Got a Little #BlogLuv

Valentine's gift exchange I received from Xenia at Raised by Culture

I'm feeling like a lucky girl, tonight. Look at all the goodies I received from Xenia at Raised by Culture! Xenia and I met when I was invited to join BlogLuv, a blog group created by my friend and paisan RubyDW over at Growing Up Blackxican. Thank you, Ruby, for creating the Valentine's Day Gift exchange and for your friendship and support.

I remember being so gun-shy when I first started blogging, then thinking that nobody would be interested in anything I had to say. Well, let me tell you something, blogging has pulled me out of my shell and the experience has transformed me ... I've recovered my voice and have developed friendships with some pretty amazing women who inspire me with their strength and creativity, women who work, have families, homeschool, confront life's challenges and who STILL find the time to express themselves through this medium.

Xenia, you're one of them. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, attention to detail and generosity. Absolutely love the beautiful plate you made, my nails are now painted blue and the Almond Roca didn't make it to sunset. Can't wait to read the Nora Ephron book. Gracias, Amiga. <3 p="">

Custom plate: "Reading is dreaming with open eyes"

Check out some of the other ladies who are members of BlogLuv. :-)

¡Chévere! Nominated for a Blogs by Latinas Award

Wow! I found out late last night that my little blog has been nominated for the Third Annual Blogs by Latinas Awards in the Literature Category. *estoy brincando*

For anybody not familiar with the group, Blogs by Latinas is a community of Latina bloggers founded by Monique Frausto in 2008 to fill a noticeable gap in the blogosphere. Little did she know that her idea would grow into an award-winning community of 2,000 Latina blogueras. ¡Que cool!

Imaginanse how excited and happy and grateful I am to be recognized alongside my blogueras-amigas. To the person who nominated me -- and you know who you are -- abrazos y muchisimas gracias. Simply being nominated is an honor.

If you'd like to explore the other nominees and cast your vote, please click here.

Good luck everyone! :-)

Spooky in Savannah

Stairs down to River Street, Savannah GA

A night of reverie and laughter

Libations and cheer

Brought women together

For a friend, so dear.

Twas late in the evening

Whilst lightning flashed overhead

A night of levity interrupted

by the lure of the dead.

"Follow me to a place down by the river," the man said.

Clothes clinging to bodies

All sticky with sweat

They followed the man

Promised a sight

They might not soon forget.

Through thick air they pressed

Down stairs and an alley

They bantered and frolicked

Half-wary, half-weary

Over cobblestones

Toward a darkness so dreary!

Do you believe in apparitions,

Residual energy

Ripples in time?

I had my thoughts,

How they've changed.

Oh, my.

River Street, Savannah GA. This photo has not been retouched. Shot with iPhone 4.

When first gazing into the cavern

Rumored to have once held grain,
Maybe munitions,
Quite possibly human pain,

A milky darkness screamed mute secrets,

Revealing no names.

River Street, Savannah GA. This photo has not been retouched. Shot with iPhone 4.

I had the chance to visit Savannah for a whirlwind weekend trip for my friend Adriana's 40th birthday last weekend. The evening we went out to celebrate we came across a friend of hers who gives haunted ghost tours. Within minutes of meeting him, we followed him to the place shown in these pictures.

These spaces were illuminated with small fluorescent lightbulbs that cast a drab grey light. Where this green came from I have NO idea. What I can tell you is that none of my other friends' cameras picked up this ghastly green that reminded me of Ghost Hunters.

Left us all feeling a little creeped-out.

What do you think?

Butterflies in Miami

JW Marriot Marquis, Miami

By Ezzy G. Languzzi

They descended on Miami
Butterflies in a mist
Wings touching, souls dancing
Hearts open in earnest

From faraway places
Seen only in dreams
Wedded by language
Yet not all the same

colombianas

guatemaltecas

boricuas

cubanas

venezolanas

uruguayas

Y unas cuantas mexicanas

Women stunning
Unforgettable

Both in heart and mind
Giving and sharing
Not one unkind

Mothers, wives
Sisters, daughters
Journalists, fotógrafas
Fashionistas y artists

Butterflies embracing life
With vigor and laughter
Stars and sparkle in eyes
Aspiring to be better

After many tears and much banter
These butterflies
Returned home
Hermanas, amigas
Seeds of friendship sown

They captivated my mind
Set on fire my imagination
Mis hermanas
Mis amigas
Left me longing for more time
Mariposas bonitas
I didn't want to say, "Good-bye."

BLOGALICIOUS 2011: It Was All About Las Mujeres

Wanna grow?

I had a wonderful time at the Blogalicious Conference in D.C. this weekend. Educational content, inspiring keynote speakers and sponsored events aside, what I loved most about it was finally seeing in person many of the women I've met through Bicultural Mom and Multicultural Familia this year. 

The truth is that I was more than a little nervous about going there. It probably didn't help that I had to get up at 3:00 a.m. to catch a 6:00 a.m. flight (when I'm afraid of flying) ... or that I discovered on my way to Logan airport that I'd booked myself into Dulles (an hour away from the conference) instead of Ronald Reagan ... or that I'd be rooming with three women I'd never met in person.

(L-R) @Latinaish, Me, our santitos bracelets, cupcake from American Cancer Society Cupcake Party 

My worries vanished as soon as as I arrived at the conference and tracked down my roomies, @RubyDW, @LaFamiliaCool and @Jendalynne, women who warmed me with their good-humor, kindness and generosity. I was also thrilled to meet the blogger responsible for bringing out the Spanish in me @Latinaish and was surprised to see that we were both wearing similar santitos bracelets (one of which I now own : ).

Helena from @PinkGuayoyo (dancing feet) is every bit as outgoing and savvy as she comes across on her blog, @NewLatina is intelligent and inspiring, @MamiTalks, @ITYCPodcast and @BrownGirl were as classy in person as they are online. I also made two new friends @NewYorkChica and @Latina_Sweetie, two vibrant women from NYC who laughed alongside us.

An unexpected surprise to me was that I had a chance to meet the brains behind Latism, @AnnaRC and @ergeekgoddess, two uber-accomplished women, who educated me on the mission and goals of the organization: to promote Latinos in social media. I was happy to hear that there might be a chapter coming to the Boston area! I'm hoping to be able to get involved. : )

(L-R) @BiculturalMom Me @RubyDW
We couldn't wait to meet Chantilly!

The conference pace was frenetic. We did not want to miss anything and literally ran ourselves into-the-ground. In case you're wondering about the rooming situation, it was hysterical. We laughed to the point of tears. No shyness in this group.

One person I wish I'd been able to spend more time with was @BiculturalMom, who was busy with sponsors from the moment she arrived to the moment she left. She's a superwoman who's accomplished so much by launching two successful blogs in less than year. I see good things coming her way.

Top Left (L-R) @LaFamiliaCool @RubyDW
Bottom Left (L-R) Me @PinkGuayoyo
Top Right @NewYorkChica Me @Latina_Sweetie
Middle Right (L-R) @Jendalynne @RubyDW Me @ReneSyler @LaFamiliaCool @NewYorkChica
Bottom Right (L-R) The Jenda & Ruby Show @Jendalynne @RubyDW

If you care about diversity and want a engaging social media conference to attend, I recommend Blogalicious. A word of warning, though, the blogging piece is secondary to the social aspect. The women is where it was at! My hope is that we'll be able to get more of our hermanas on board to participate.


Think you might go next year?

The Gaylord Hotel, Washington D.C.