The Tiki Tiki Blog this week is giving away a bilingual, Spanish North American map puzzle. Come on over and check it out. It is huge, sturdy and lists all 32 Mexican states. Created by a new company, Ingenio. Get it for your little genio.

Happy Monday. I hope the sun is shining and the birds singing wherever you are. It is bright and beautiful in the Boonies — a lovely reward for the gray season we have endured. The only negative I’ve got going on: The floor in my office is covered with folders for unfinished business taxes. The  mess [...]

Over at Parenting.com this week, Maria shows off her green fingernails and my costume jewelry. She spent lots of time this week in my tackle boxes full of costume jewelry, 99% of which I rarely wear, and begged to make it all hers one day. I told her no problema, mama, all yours. Even the [...]

And, on this Election Day, the winner of the First Spanish Words book was picked in a far less Democratic way than the new president will be: My daughter closed her eyes and pointed at a printout. So, here you go and congratulations. No recount required. modern mami said… That sounds like a great book. I [...]

A few feet from the cubicle I called home for many years, there was a Free Table. That’s where all the “graft” PR people sent the newsroom got put up for grabs. There were CDs, books, T-shirts, toothpaste, cookies. You name it. It was excessive and ridiculous and very fun. We got to try out [...]

A few feet from the cubicle I called home for many years, there was a Free Table. That’s where all the “graft” PR people sent the newsroom got put up for grabs. There were CDs, books, T-shirts, toothpaste, cookies. You name it. It was excessive and ridiculous and very fun. We got to try out [...]

One of my favorite online places to shop, Dolls Like Me, is giving away a Friends Forever Reina doll and book.  The doll is 19” tall and is a muy preciosa Latina. Contest runs though Nov. 15. No purchase necessary. If you’re looking for gifts that celebrate culture — and have someone else do the [...]

One of my favorite online places to shop, Dolls Like Me, is giving away a Friends Forever Reina doll and book.  The doll is 19” tall and is a muy preciosa Latina. Contest runs though Nov. 15. No purchase necessary. If you’re looking for gifts that celebrate culture — and have someone else do the [...]

OK, that contest was too fun. Thank you to all of you who played along. The words made me laugh and provoked memories of being alborotada, sleeping on the pin pan pum, participating in el traqueteo and avoiding the fuacatas. I learned some new ones too. I think the next contest should be to write [...]

Tonight I will be putting on pumps and perfume and shaking it with Latinos of all flavors at a local Hispanic Heritage Month fiestecita. Oh, colorful Nashville of 2008 I love you so much better than Nashville of 1991. As I celebrate, here’s how I’m helping you get your Latin on: The good people at Hachette [...]