Strong, Sassy, & Studious = #LatinaSmart

There are moments when life is so luscious that even when you think you are full, new space opens up and you grow. I love these moments, obviously, and I had one of those moments on Wednesday night.

I should preface it by saying that I just came off the best summer of my life in many many years, and I also started a great school year with amazing students.  Things are lining up socially, personally, creatively.  I'm in a good place.  So LatinaSmart came to me at just the right time.

People do wonder if I am Latina, and frankly, I don't blame them. I am sure I look the part. I speak Spanish, and I'm completely immersed in Mexican culture.  Certainly Mexico has become a part of me, but I'm not Latina by blood.  Yet still, I'm LatinaSmart.

What happened?  Well, first I saw my crafty idol, the Crafty Chica, blogging about this new project called LatinaSmart which is sponsored by KMart.  The idea is to empower, connect, and promote Latinas through the online community.  In addition, LatinaSmart will be giving a way $25K in scholarships!!  Now that I can get behind!  Much of my career was and still is dedicated to bridging access to college, particularly for students who have been traditionally underrepresented in the academy.

But what happened Wednesday night? I joined a Twitter party which was fabulous, frenetic, and fun.  Everyone was tweeting with the hashtag #LatinaSmart.  The moderators were throwing out ideas like-

"How do you want to inspire young Latinas?" 

"What is your favorite 'dicho' in Spanish?" 

"What three things make you, or any mujer, Latina Smart?" 

"If I were music, I would sound like"

"If I were art, I would be".  

The responses were increíble! There was so much positive energy and fun. I felt privileged to be amongst these women.

Some of my favorite tweets were

If I were I food, I would be

Ripe mango, 

doused in fresh lime juice, 

sprinkled with sweet/salty chile sprinkles.  

@craftychica

If I were music 

I would sound like 

a Mexican Country Song!

@yourpotofgold 

Using the fact that 

I'm bilingual, 

passionate 

and driven 

to my advantage 

makes me #LatinaSmart 

@lafashionchica

Seek inspiration 

and empowerment 

in unexpected 

places & people. 

@craftychica

I can bring home the bacon 

and fry it up with chorizo! 

@UnknownMami

we are bilingual, 

we are bicultural 

WE ARE SMART! 

@elianatardio

if I was a piece of art 

I'll be a beautiful morena 

made by Pablo Picasso. 

@smart_lilcookie

if I were art 

I'd display the duality 

exemplified by Frida Kahllo. 

fierce yet feminine. 

@lalicenciada

I am an artist 

and my life 

is my medium.

@UnknownMami

"its a lifestyle, 

not a skin color!"  

@beautypinata

We are defined by 

our resilience 

and NEVER 

by our failures. 

@MidyAponte

Can you see why I am so fired up about this project? Want more? Connect with Latina Smart on facebook or twitter. 

Baby M. Got a Froggie

Wow! Is it possible that it's been so long since I last posted? It's amazing because I feel like I've been blogging all along! I have so much wonderful content lined up for you, I'm just about bursting to get it all blogged, but all in good time.

So, here's your requisite apology for my being M.I.A. over the last few weeks. I hope you'll forgive me. :) Here's my promise to be a better blogger, and here's a seriously cute frog bib on a seriously cute child.

Don't wake the baby just to have her model the bib!

Wow! That was lucky! She just happened to wake up just after I took that first picture. Great timing!

"No, Auntie. You woke me up. But I still love you."

 The pattern is from Lion Brand, and can be found here.  If I have a minute to post my mods, I will, but for now, this is what I've got! Hope you like it!