Bilingual In The Boonies » Giveaway

Tiki Tiki giveaway: Bilingual North American Map

Carrie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:56:00 +0000

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.

Mucho linkage: Latin books, food, movies, and a good cause giveaway

Carrie — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:07:00 +0000

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 is soul-sucking.

So, here’s some good stuff before I sign out for the day to act like a responsible grown-up.

The International Children’s Digital Library has books in 48 languages available on-line. I just took a test drive and found “La Bruja de la Habana Vieja” (The Witch of Old Havana) and “Me gustan cuentos antes de dormir” (I like stories before I go to sleep) and many, many more. You can search by the Spanish language, and other languages such as German, Farsi and Mongolian. Quite the cool find and credit goes to a brief in the February issue of Family Fun magazine.

Also in Family Fun’s March issue (yes, I let them pile up on my nightstand) is a collection of Latin American comfort foods by Maria Baez Kijac, author of The South American Table. The magazine put some of the recipes online in its very cool “Month of

Meals” planner. Que convenient because I have no idea what I am cooking this week.

Look for the ham and cheese empanadas and the Puerto Rican Chicken Stew, particularly. If you can find a copy of the magazine, there are other recipes that look great, including Cuban black beans and corn casserole from Paraguay. I would type them in, but I’ve got that pile thing to deal with.

Have a child in diapers? Free culeros, or A Giveaway for A Good Cause:

Pampers has launched a campaign called “One Pack = One Vaccine.” It is a global initiative with UNICEF to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), a preventable disease that claims the lives of approximately 128,000 infants and up to 30,000 mothers in less industrialized nations each year – that’s approximately one newborn death every four minutes, according to the rep’s statement. Vaccines cost just five to seven cents, much less than a postage stamp.

Through May 1, every time folks in the United States and Canada buy specially-marked packages of Pampers diapers and wipes, they purchase vaccines. In 2008, more than 50 million vaccines from the North American campaign were provided to moms and babies. Pampers hopes to raise this year’s total to 80 million. The lovely Salma Hayek, by the way, is the spokesperson for this campaign.

The Giveaway: Pampers reps will send freebies to six of you: Two will get a coupon for free diapers and four will get a onesie. (Even if you don’t need the diapers, you can give them to someone who does…) Winners will be randomly selected.

Here is all you have to do: Comment on this post by 8 p.m. Tuesday March 10 and tell me your best potty training or diaper changing story.

Here’s mine — one of many: Maria laughs until she cries when we tell her about the poop that shot out of her newborn body, splattered on the opposite wall and also dripped down the changing table. She cries thick tears when I tell her about the astonished look on her father’s face, a face that said: “Seriously? Flying poop too?”

A sneak peak:

April 4 brings the Sony Pictures release of “Sugar” — the story of a fictional Dominican pelotero Miguel “Sugar” Santos who tries to make it in the American big leagues. It did well at Sundance. Ah, to be in Santo Domingo today.

EDITED March 11 — Giveaway Winners:

Using Random.org, this is what we’ve got…

Diaper coupons: Adriana and Ashley

Onesies: Jen, Kimmer, Kati and Sarah of bswebster e-mail.

Please e-mail me at the Boonie blog address so I can get your mailing addresses, or I can give you the Pampers rep contact.

Enjoy and thanks for supporting a good cause.

Parenting.com: Playing with the costume jewelry and a contest for you

Carrie — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:24:00 +0000

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 scary ’80s stuff, which I can’t part with. That stuff is going to be hip again one day, right? (I did throw out all evidence of shoulder pads a long time ago, however.)

And now, a contest:

Hey, want to win a free two-day trip to Miami and have breakfast with a beautiful and smart Latina? No, it’s not with me, but thank you.

Click over here to register for a Bisquick-sponsored contest for breakfast/desayuno with Karla Martinez of Despierta America on Univision. The theme is a Mother’s Day celebration with the Mexican-born beauty, pictured above in a Univision photograph.

OK, I have to tell this story here:

When Univision first came to Nashville, back when there weren’t too many Latinos here, a bachelor co-worker stopped me as I passed his desk and confessed he had spent several hours watching the channel.

“Oh my god, the variety,” he said.

So, I am thinking he’s talking about the novelas and talk-shows.

“The women are of every shade, even red-heads, and oh my god, they are beautiful and barely dressed. I had no idea! I have a new hobby: Univision.”

And there you go.

Election Day Winner of First Spanish Words book

Carrie — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:14:00 +0000

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 always forget that querer is really supposed to be querrer. But, being Puerto Rican, we mess up a LOT of words. LOL

7:35 AM

Thanks to all who participated. As Keen said, I love reading your answers too.

OK, gente…if you haven’t already voted, get to it. Exercise your rights and participate in the most important of civic duties.

If you’re still confused, still looking for some answers, delete the crazy spammy stuff from your in-boxes and try these non-partisan sites:

Factcheck.org

Politifact.com

Giveaway: First Spanish Words book

Carrie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:51:00 +0000

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 new ice cream flavors first and read future best-sellers before they hit the stands. See, it used to be fun to be a journalist.

It appears my cyber cubicle has become a Free Table.

I’m getting asked with more regularity to tell you, the reader, about new books, videos, toys, etc. I gladly will as long as it is something 1) I would buy myself and 2) it fits in with the spirit of this blog — which is to futher not just love of guinea fowl but bilingualism and diversity.

So, the most recent loveliness to land on my desk: First Spanish Words, illustrated by David Melling and published by Oxford University Press. List price: $12.95.

The book, released earlier this month, is bright and colorful, depicting scenes of everyday life — like school, the grocery store, a museum outing.

Our two favorite pages are Magia Animal (Animal Magic). It’s full of energy and movement and reminds me that a walrus is a morsa. I keep forgetting that. The bedtime page (A la Cama) shows a dad snuggled up reading in bed with two children, while the characters of favorite stories fill up the room. There’s the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and a friendly ghost.

The book description says the reading level is for ages 9 to 12, but really, this is the kind of book to leave within easy reach of a toddler or preschooler…or a Mami who regularly forgets how to say kettle or slide in Spanish.

In the back pages, there are shapes, counting and opposites words pages. Useful and fun. There are more than 400 words depicted in the book.

So, we’re sharing our good Free Table fortunes with you. If you’d like to have this sweet Spanish picture book here are the rules:

- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what Spanish word you constantly forget or mess up. If you don’t speak Spanish, tell me what English word confounds you.

- One entry per person.

- You have until midnight EST on Monday, Nov.3 to enter.

- Anonymous comments are not eligible.

- You must live in the United States or Canada.

- The winner will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 4 — Election Day.

Have a safe Halloween and a great weekend.

Giveaway: First Spanish Words book

Carrie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:51:00 +0000

It appears my cyber cubicle has become a Free Table.

So, the most recent loveliness to land on my desk: First Spanish Words, illustrated by David Melling and published by Oxford University Press. List price: $12.95.

The book, released earlier this month, is bright and colorful, depicting scenes of everyday life — like school, the grocery store, a museum outing.

In the back pages, there are shapes, counting and opposites words pages. Useful and fun. There are more than 400 words depicted in the book.

So, we’re sharing our good Free Table fortunes with you. If you’d like to have this sweet Spanish picture book here are the rules:

- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what Spanish word you constantly forget or mess up. If you don’t speak Spanish, tell me what English word confounds you.

- One entry per person.

- You have until midnight EST on Monday, Nov.3 to enter.

- Anonymous comments are not eligible.

- You must live in the United States or Canada.

- The winner will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 4 — Election Day.

Have a safe Halloween and a great weekend.

Giveaway: Free Reina doll

Carrie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:48:00 +0000

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 shipping for you — shop at Dolls Like Me. Tell the owner, Denise, I said hey…

Giveaway: Free Reina doll

Carrie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:48:00 +0000

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 shipping for you — shop at Dolls Like Me. Tell the owner, Denise, I said hey…

Hispanic Heritage book giveaway winners announced

Carrie — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:05:00 +0000

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 stories using all these words and phrases.

The best part, overall, was to meet those of you who I see lurking about in the statcounter. Bienvenidos from out of the shadows! Hope you’ll visit and comment often.

And now, the randomly selected winners who will be getting a shipment from Hachette Books. Get in touch with me soon so I can get your addresses. (carrie at bilingualintheboonies.com)

Enjoy and Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

And thank you, Hatchette, from all our readers…

norma said…Mi palabra favorita es “amor” por que amo la cultura Hispana!

melek said…My favorite Spanish word is: despampanante

It’s such a colorful adjective … and fun to say!

I wish you well :) Melek

“La pluma es la lengua del alma.”~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

eva melo said…My favorite word is NO because that’s what I usually say when I get these crazy requests to send chain letters in Spanish!

laurita said…My favorite spanish phrase is “no se, pero bueno” because my cuban mother in law says it all the time after telling long stories.

ikkinlala said…Mine is “uno,” which is what I named one of my childhood cats because she was the only kitten in the litter. (It wasn’t my favourite before that cat, though, so the special part is the memory rather than the word.)

Hispanic Heritage Month: Win Eight Free Books

Carrie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:13:00 +0000

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 Book Group USA are giving Bilingual in the Boonies readers up to five sets of eight wonderful books that celebrate the Hispanic experience. The group, which includes Grand Central (formerly Warner Books) and my beloved Little, Brown and Company, has printed several books that capture the Latino experience.

On the giveaway list are books about Puerto Ricans in Chicago, Chicanos, Cubans in Union City, Tex-Mex in Brownsville, pre-revolutionary Mexico and Pancho Villa. There is reality and fantasy. The group most recently published Dream in Color, by sisters Linda Sanchez and Loretta Sanchez, both of whom are congresswomen from California.

To win a set all you have to do is read the rules below and post a comment, telling me your favorite Spanish word. I personally pick: refunfuñosa.

The more comments, the more sets get shipped out. Tell your friends.

And even if you don’t win, there are some awesome books here to add to your reading list.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

Here are the books:

Giveaway Rules/Reglas

- Comment on this post and tell me your favorite Spanish word or phrase. If you don’t speak Spanish, you can say “caramba!” or “taco bell” or something like that.

- One entry per person.

- You have until midnight EST on Monday, Sept. 15 to enter.

- Use a valid e-mail or blog address so I can reach you.

- Anonymous comments are not eligible.

- You must live in the United States or Canada and provide me with a street address. Books cannot be shipped to P.O. boxes. (Don’t post your address here)

-The winner(s) will be selected by Maria and announced Wednesday, Sept. 17.

To giveaway 5 sets we need at least 30 comments:

1 to 5 entries – one set is given away

6 to 11 entries - two sets are given away

12 to 17 entries — three sets are given away

18 to 25 entries — four sets are given way

26 to 30, or more, entries — five sets are given away