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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Tommy Torres New Music Video - 11:11

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I first found out about hot Puerto Rican singer, producer and songwriter Tommy Torres through Hispano Bloggers when he released his single Querido Tommy. The song has been a great success. I watched him on Twitcam as he talked and sang to his fans. He even gave us a tour of his recording studio. It was great!

Well, he just released a new single and this is the official music video. The song is called 11:11. You are probably thinking 11:11? Take a look at the video and it will make perfect sense after that. Make sure you watch it until the end. You are going to like it. What can I say, another great song. Romantic and sexy as hell! The song is already available in iTunes.

This has been great year for Tommy. Not only is he releasing a new album, he just became the proud father of a baby girl. Congrats to him and his wife!♥ 

You can follow him on Twitter (@Tommy_Torres), YouTube (tommytorresWML), Facebook (TommyTorresMusic) or his website (www.tommytorres.com). 

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Who's Tommy Torres?

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I'm a little bit embarrassed to say that until today, I didn't know who Tommy Torres was. Tommy started out as composer and producer in the late 90's. Since then, he has released a three albums and has written hits songs for artists like Ricky Martin, Ednita Nazario and Paulina Rubio, to name a few.  He has also received numerous awards, including Grammy awards and Billboard.

This is his new single, Querido Tommy. Querido Tommy is a song about a guy who is in love with a girl but he doesn't know how to express how he feels. He writes a letter to Tommy Torres asking him to help him find the right words to tell her how he feels. Well, I don't want to spoil it for you, just check out the video below. Such a great song and video, I am definitely adding him to my music list.

So, who's Tommy Torres? He is a multi-talented artist, extremely hot looking and he is from Puerto Rico. As a Boricua, this fills me with tremendous pride!

Tommy will be doing a Twitcam tomorrow, June 12 at 8pm ET #QueridoTommy You can follow him through his webpage, Facebook page, Twitter (@Tommy_Torres) and subscribe to his youtube channel.

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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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Latina Resilience.

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Las Fabulosas: Home & Happiness

By Marissa Matteo for Las Fabulosas


In her groundbreaking memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, Esmeralda Santiago wrote of her journey from the barrios of Puerto Rico to the halls of Harvard University. The book, published in 1994, opened up a dialogue on cultural identity, immigration and assimilation. Her recent novel, Conquistadora, continues the conversation, exploring class, survival and romance in untamed Puerto Rico.

Las Fabulosas: During your research for your novel, you read about the history of Puerto Rico in the face of so much adversity -- slave insurrections, a cholera epidemic and hurricanes. What was the universal response to each of these catastrophes, as a people?

Esmeralda Santiago: People picked themselves up and started over with an unbelievable optimism. As I read, I was thinking, “My God, I cannot imagine going through all these things and having the strength to go on.” But that is very much a part of our people. There’s an attitude of, “Well that happened, and I’m alive, and I’m just going to do what I have to do. Fix things and keep going.” And it’s not like they just fixed their own house. They helped one another. There was this willingness to give the next person the shirt off of your back, literally.

LF: What is the best advice you ever heard from your relatives about making do when money is tight?

E.S.: My mom raised 11 children as a single mother, and the thing she is very proud of is that we always ate well. And she did it by being creative. If there was no milk, she made almond milk. If there were no almonds, she made rice milk. If there was no rice, she made oat milk. I remember her saying, “So long as I’m upright, I will work to make sure that I will take care of my family.” When she wasn’t able to work as a seamstress, she worked as a maid or she made alterations at the laundry, or she cooked for men who didn’t have families. This attitude is ingrained in my family.

LF: What is the best advice your mother gave you about finding true love?

E.S.: My mother’s attitude about true love is, “It’s great to fall in love, but if he doesn’t treat you right, there are plenty of men.” She had five husbands, and at 81, she still tells this to her granddaughters and great-granddaughters.

LF: What has your family taught you about what makes life meaningful?

E.S.: I think for us, it is the sense of closeness and unity. We are not physically close, because we live scattered over the United States and Puerto Rico, but we are close in the sense that if any one member needs help, the whole family goes into action. The sense of unity is very, very important to us. I always know that if I need them, my sisters and brothers will be there. And that is an incredible comfort.



Marissa Matteo  is a ghostwriter for HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Penguin Group. Her work has appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. She is currently at work on a seventh celebrity memoir and a semiautobiographical novel.









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Spanish Friday - Dulces

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It's time for another Latinaish's Spanish Friday. This post is in Spanish. If you would like a translation you can use the translate widget on the sidebar.

He estado leyendo el Blog Life in the Armpit en donde puedes leer acerca del El Salvador y la vida cotidiana de la autora y su familia. Lo cual me ha hecho sentir nostalgia for la comida y dulces de mi país, Puerto Rico. Anoche fuí a la bodega a comprar leche y pan. Pero terminé comprando más de lo que necesitaba como pueden ver en la fotos. Compré unos dulces y aunque no dicen que son hechos en Puerto Rico, son hechos por latinos y eso para mí es suficiente, lol. Aunque con el nombre El Faro Bakery creo que los dueños si son Puertorriqueños. 

Todos me gustaron, pero el más que me gustó fue el de la etiqueta blanca. Con la consistencia más suave y con el sabor más dulce. Rico! Se ven grande en las fotos pero no lo son. Son pequeños y cada uno cuesta 89¢ (en los tiempos de antes costaban 5¢).  Pero como dicen en Puerto Rico, perfume bueno viene en frasco pequeño. Ya que son tan dulce con comerse uno es suficiente para calmar los deseos!

Si quieren participar en Spanish Friday hagan clic en el enlace/link o en la imagen de Spanish Friday. Que tengan un buen fin de semana, mi gente!♥

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Mi Primer Spanish Friday!

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Sé que es Sábado ya que son la 1:00AM pero en Los Angeles todavía es Viernes! Hacen varias semanas que he querido participar en Latinaish's Spanish Friday. Como pueden ver me decidí a partipar. Yo me crié en Puerto Rico pero me mudé para Nueva York hace 20 y pico de años. Con el tiempo dejé de hablar Español a menudo y ahora se me hace un poco difícil hablarlo y escribirlo. Éste meme es una oportunidad para utilizar mi Español. Sería una verguenza que se me olvide siendo mi primer idioma. 

He estado leyendo Latinaish hace unos meses pero nunca he dejado comentarios. Soy tímida, tiendo a pensar mucho antes de hacer cosas que me vayan a poner en una situación que requiera tener una conversación. Se que algunos de ustedes se estarán preguntando y que carajo hago blogueando, ha, ha. Blogueo por esa misma razón, estoy frente a un monitor y no frente a una persona. Me hace sentir segura. Pero poco a poco voy a superar mi timidez. Muchas gracias a Tracy Lopez, dueña de Latinaish.com por darme el empujón que necesitaba para bloguear en Español!

Si quieren participar en Spanish Friday haga clic en el enlace/link o en la imagen que está a la izquierda.

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Q'Viva! The Chosen - Marc Anthony & Jennifer Lopez

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This is a video promo of Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez latest project - Q'Viva! The Chosen. They will travel to 21 countries looking for the most talented entertainer of the world. The catch, there will be no auditions. The locals will lead them to whom they think could be The Chosen. So who knows you might see them walking around your town! Visit BeyondBeautifulJLo to read more about it and to see a longer video of the promo. It looks like a good show, love the music. Nice to hear Jennifer Lopez speaking Spanish. Representando! Take a look, what do you think?

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Junta Hispana - Flushing Meadow Park!

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It's time for the Junta Hispana again! I found out about Junta Hispana last year, through the supermarket C-Town where I shop. The Junta Hispana, an event where 20 Spanish speaking countries get together to celebrate everything about their country. From food, music, to crafts. You will see their traditional dances and clothing. It's an event for the whole family and best of all is free! For the kiddies Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer will be there. Make sure to pass by the Bienvenidos/Welcome booth!

It will be held at the Flushing Meadow Park on Sunday August 22 from 11AM-6PM, near the Unisphere. Stages performances start at 12PM. According to their site they will be there rain or shine, good to know ahead of time! Hopefully the weather will cooperate. So start sending evites to your familia/family and friends now. You will get to taste all kinds of traditional food from each country, buy crafts, clothing and enjoy good music. You will also get to try some of the sponsor's product. Goodies, who doesn't like that! 

Take a look at the video below so you can have an idea of what you are going to see there. I didn't go last year, I am going to try to go this year again. This event is not only in New York but also in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. I will be posting the dates below.   

These are the dates:

Chicago - was on Sunday July 25th - Douglas Park
New York - Sunday August 22 - Flushing Meadow Park
Houston - Sunday October 17 - Thomas Bass Park
Los Angeles - Sunday October 10 - Whittier Narrows Regional Park in S. El Monte, California
Miami - Sunday October 24 - Tamiami Park

Same time for all cities 11AM to 6PM. Performances start at 12PM (Rain or Shine they will be there)

New York: Free parking is available in the park. Parking spaces are limited. Public transportation is recommended.

Don't know how to get to Flushing Meadow Park by public transportation? Click below, enter your address and it will give directions how to get there and how long it will take.

MTA Trip Planner

Enjoy your time at the Junta Hispana! Que gozen!♥♥


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Puerto Rican Lingo.

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This past Sunday was the Puerto Rican parade as you all know. I haven't been to the parade since my children were small, I believe the last time was 1999. A year before the whole mess happened with the women being attacked etc. Every year I find myself thinking it would be fun to go, be around people who speak my language but we end up staying home. Lets just say our last experience wasn't a good one so we swore never to go another parade. 

Lately though, I have been thinking about Puerto Rico's lingo/vocabulary and how by now more words have been added but since I haven't been to Puerto Rico in years if I hear any of them I wouldn't know what they mean. Every country have their own vocabulary that most of the time only a person from that country would know what it means. I miss that, miss being around people who speak just Spanish and Puerto Rican lingo. This makes me sad in a way because it feels like I'm loosing some sort of connection with my isla/island. I googled Puerto Rico vocabulary and I found this list. I was laughing as I read through the list, brought back so many memories. Some of the words I had forgotten about. And, just as I thought there are few words I have never heard of. Below are some of them, the rest you can read by clicking here.



Note: There are some curse words.

• Achocao (a)= when someone is deep asleep, "out cold".
• Ay, Bendito= It is common for Latin Americans to facetiously call Puerto Rico "The Land of the Ay Bendito," a commentary on the term's popularity as well as the many nuances and eccentricities of its usage. The expression is perhaps best understood as an all-purpose interjection or holophrasis which resembles a lament in appearance but can in fact assume a wide range of connotations or be applied to virtually any context or mood. The term can be used to express (or be interpreted to express) pity, compassion, gratitude, concern, sarcasm, dismay, understanding, disapproval, disappointment, frustration, etc. How the term is interpreted largely depends on the inflection and intonation with which it is said. For instance, depending on the context, the inflection and the intonation with which the word is said, "Ay, Bendito" could be translated as "Dear Lord!", "Oh, dear", "That's too bad, what a shame," "That's cute," "That's the way things go," "I'm so happy for her," "That was really selfless of you," "Please, I insist!," "She's so naive, I almost pity her," "Why do I keep losing my damn keys!" etc.
• Ajilao= Looking ill.
• Agitao (á)= Angry enough to be willing to hit something or someone.
• Aleluya(s), es(son)= mockery towards Protestant Christians
• Amapola= the red hibiscus flower
• ñapa= getting something extra.
• Arranca= get with it, leave, accelerate, let's roll!... also to pull with all your strength.
• Arrancao= lacking of money or in financial problems
• Arrebato= getting high. ex. Aquel va a cojer un arrebato. Also, if the person is already drugged it is: Aquel esta arrebatao.
• Areyto= a Taíno dance and ceremony

• Babilla= street slang for bravery, boldness.
• Batey = the front yard of the compound, but with packed earth, not grass; a Taíno word. Originally it referred to a sport played by the tainos called Batú (bahtoo), not unlike soccer, which was played on such a ground.
• Bata= Sleeping gown
• Bellaco= A pervert or horny. For example "Joselito, eres un bellaco" translates to "Joselito, you are a pervert".
• Bellacrisis= a portmanteau of the words 'bellaco' and 'crisis' (pronounced 'CREE-sees' in Spanish), meaning a great hornyness. Homophonous with the contradictory 'bella crisis' (beautiful crisis)
• Bembé= party.
• Bemba= lips Literally "big lips," or "a person with big lips."
• Bicho= though in other Spanish cultures meaning "small insect" in Puerto Rico it means "dick", in the penis sense.
• Bobo (a) = Another word stupid as in lost or half asleep, and can also mean pacifier.
• Boca de Chopa / Boca-Chopa= "big lips," or "a person with big lips (literally, "cat-fish mouth”). A person who is very loud and opens their widely opens his/her mouth, especially when whining or complaining. “Joanny tiene una boca de chopa” in this case a little girl who is being whiny.
• Bodrogos= Big, ugly, or worn out shoes.
• Bochinche= Gossip, fight, brawl.
• Bon= Someone who drinks a lot, an alcoholic.
• Boricua, Borinca, Borinquen All three words are derived from the Indian name for Puerto Rico ('Borikén') and are used with equal frequency on the island. Puerto Ricans living in the US almost always use Boricua (bohr-REE-kwa), most likely due to it being the only one not specifically gendered when used to refer to people, thus making it more like English in its usage. Also it can be shortened to just "bori".
• Brodel= it refers to brother. You can call any person you want your brodel.
• Bugarrón= A gay man who is a "top."
• Burundanga= a big mixed-up dish of different things; an Africanism
• Burrunazo= A hard hit.

• Cabrón/cabrona= another word that Puerto Ricans use in their common vocabulary, meaning that you got cheated, sometimes it's used to say that something or someone is awesome, for example "esto ta cabrón, this is totally awesome. Steer. Also a derogatory term. Best translation, "ass." In the sense of "jackass," and not "buttocks." Ay, Chino cabrón! "Aye, Chinese jackass!" Oftentimes used as a sign of friendship, in the sense that you can only get away with calling a friend a "cabrón." This translation differs, depending upon which Latin country you are in. For example in Mexico, friends would call one another Cabron, but here in Puerto Rico, it is a man/woman who has been cheated on (by their wive/husband) and they KNOW that they have/are being cheated on; it is intended to be the ultimate insult to one's man/woman-hood, and can lead to malicious attacks, which have been commonly known to end in bloodshed.
• Caco= A juvenile delinquent or a cheap hoodlum. Commonly used, almost pejoratively, towards fans or musicians of reggaeton music. It is similar to the British English word, chav. Also commonly spelled as kako.
• Caculo= A type of big brown or black beetle
• Cacumen=It refers to a big head, or to someone really smart, as if the size of the head had something to do with the amount of intelligence the person has.
• Cafre=A word used to describe a person/action/thing with little or no manners. Vulgar.
• Cangrimanes= the Big Shots, the big talkers, the blowhards, derived from the English "congressman". It is the origin of the modern slang word cangri commonly used by reggaeton artists and fans, which is roughly equivalent to the American hip-hop slang word "tight"(i.e. excellent, of high quality).
• Capicú= from the word Capicúa, a palindrome: a killer final move in a domino game, where the last bone played could fit on either end of the layout; if not once-in-a-lifetime, it's close. Rules of Puerto Rican Dominoes
• Caripelao=Someone mischievous, with no shame but often without malice with more to be about indifference or carelessness.
• Carne-puerco (calnepuelco)= someone who is impolite or has a rude attitude. "Mari se comporto carne-puerca"
• Cemi= stone idols carved by the Taínos.
• Chamaco= small boy or wannabe. Similar to the English term "brat". Ese chamaco no sabe na'.
• Chanchú, chanchuyo=A trap or a business like deal of dubious legitimacy.
• Chavao= in a bad state or condition.
• Chavienda=A word used to express frustration. It could very well be the equivalent of 'crap'. For example, "Esta es la llave equivocada. Que chavienda." It translates to, "This is the wrong key, crap!" It can also be used to describe someone who is awesome for whatever the reason.
• Chavo= a penny or money in general; comes from octavo the 8th part of a Spanish real coin
• Champions= sneakers or tennis shoes.
• Chancleta= a pair of sandals, "flip-flops"
• Chequeré= a percussion instrument, made of a large gourd surrounded by a network of beads, that is shaken to produce a rattly rhythm
• Chévere= A word that has at least two meanings, depending in what context it is used. (1) When you think something or someone is "good" or "OK" or "well made", etc., you might say "'blank' está chévere". (2) When you agree with someone on anything, like when you tell me "I'll pick you up tonight at 8:00pm", and if I agree, I would respond "Chévere".
• China= a sweet orange, called naranja in other Spanish-speaking countries
• Chino/Chinazo= Dry humping, anal sex.Also chinese man
• Chilear= an Anglicism from the English slang "to chill out" or "calm down/relax". Chileate, mano would be "calm down, bro." Similarly, the word "chilin" in the sense of "cool", which incidentally has also made its way into Puerto Rican vocabulary, along with "nice".
• Chonkear= an Anglicism from the English word "to chunk ". Vomiting or someone who wants to vomit.
• Chota= A person who tells on someone. Other term Rat on someone.
• Chumba= From West African. A woman with a flat or small ass.
• Cocotazo= A hit to the head.
• Cohete= A term for slut
• Colgao= A person who is let back or flunk a grade, also is a word that some people say it to bother Dominiki saying uuuy fo un colgao'
• Colmados= country stores, the corner store, usually small mom and pop type businesses. They are often used in diminutive form, colmaditos.
• Comai= a contraction of comadre, godmother. A close woman friend.
• Compai= a contraction of compadre, godfather. A very close male friend.
• Coquí= a small light brown tree frog, about the size of a nickel, native to the Island. Their loud bird-like two-note singing fills the tropical night air, and their songs fill the Puerto Rican heart with homesickness.
• Confley= Cornflake or any type of cereal.
• Corillo= A term for a group. Puerto Ricans refer to their friends as their "corillo".
• Cota= It's a sort of home made night gown, more often associated with babies or kids.
• Crispi=To be extremely angry.
• Cuatro= a typical stringed instrument, smaller than a guitar, and larger than a mandolin, with five sets of doubled strings. Essential for traditional Puerto Rican Christmas music.
• Cucubano= firefly; a Taíno word
• Cuchifritos= various folkloric deep fried fritters and other styles of entrees from Puertorican cuisine commonly found in kiosks or what Puerto Ricans call Cuchilandias or Cuchitriles, cuchitril is also used to describe a filthy or unsanitary place.
• Cuero= can be translated as hooker or ho.; leather. In the culinary sense "cuerito" is roasted pig skin.
• Criolla= this word can be used in many different ways. For example it can be used as the typical food of Puerto Rico (rice, beans, fried chicken, fried pork chops, yuca, tostones, etc.) It can also be used as a reference of going to the bathroom, or rather excrement in itself.

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Were You Born in Puerto Rico? - ¿Nacistes en Puerto Rico?

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As a Puerto Rican I wanted to spread the word about the important law that was passed December 2009 about Puerto Rican's birth certificates.  After July 1 if you were born in Puerto Rico you will need to get a new birth certificate because it will no longer be valid.  The reason this law was passed is to avoid identity theft.  Puerto Ricans birth certificates can be sold up $10,000 in the black market.  

"The objective of this law is it will invalidate the old birth certificates so that they will lose their value on the black market," said Luis Balzac of the office of Puerto Rico's governor. By Dean Meminger, NY1

Puerto Rico's legislature passed the law after raids last March broke up a criminal ring that had stolen thousands of birth certificates and other identifying documents from several different schools in Puerto Rico. By Suzanne Gamboa, Associated Press Writer  

McClintock said a news conference held in Puerto Rico in December did not draw national media attention he hoped would spread the word. He noted there is no deadline for getting a new birth certificate. After July 1, the government will issue a temporary, 15-day certificate for those who need a birth certificate in an emergency.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAW

 All birth certificates issued in Puerto Rico will be invali­dated after July 1, 2010.

The Vital Statistics Record Office will not issue new birth certificates until after July 1, 2010.

New birth certificates issued after July 1 will cost $5. Vet­erans and people over 60 are exempt from the fee.

Everyone born in Puerto Rico is affected. However, The July 1 deadline does not mean every Puerto Rican-born per­son needs to apply for a new birth certificate right away: Of­ficials are urging Puerto Rican-born people to wait to file an application unless they need the document for an urgent need such as a passport application or for hiring purposes.

Application forms for new birth certificates will be made available on the Puerto Rico Vital Statistics Record office Web site. The agency’s Web address is http://www.salud.gov.pr/

In addition to a completed application, residents should be prepared to supply a photo copy of a government-issued photo identification; a $5 money order made out to the Puerto Rico Secretary of the Treasury; and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Source: Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission

I realize this will cause a lot of problems to Puerto Ricans who live in the United States but if it protects the identity of millions why not. When I first heard about it because I was raised in Puerto Rico I thought this law applied to me too because I tend to forget I was born here and not in Puerto Rico! I am adding some links where you can go and read in details about the new law and how and when you can get a new birth certificate...♥♥


Confusion over new Puerto Rican law - Republican American
Shock over voided Puerto Rican birth certificates - The Washington Post
Puerto Rican-Born New Yorkers Have To Get New Birth Certificates - NY1


Nota: Si deseas traducir este post en Español usa el tranductor de google en el sidebar.

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Memories.

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Over the weekend I was watching my son playing a video game that had many mountains and that made me remember when I was a teenager living in Puerto Rico.  My grandfather would say vamos a cojer cangrejos/lets catch crabs.  This would be at night, 10:30 or so.  Everyone would run to the car, my aunts, my cousins and my grandmother.  Yep the car would be full!  We would drive close to the beach where there were no lights and the roads were very dark.  My grandfather would drive at 5 mph so we could see the crabs passing by.  We wanted to catch them alive not in pieces! 

Meanwhile, I was in the backseat sitting right next to window scared shitless because all I could see was darkness.  No matter how hard I looked there was nothing, lol.  All I could think was someone coming with a machete, breaking the window and chopping off my head, lol.  All of a sudden my aunt would yell mira uno/look there is one!  I felt like someone dropped a bucket of cold water on me!  Mi abuelo/my grandfather would stop right away, him and my aunt would get off grab an empty sack of potatoes with two flashlights.  Then to run off after the crab!  I was scared but at the same time it was fun! LOL  

The rest of us would stay in the car, yelling agarralo, agarralo/grab it, grab it!  We would do the same thing until we had five or six crabs.  Then off to pass by the panadería/bakery to buy bread right out of the oven.  Get home and while mi abuela would prepare the pan with mantequilla/bread with butter and coffee (how I miss those late nights) for everyone, my grandfather would put the crabs in the yard inside a bucket with water to cook them the next day.  My abuela would do all the cooking and my aunts and me would take care of the crabs after they were cooked.  Mmmm, que rico!  That was a typical Friday night for us in Puerto Rico.  Simple but we enjoyed ourselves, how times have change...♥♥

image credit: raniel1963 The U.S. National Archives

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Spanish Songs I Grew Up With...

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I have been listening to a lot of music lately and I started reminiscing about the music I grew up with.  In our home there was always music playing.  Not loud because my grandmother didn't like disturbing the neighbors.  Even though I wouldn't listen most of the time.  Funny thing is now that I'm old I understand what she meant, lol. 

We always celebrated every birthday and almost every holiday.  I enjoyed the music and even though it was music for grown ups and I didn't understand half of what it meant I loved singing and dancing along.  Every time I hear them it brings such good memories of my life in Puerto Rico.  When life used to be less complicated and we weren't consumed by tech stuff and social networking, lol.  I'm glad we have youtube.com where you can find almost anything.  I wanted to share with you when they were actually singing these songs back in the days so the videos do not look good but you can still hear the music and see how they were.  Enjoy!♥

Pedro Navaja - Ruben Blades


Timbalero - El Gran Combo


Yo Soy Una Más - Yolandita Monge


Tu Sin Mí - Ednita Nazario


Llorarás - Oscar D'Leon


Paso la Vida Pensando - José Feliciano
image credit: Petchie75 Pin It Now!

I Made Limbers, yum!

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My daughter reminded me about limbers the other day. She loves them and I hadn't made them in a long time. For those who doesn't know what a limber is. Limber is a frozen treat made of juice, coconut milk, milk, cookies, fruits. Basically anything you like. It's usually sold for 50 cents to a dollar per cup. Back in the days though when I lived in Puerto Rico they use to be 5 cents per cube that were made in the metal ice trays and then put on a small cupcake wrapper like. Then as time went by the price went up to 15 to 25 cents per cup. We would sit in a corner to chit chat while savoring our limbers. It was a great treat after dinner or when it was really hot. I'm sure the Señora made good money from selling limbers. We bought a lot!

I have my own way of making them but here are some recipes I got from google. All but one are in Spanish, sorry about that. There are some good flavors below. I make mine of galletas/cookies, I use the Nilla wafers. Don't know if those are the ones that people use but they work for me. I skip the egg and I don't use the blender because I no longer have one. Enjoy!♥

Limber de Galletas y Leche/Cookies & Milk

Ingredients A:

Blender
2 cups of vanilla waffles cookies
1 large can of Evaporated milk
1/2 cup of sugar
1 vanilla teaspoon
cinnamon powder (to your taste)

Ingredients B:
1 egg yolk
2 sugar teaspoons

Procedure:
Mix ingredients A on the blender
Mix ingredients B in a separate bowl
Mix both A and B together and pour in plastic cups.

Freeze and enjoy!

Limber de Oreo

2 latas de leche evaporada

4 a 5 oreos trituradas

2 latas y 1/2 de agua

1 tz de azucar y poco mas

Mezcle todos los ingredientes y vierta en vasitos plasticos y congele.

Limber de Cheesecake

8 onzas de queso crema

1 lata de leche condensada

1 lata de leche evaporada

1 lata de aguavainilla y canela a gusto

azúcar a gusto

Cremas el queso en la licuadora. Añades los demas ingredientes ( si no te cabe todo, lo haces de dos veces ). Mezcla todo muy bien en un recipiente y pones la mezcla en vasitos plásticos y congelas.

Limber de Batata con Coco

3 libras de batata

1 lata de leche evaporada

1/2 lata de leche de coco

1 taza de azucar

1 cucharada de vainilla

Sancocha las batatas con su cáscara hasta que ablanden. Pelalas y majalas hasta que tengas un pure (puedes usar la licuadora) y le agregas el resto de los ingredientes, revuelves bien y pasa esa mezcla por un colador por 2 veces. Deja refrescar y ponlo en moldes para hielo o en moldes especiales para helado. Lleva al congelador hasta que esten bien duros.

Limber de Coco/Coconut Limber

1 lata de leche de coco

1 lata de crema de coco

1 lata de agua (Utilisas la lata vacía)

¼ cdta. de canela

Mezclas todos los ingredientes y viertelos en vasos plásticos y enfria en el congelador.

Limber de Chocolate

2 latas de leche evaporada

½ tz. de agua

4 barritas de chocolate (rallado)

½ tz. de azúcar o a gusto

½ cdta. de vainilla

Hierva el chocolate, el agua y la leche. Al hervir agregue con el azúcar y la vainilla, retira del fuego y refresca. Vierte en vaso y enfria en el congelador.

Limber de Maní

2 latas de leche evaporada

azúcar a gusto

mantequilla de maní a gusto (Puede ser maní en crunch)

Hierves la leche con la mantequilla de maní lo sazonas y lo pones en vasos en el congelador después que se refresque.

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Friday Fill-Ins!

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Good morning, TGIF! This week seemed to last forever. I'm a walking zombie, have been going to sleep very late so I need to catch some zzzz's pronto. Last night the kids kept bumping me (saying Mami levantate!) to wake me up because we were watching Fringe and I kept falling asleep. I couldn't keep my eyes open, lol.

It's a rainy day in NY and I'm enjoying the rain falling on my AC. It reminds me of Puerto Rico when it would rain for hours and the water falling on the tin roof would put us to sleep. Ah, the good old days! There is no one in the streets right now, so peaceful. Won't last for long so I better enjoy it! Have a great day!!♥

It's Friday Fill-ins again! If you would like join follow the link.

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is be neutral, try to get along with everyone.

2. I don't like clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of tons of fun and having a great time.

4. All the flowers are my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include lotion, speakers, pens, notebooks, books, sanitizer, calculator, headphones, pen holder, rings, nail polish and some other things.

6. The rain makes me wanna go back to sleep.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up with my show, tomorrow my plans include clean up, do some blogging, pay some bills, watch a movie and Sunday, I want to relax, relax!

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Puerto Rico Gets a Quarter!

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About time we get a quarter! He, he. The U.S. Mint will be releasing 5 quarters to commemorate the U.S. territories and the first one will be Puerto Rico. As you can see by the picture is going to look really nice! I will be looking for one and I'm saving it. Yes corny but what the hell I'm a jíbara so things like that get me excited, lol. Anyone else saving one? Viva Puertorro coño! Pin It Now!