiday.

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One of the things that people complain about the most when it comes to any of the numerous holidays that we celebrate on our calendar is shopping for all of the various gifts that we are obligated to buy for the different friends and family members that we have on our lists. There are not many people who enjoy going out to all of the various stores in our area, and fight the large crowds that seem to gather at all of these different places. This can be seen to be one of the most frustrating parts of the holidays.

One of the holidays that we celebrate every year is the holiday that we know as Mother's Day. This is a holiday which was invented here in the United States by a woman who loved her mother very much and wanted to pay tribute to her, and all of the other moms who make so many sacrifices and do so much for their children. They do things like nurse their children through all of the various illnesses that we go through as children, and they do things like give us advice and discipline as well.

One of the ways that we pay tribute to our mother's is by giving them gifts on Mother's Day. One of the most popular of these kinds of gifts is the Mother's Day gift baskets that can be given to them as a part of the occasion. Mother's Day gift baskets can include a number of different things, including things like gift cards, specialty food items, candy, or even movie tickets. The kinds of gifts that you choose are going to depend on the different according to what the mom in your life will like.

Not all of the moms are going to be the same, or like the same kinds of things. Something that is also important is the time and effort that you dedicate to the task of finding the right gift. In order to cut down on the time that you spend going to the store, and trying to search around for the right gift for all of the people that are on your list, whether they be your mom, or someone else. If you do not like going to the stores and shopping, something else that you can use as a good alternative is the internet.

Technology has advanced our world so much, that now if you want to buy something, you do not even have to go to the store to buy it, but you can log onto the website for the retailer, and purchase anything that you want from there. This is a time saving device, as well as a good idea for those who do not enjoy shopping. Whatever gift that you decide to purchase for the people on your list, whether it is for Mother's Day, or any other holiday. As long as you put thought and care into the kinds of gifts that you buy, the recipient is sure to enjoy them.




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Get Your Kids Excited About Learning Spanish.

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Expert QA

My mother’s watching my 8-year-old soon, and while they have bonded, there’s one problem: My mom only speaks Español, and my daughter doesn’t want to learn! How can I encourage my daughter?

From the Editors of Las Fabulosas

One of the best ways to connect your child to her Latino heritage is to teach her Spanish. “Like any other skill you’re teaching your child, it requires time, patience and perseverance,” says Jacqueline Valencia Rodriguez, a therapist in New York City. Try these tips to make it fun.

1. Create games. “Play a game in the teaching moments,” says Rodriguez. One idea? Speak in Spanish about your kids, and then have them figure out what you’re saying. Or try tongue twisters such as “R con R cigarro.”

2. New tradition. Pick a Spanish-only day. Tell your kids that anyone who wants to speak and be heard today needs to speak Spanish, including parents and siblings. Remember “Los Pollitos”? Teach a Spanish nursery rhyme and sing along.

3. Learn the culture. Experiencing our culture and the beautiful music while speaking Spanish will cement their language skills. “Organize a trip to your native country at least once a year,” says Rodriguez.


Francesca Velasquez is a first-time contributor to Las Fabulosas.




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Put la Familia on the Health Track.

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Las Fabulosas: Success

By Robyn Moreno for Las Fabulosas

With young kids, it can often be difficult to incorporate healthy nutrition into your kids’ diet as well as your own. We asked experts for easy tips on helping your kids -- and yourself -- successfully stay healthy and perform better.

Start Your Day off Right
“Eating a healthy breakfast is the single most important thing you can do,” says Barbara Mendez, a New York City–based nutritionist and pharmacist. From cereals to scones, 99 percent of what we eat has way too much sugar. Instead, Mendez recommends plain oatmeal with fresh fruit and cinnamon, which regulates your metabolism and burns fat. Another fast recipe is to make mini- frittatas (baked omelets) in muffin pans. You can individually wrap them and eat them on the go.

Smart Snacks
Seven to eight hours can pass between meals, which is when junk-food danger can strike. Mendez suggests beating cravings with good high-protein, low-fat snacks, such as sliced apples with natural peanut butter, or a little guacamole on a corn tortilla. All are easy-to-pack school lunches.

Stay Hydrated
“Hydration for the whole family is hugely important and often overlooked,” says Mendez. Drinking more water speeds up your metabolism by 3 percent, which helps you burn an extra 150 calories.

The Family That Plays Together Stays Together
Make fitness fun by joining a family soccer league or bringing your kids along to yoga class. Implement after-dinner strolls to look at the stars. People that are more active are less likely to be obese and have cancer, heart disease, stress and depression. Encouraging family fitness is the best way to show that you care.


Robyn Moreno  is a lifestyle expert and the author of Practically Posh: The Smart Girl’s Guide to a Glam Life. She is a frequent contributor to Las Fabulosas.




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Facebook Parenting: A Proactive Approach For Tweens

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Every Day Connected: Sponsored Blog

By Marsali Hancock for Every Day Connected

A lot of you may wonder: “Why do you have to be 13 years old to legally use Facebook? Why can’t you be 16, 18 or 12? What’s so special about that particular age?”

First of all, it’s not an age arbitrarily chosen by Facebook. According to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), websites collecting information from a general-audience population must receive guardian permission to gather data from children 12 years old and younger.

Often, websites -- Facebook included -- choose to make the legal age of usage 13 years and older to bypass the litigious headaches that parental consent incurs. But, as I’m sure you know, rules are made to be broken. And not surprisingly, countless tweens between the ages of 8 and 12 -- and at times their parents -- turn a blind eye to Facebook’s age policy.

The Parent Trap
Parents who knowingly let their preadolescent youngsters use Facebook may say: “I’ve fixed the privacy settings, my child’s OK.” It’s fantastic that those moms and dads have taken steps to protect their children online, but the service frequently changes its privacy policies. That makes it difficult to continuously adjust the settings that create a secure, highly regulated “bubble shield” around the child.

And of course there are a lot of unsuspecting parents out there whose underage children are sailing the Facebook seas without a captain, compass or lifeboat. Even if their young ones strictly stick to “harmless” social games, like FarmVille, they’re unaware of the types of relationships their children are building in forums and with friends.

Anyone who’s created a Facebook account knows that proving you are at least 13 years of age is as simple as checking a box. So you can imagine how difficult it is to find those wily tweens who are feverishly posting pictures, taking quizzes and making friends through the service. However, the website does take measures to find those young ones and remove them from the system.

Recently, Mozelle Thompson -- Facebook’s chief privacy officer -- told the Australian Federal Parliament’s cyber-safety committee that the social networking giant deletes 20,000 accounts each day for age violations. Although an impressive number, he went on to say that the tools employed to find underage users are not foolproof.

Thompson’s admission substantiates the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project results, stating that 46 percent of 12-year-olds surveyed in the U.S. use social networks. That sounds like a high percentage, but the number makes sense when you consider that children meet and connect emotionally through their digital devices. The virtual world is now and forevermore injected into daily interpersonal relationships, and nobody knows that better than our blossoming digital natives.

Doing It for the Kids
Facebook is an arena intended for the older set. Younger children are not developmentally ready to navigate the scrutiny and politics that often take place in this social space. Teens and adults prove to have a hard enough time with it, as evidenced by the daily news.

That doesn’t mean parents should wait to introduce their boys and girls to the concept of digital citizenship. Instead, they should carefully choose online environments that are specifically created with tweens in mind.

Currently, there are plenty of fun and safe social networks for children on the Web. The level of control, permission and oversight needed to play in these realms makes them more secure than the other PG-13-rated spaces. More importantly, getting your children set up on age-appropriate sites is a great way to start talking about the boons and burdens of social media.

Remember: Don’t close doors; just guide your children through the ones that lead to safe and healthy online relationships. Statistics prove they want to use social media; it only makes sense that they learn through you.

Like this blog?   Follow us @EveryDayConnect





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When Private Goes Public: The Role Social Networking Plays in Suicide.

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Every Day Connected: Sponsored Blog


By Marsali Hancock for Every Day Connected



“Jumping off the gw bridge sorry,” Tyler Clementi, age 18, posted on his Facebook status on September 22, 2010.

And then he did just that. A desperate act fueled by humiliation, Clementi committed suicide after his Rutgers University roommate secretly recorded a private sexual encounter between him and another male, only to then post it to YouTube.

In the Phoebe Prince case, the 15-year-old hanged herself on January 10, 2010, after enduring months of bullying from fellow students. Prince felt that killing herself was the only escape from teen tormentors who attacked her in the hallways and taunted her through texts and public online spaces, like Facebook.

We’re all familiar with tales of social networking sites (SNSs), along with other new media platforms, casting a dark shadow over events leading up to a victim’s suicide. Frequently the issues revolve around private encounters, moments and words that spread like wildfire once they’ve been introduced to the digital stage -- often without the target’s consent.

With the 21st century ingenue Cyberbullying playing the lead role in each one of those dramas, we rarely hear examples of how social networking promotes a healthy mental state and even prevents suicide in some instances.

Although the media continually make the connection, there is no conclusive evidence that cyberbullying causes suicide.

First, we do youth a disservice by perpetually drawing a straight line between the two concepts of online harassment and self-murder. Continuing to make that association falsely communicates the message that there is no alternative escape from cyberbullying other than ending one’s life, which can result in children making that fatal decision.

Second, adults need to remember that youth connect emotionally and define relationships through their digital devices and Web platforms. They acutely feel both rejection and connection via digital media.

According to a recent International Center for Media and the Public Affairs (ICMPA) study, “students around the world reported that being tethered to digital technology 24-7 is not just a habit, it is essential to the way they construct and manage their friendships and social lives.”

Finally, it’s crucial that we understand both the positive and negative sides of social media, thereby putting cyberbullying into context and appreciating its place amidst all the benefits and opportunities that arise from digital connections.

To further the point, a growing body of research from the Australia-based Co-operative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing (YAW-CRC) supports the idea that SNSs have a much more positive effect on relationships and mental well-being than most of us may be aware.

According to the YAW-CRC’s The Benefit of Social Networking Services report:

“There is a demonstrated positive relationship between young people’s use of social networking services and self-esteem. … It is also argued that a sense of community and belonging has the potential to promote young people’s resilience, giving them the ability to successfully adapt to change and stressful events. … Overall, it appears that the social connections developed and fostered through SNS play an important role in promoting young people’s well-being.

Although cyberbullying represents the seamier side of social networking, it’s greatly outweighed by the support systems that youth develop online.

Too frequently it’s said that friendships in virtual communities do not carry the same lasting loyalty and profound connectivity that real-world relationships hold. Statements like those diminish the value that young ones place on their online relationships and in the end miss the importance of social networking in fostering a sense of self-worth and belonging on this Earth.

Things to Remember
Marginalized children and teens need to hear from trusted sources that their lives are not over if they experience digital persecution from peers. And parents, mentors and teachers should refer to resources (e.g., the Cyberbullying Research Center) to better understand social media’s place in self-esteem development.

If you are concerned for yourself or a child who is being harassed online, intervention programs make all of the difference. For more information, please visit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) What a Difference a Friend Makes website.




Photo: @iStockphoto.com/pkline



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The New Supermercado Latino.

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Las Fabulosas: Success

By Letisha Marrero for Las Fabulosas


Pregnancy cravings are no joke. But try being a pregnant Latina foodie. That’s what 27-year-old Venezolana-Italiana Melissa Berthier experienced last year. Since her Mexican-Lebanese esposo, Alfonso, no longer was an executive at Mexicana airlines who could lavish her with dulces from Latin America, what could a food-obsessed couple do to satisfy mami-to-be’s authentic cravings?

It took about nine months, but on the same day their daughter Sabrina was born, another entity was birthed: Mister Gallo, the mascot for LatinBag.com, the new parents’ e-commerce site that would launch a few weeks later in October 2010. The Berthiers had tapped into a nostalgia market for authentic comidas Latinas. So, they now offer to bag the groceries from your homeland for you, with customers as far away as South Korea and Australia.

The Bethesda, Md., couple balances fulfilling orders daily between day jobs: Melissa works for Metro in Washington, D.C., and Alfonso owns a distribution company. LatinBag is a work in progress -- from shipping and tracking, to storage and inventory. Now raising a growing toddler, Melissa concedes, “There is no such thing as spare time.” But her job provides stability and health insurance, as they’d like to have another child. Eventually, however, they’d like to devote themselves full-time to LatinBag and expand their inventory. “I’d love to sell authentic Oaxaca cheese,” says Melissa. “But it’s a matter of storing it properly.” So for now, LatinBag stocks an assortment of dry and canned goods, as well as pan dulce, café, candy, spices and more goodies to satisfy those cravings -- whether you’re pregnant or not.


Letisha Marrero has contributed to Latina, The Source, iVillage.com, ParentsConnect.com and MomsLikeMe.com. She is also a contributing author to Border-line Personalities: A New Generation of Latinas Dishes on Sex, Sass, and Cultural Shifting.




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Stop Cyberbullying Now!

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Every Day Connected: Socialize

By Tara Swords for Every Day Connected


The term “cyberbully” usually applies to minors bullying other minors online. But did you know that plenty of adults too are tormented by online harassers? It can be a frightening, unnerving experience, but if it happens to you or someone close to you, you don’t have to ignore it.







Here is exactly what to do if you’ve been targeted.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 1: Learn your rights.
Many states have laws protecting you from cybercrimes. Check out the National Conference of State Legislatures  site to find out what qualifies as cyberstalking, cyberbullying and cyberharassment, and whether your state has laws that specifically address these offenses. Even if you’re not ready to report the activity to the authorities, knowing your legal rights prepares you to understand when someone crosses the line.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 2: Ask for it to stop.
Make it clear to the bully that you want the behavior to stop immediately. If your child is being bullied, help him send the message. Don’t detail your reasons, because you risk getting roped into yet another conversation with the bully. Simply demand that it end and state that you want no more contact in the future. If the contact continues, don’t respond. If necessary, change your user names and profiles in the places (e.g., instant messengers) where the harassment occurs.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 3: Keep records.
Don’t delete any of the harassing communications, no matter how offensive. Save emails, chat logs and text messages in a file on your desktop -- and back up copies to a cloud service like Google Docs. If the situation worsens and you need to alert the authorities, this evidence will be crucial in backing up your claims.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 4: Report the abuse.
Forward offensive emails to the harasser’s school and Internet service provider, and ask that they be investigated. If the cyberbullying is happening at work, notify a supervisor or your human resources representative immediately. And if the problem escalates and you feel that you or your family members are unsafe -- or that your legal rights  have been violated -- file a report with your local law enforcement.

Cyberbullying Tip No. 5: Get support.
Ask for help. Such organizations as CyberAngels  can provide detailed, one-on-one guidance in dealing with cyberbullies and remind you that you’re not alone. Other organizations, such as the National Crime Prevention Council , offer tips as well -- especially for parents and teens.


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Feliz Navidad! - Merry Christmas!

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I want to wish you all a Feliz Navidad/Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is having a great day with their families and friends. Filled with love and laughter! I have been looking at the pictures people have been tweeting. Nice to see the kids with a smile on their faces opening their presents. There is nothing more beautiful than that!

I'm not spending hours in the kitchen today. Dinner is done basically, just warm it up and we are set. I baked another Gooey Butter cake, it turned out less sugary (ran out of powdered sugar) but I like it better that way (never thought I would say that!) and it has the right amount of gooeyness (new word?). That will be our dessert, yum.

We rented some movies, Conan The Barbarian and Thor. Since Netflix makes us wait for Blu-rays (sucks) those are the movies I could rent. So no feel good/Chrismassy movies. Oh, we can always see A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey again. That was a good movie! The animation is one of the best I have seen...

Anyway, I hope everyone got what they wanted from Santa, lol. Cuidense/be safe, mi gente. Have a designated driver if you drink or take a taxi!
Feliz Navidad!

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Feliz Nochebuena - Happy Christmas Eve!

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First, Feliz Nochebuena/Christmas Eve to everyone! I woke up early (8:30 AM, yes that's early for me) to put the pernil in the oven and enjoy some of the morning silence. It was so quiet! Yes, you would think since I live in the city I would love noise but no, I don't. It has to do with getting old and previously living next to a crazy woman for years.

Anyway, as I said 2 days ago I haven't been into celebrating the Holidays these days. I went out the same day and got some very simple/cheap Christmas decorations (see pictures below) for our table to brighten up my apartment and to force myself into feeling festive. Seems to be working a bit so far! Playing some mellow music working my way up to pop, rock and last some salsa and merengue. I wrote a post not too long with some of the music we (my familia) used to listen to for Christmas when I was growing up. Click here to read it. Add the songs to Spotify (Sign on for 30 days trial, cancel it before they charge your card!) and you'll be salseando and merengueando in no time! Weepa!

I've been cleaning up while the pernil cooks. My apartment smells (garlicky) so good right now, is making me hungry. Can't pick at the pernil yet, coño! So I will continue with the craving. Remember I was going to bake a cake, the Gooey Butter cake. I baked one on Thursday to see how it would come out. Well, it looked perfect when I took it out the oven as you can see by the pictures. But as I was taking some pictures, it started sinking on the sides, lol. Then the whole cake fell except for the edges. I left it for 45 minutes like the recipe said but it seems that it needed 5 to 10 minutes more. Still, it tasted DELISH (people weren't kidding!) but it was extra gooey in the center, lol. I'm not going to lie I had more than one piece on the same day and the day after. I'm baking another one later today, this time I'm leaving it a bit longer. 

Bueno, let me get back to what I was doing. I still have to make the arroz con gandules and the potato salad. Maybe fry some yellow plantains too. Bought an avocado, hopefully it will be good inside. I have bad luck with avocados! Same as with men, they are nice outside but when you taken them home they turn out rotten, lol. Sorry it was too good to pass up! This is me loosening up, feeling festive. And I don't even drink! 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Nochebuena/Christmas Eve wherever they are! Cuidense/Be safe. Don't drink and drive...

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