An image is worth a thousand words

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Colombia is famous around the world for the beauty and strong personality of its women, and Sofia Vergara has become an ambassador of this trait. She has harvested the fruits of her labor and this is evidenced by five consecutive years as the highest paid TV actress in the US, according to Forbes Magazine.

Besides being one of the sexiest and most recognized Hispanic women in Hollywood, she is a savvy business woman, her husband is eye candy, and she owns a clothing and furniture line. Therefore, I can´t help but ask, why the heck does she diminish herself with jokes that are vulgar and portrays a poor Latina stereotype? Continue reading “An image is worth a thousand words”

New Year’s Resolution

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It’s a New Year and I am still in the fog from the celebrations. I am recovering from the over-eating, over-drinking, and over-spending. Since last Monday, I had to start practicing sight words and numbers with my little man as he went back to school today. I have so many things on my To-Do list, that I don’t know where to begin.

Nevertheless, I have been following the latest news about Megyn Kelly, the super star news anchor on Fox News Channel. Yesterday morning, she announced on her Facebook and Twitter accounts the decision of ending a 12 year career at the cable giant and moving to NBC. Continue reading “New Year’s Resolution”

Merry Christmas!

Dear readers,

Although every year I planned my Christmas shopping for weeks, I always end up knotted like a pretzel and running like a chicken without a head. So, amidst the havoc of the stores, wrapping presents, decorating, and planning Christmas Eve dinner for 17, my inspiration was in short supply.

Therefore, my quill will remain in the inkwell until next year. I hope all of you were nicer than naughtier and get many presents from Santa.

Merry Christmas!!!

Xiomara

Hidden Diabetes

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I love Christmas and the Holiday Season, but if it doesn’t end soon, I am going to look like an overstuffed suitcase. Our office meeting room is already filled with boxes of multiple treats, all smothered in chocolate. I am afraid I will end up in the ER after ingesting a pen or a hole puncher thinking they too, are covered in chocolate!

Although I appreciate that our vendors want to say thank you for the business throughout the year–I hope none of the companies had a mischievous intention–I can’t help but think, haven’t they heard about Diabetes? Is it too much to ask to send a basket of fruit or sandwiches? Continue reading “Hidden Diabetes”

Faith is a Priceless Gift

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The Christmas Season began and so did the St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital TV commercials. I have seen them a million times, and yet, every time I can’t help tearing up. The faces of the little angels battling cancer is something that humbles me, because I am blessed to have a healthy child.

These ads also reminded me of something that happened a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving. My son’s school sponsored a bake sell to raise money for a fifth grader recently diagnosed with leukemia. Continue reading “Faith is a Priceless Gift”

Time is up Turkey!

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I must confess; for many years I didn’t like celebrating Thanksgiving. I considered it “for gringos only” because I didn’t understand the meaning and I cared too little to Google it. But things changed for a couple of reasons. First, my son’s preschool recitals. How could I not fall for the spirit of this holiday after  seeing my baby boy dressed up as a little Indian, with a feather-hat and painted face, dancing to the music from the drums with his genetic Latin feel?

The second reason is less sentimental and it satisfies a physiological need: The Turkey. It is estimated that more than 50 million turkeys will see their last sunrise in the US. Just the thought of its juicy, golden skin, bronzed to perfection–thanks to my husband’s skill which he has perfected over the years–makes me drool like my dogs Rusty and Sasha. Continue reading “Time is up Turkey!”

Teaching Balance

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If you want to learn to ride a bike, you have to take the training wheels off.

Two weekends ago I took my son to a nearby park and while we were there, he saw a group of older boys riding their bikes. He coveted them. His eyes focused on them and then he turned to me and said, “Mama, I want to ride my bike without the baby wheels.” Immediately, a shiver ran through my spine. My son inherited a lot of my good genes, but unfortunately I think he inherited my lack of balance.

When we arrived home, my husband got to work and removed the training wheels as the little general commanded. He put his Captain America helmet on, jumped on the bike, and without any instructions my husband just pushed him down our driveway with his Herculean strength, as if he were playing bowling. The kid went down straight and crashed against our neighbor’s mail box. Continue reading “Teaching Balance”

The Forgotten Votes

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My son woke up this morning and sat at the kitchen table, yawning, with sleepy eyes. Then, while my husband made him breakfast, he told him that Donald Trump had won the election. His eyes opened wide and smiling he asked, “He really won?

For several months after school, during our car ride home, he talked about what he and his friends said about Donald Trump becoming president of the United States. He is only five and a half years old, and clearly he doesn’t understand the meaning and ramifications of yesterday’s results. In spite of that, what he and his 15 kindergartner school mates got right, every pundit and pollster got wrong. Continue reading “The Forgotten Votes”

All About Boobs

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Last year I wrote about my suspicion of breast cancer after I found a small node during a self-exam. Even though the results of my first mammogram came back normal, breast cancer is something that has been in my mind since I was a girl. At age 12, I spent my summer vacation nursing my Grandmother who had had a radical mastectomy. The images of the vast mutilation wound and the color of her skin after the radiotherapy sessions, remain vivid in my memory.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among all women regardless of ethnicity, and the most common cause of death for Hispanic women. As a Hispanic woman with a family history of breast cancer, I am aware of my odds and keep them present, because every day I look at my husband and my son and I can’t imagine not seeing them again. Continue reading “All About Boobs”

Do what I say!

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Against all odds and in contradiction to all the polls, last Sunday, Colombia–my home country–voted NO in an historic referendum that was supposed to legitimize the peace deal signed by the Santos Administration and the revolutionary army FARC in a publicized ceremony seven days before.

I am not going to give an opinion about it, because I don’t live there anymore, and it feels hypocritical criticizing either side. However, I do have an opinion about the reaction of the people who voted YES and why it might explain the NO victory. Continue reading “Do what I say!”