New Year's Eve Countdown Bag Party

Since college, New Year’s Eve, has been a night spent with friends, usually involving dancing.  This year I am breaking tradition and staying home with my family.  To make things a little fun I have lured them in by organizing a countdown party.  It will most likely be a pajama affair.  I found this great idea on another blog about count down bags to do with kids.  Thus, yesterday I spent some time making my bags and hanging them garland style by our chimney.  The idea is that at every hour children will open the corresponding bag to discover what activity will be done for that hour until reaching midnight.  I decided to begin our countdown at seven PM, after dinner and Mass.  So, I decorated six bags each assigned to a specific hour inside I placed some string confetti and a piece of paper revealing the activity we will be doing.  So, far my nephew is very curious as to what’s inside the bags.  For parents with little, little ones you can adapt the times to countdown with East Coast New Year time. 

Using six lunch paper bags, print out or write down the time assigned to each bag.  Inside stick a piece of paper with the six activities that you will be doing as part of the countdown.

Examples of what I used: Print Out Times

It's 7 PM! Time to play Loteria (Mexican Bingo).

It's 8 PM! Time for a movie with popcorn and goodies.

It's 9 PM! Time to get crafty.

It's 10 PM! Time for pictures with New Year's Eve props. 

It's 11 PM! Time to make some noise and countdown.

It's 12 AM! Time for "Mint"night kisses! 

You can get as creative as you want with activities.  In a separate box I am putting all the materials I will need for the countdown.  I spent ten bucks on decorations and props from the dollar store, so the party will also be inexpensive fun.

By the way did you notice that my stocking holders create a nativity, because they do!

Mom will make Pozole and ponche and I will provide the fun! Am really excited about how the countdown will go (smile). How do you celebrate New Year's Eve?

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Television the Poor Man’s Entertainment

The old saying states that television is the poor man’s medium of entertainment and people who watch it regularly are generally not the brightest peas-in-a-pod.  In academia circles people proudly share not owning televisions...  For me, in my home many memories take place around a television set.  I grew up watching movies from the golden age of Mexican cinema.  Sundays we would gather in the living room to watch Cantinflas, Pedro Infante or Vicente Fernandez.  As we watched the movies, mom would share narratives that popped into her head, “Hey, Muchacho (term of endearment she calls dad) remember when we watched this one at the ten cent theatre?” Then we would hear a story about them young and in love.  If it was a comedy the room would be filled with their laughter and if it was during a song, silence, as we all listened to the heartbreak of the lyrics.  As I got older, my brothers started renting films - which meant every Steven Segeal film (to this day I really appreciate a good action flick).  We didn’t have money for vacations, but every Sunday we would travel in our imagination through film.

On Christmas Eve, I sat with my parents as we watched the 1971 “Jesús, El Niño Dios” it was playing on TV.  I remember when I was a kid my mom would constantly say, pay close attention to this part.  She repeated that phrase as toddler Jesus revived a dead bird, made a flower grow instantaneously or asked the palm tree to bend  down to provide nourishment.  I hadn’t seen the film since I was a little girl and just like back then mom asked me to play close attention at certain moments in the movie.  Dad on the other hand commented on how growing up he didn’t realize that Christmas was the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  He said that it wasn’t until I started catechizing them that he learned the real reason for the universal celebration.  Yep, usually when I watch television with them it’s interactive because they usually feel like sharing things that come to mind as we watch.  I especially like watching Cantinflas films with them because they are the best audience they always laugh so hard it makes me smile seeing them so happy.

In college, as an elective, I took a film appreciation class and I got to watch the classical Hollywood films as study.  But my love for film extends yet further- I love foreign films - a great movie even with subtitles is still a great movie.  I especially like British period pieces, especially remakes of classical literature.  On Christmas Day, I finally got to watch “Jackie,” a film based on Jackie Kennedy during the assassination of President Kennedy.  I’ve been fascinated with the conspiracy theories behind the death of our president ever since I had a teacher in high school who was the dullest man- until he taught about the events that transpired on November twenty-second nineteen-sixty-three.  During the couple weeks we learned about the assassination the teacher had my full undivided attention, his passion on the subject totally infected me.  I remember thinking and possibly starting a rumor that my teacher had been in the CIA and had inside information on what really happened that November day (smile).  “Jackie” was great even though it was more a drama about our first lady than it was about the assassination of Kennedy.  I was a bit disappointed because I was hoping to get her side of the story on what really happened that dreadful day, but the film didn’t provide as much detail as I would have liked on that subject.  It’s still a great watch I totally give it a thumbs up.

I’ve always have been fascinated with stories.  Stories are important even Jesus taught using great narratives.  While television still has that negative stigma, I grew up with it playing a central part in my family interaction and many fond memories take place around a television set that occasionally needed a smack for the picture to come up clearly.  

Posada: My Christmas Journey

Happy almost Christmas!  My week began with a beautiful celebration at a local parish of a Latin American tradition, “Las Posadas.”  When I was six years old I was chosen to star as Mary in our school rendition of the tradition.  I have always been a bit shy, so while I was super excited of getting the leading role on the day of the big event I cried the entire journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  The crying earned me my small town's Oscar since people thought tears were quite appropriate for a woman with the pangs of childbirth.  Maybe it was stage fright, but as soon as Joseph took my hand to begin the journey I started to cry.  I think it was also because I thought Joseph was a little cute and I was terribly nervous to make my theatrical debut next to my first crush (smile).  I don’t remember much about the event; but racing home in excitement to share with my dad that I had done it that I had survived the show.  Dad was an alcoholic at the time and he was with a group of his friends drunk as usual and instead of finding comfort he said, “Well, I heard you cried the entire time.”  His friends laughed and my happy, excited heart sadden thinking I let him down.  That’s what my Christmases used to be like, these beautiful Catholic cultural observances mixed with drunkenness.

Searching for shelter.

Stopping to ask for lodging.

Traveling with the Holy Family.

This year, thirty years after that incident my dad and I found ourselves in a familiar environment, but things have changed!  The hurts I carried God took them from me when He taught me to forgive and because of the healing power of forgiveness I have the best relationship with my dad today.  This was our first posada together as a family and it was so beyond special.  The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish community organized one of the best posadas I have attended.  We began at six in the afternoon not only accompanying Mary and Joseph, but also migrants who travel from all over Latin America towards the United States in hopes of a better life.  Simultaneously we heard the story of Mary and Joseph towards Bethlehem and one of two young teens leaving their humble tin roof home towards America.  We ended the pilgrimage at the parish with the church being the stable that took in the Holy Family and who takes in people of all nationalities and state in life- those who are most vulnerable.  Together we prayed the rosary before beginning the celebration of the Mass led by our Bishop.  The service was so beautiful, four babies were presented to the community which looked absolutely adorable as Bishop Vann held them up.  It concluded with pan dulce, champurrado and piñatas!

Love this picture of Holy Family kneeling during Mass.

Exiting the church.

My parents getting a special blessing from our bishop.

Growing up in California my Christmases were culturally Catholic, but spiritually devoid of God.  In the small town where I am from in Michoacán, the whole town would light bonfires outside their homes and it was a huge neighborhood party.  We kept this bonfire custom when we moved to the U.S., but lost the religious part of attending church celebrations.  Thus, my Christmases (though some of the warmest memories) were tamales, dancing, bonfires and a lot of drunkenness.  Since my reversion I have tried to bring Jesus and our faith back into our home and every year I feel like Jesus occupies more space in our lives.  Now our gatherings are small and simple.  We continue to honor the twenty-fourth as the day that we wait with great anticipation for the birth of Christ. Mom makes tamales and ponche and we eat a whole lot (smile).  Then we attend midnight service.  Like Thanksgiving we stay home just the small clan because dad no longer drinks and he doesn’t want to be tempted by the relatives who still like to get jolly.  Going from huge elaborate parties to our small dinners has been a great change, but I love the growth our family has had.  I love that my dad has changed so much in a way I never imagined.  His joy is contagious and now that he’s retired and full of energy we get to share even more.  To me that’s what Christmas is all about of celebrating Jesus’ birthday, but also being aware of the growth in my life since Jesus’ last birthday.  Going to the posada this year with my dad was testimony of Jesus not only growing more in me, but also in those I love- that is priceless.  How do you celebrate Christmas?   

Brea Christmas Lights Neighborhood

Happy Christmas week- goodness I can’t believe another year has come up on us.  Every December my life is made up of Christian and secular activities.  This past Saturday, my family joined my best friends in our annual Christmas lights site seeing tradition.  For the past four years (or longer) we have been going to this neighborhood in Brea that goes way out in Christmas decorations.  The kids as well as the adults really enjoy walking through the neighborhood and admiring the light displays.  Usually there’s tons of people on the streets and some of the homes sell hot chocolate, doughnuts- even tamales!  Thus, I told my parents and sis (this being their first year joining us) that there would be food.  So, hungrily we packed the car- only to realize after an hour of walking the neighborhood that there was no food or drink to be found.  Our bellies roared and my family made fun of me for promising them food.  We finally got to the house, where we remembered the tamales were sold and the owner of the property met us with the saddest news, “her renters had moved out of the property; thus, no more tamales!”  This house usually supplied us not only with tamales, but also churros and champurrado.  Realizing that our homies were gone made us miss them- even though we only ever exchanged cash for goodies.  After many jokes at my expense my family forgave me for bringing them on this journey with empty bellies.  As a sign of peace we turned the street to find a live nativity! Yep, a home set up a live nativity using goats from the local high school agricultural farm.  I gathered my bunch for a quick snap.  On our way back to the car we saw two live bands playing Christmas classics on their lawns.  Now that I think about it we also missed Santa, usually there’s a human Santa on a sleigh in one of the homes.

The live Nativity.

A huge Nativity.

The kiddos!

If you are looking for something fun to do with the family check out the Brea Christmas lights. Every home goes way out in Christmas cheer and depending on the night you will find goodies and maybe even snap a picture with Santa.  My parents really enjoyed it.  As for me I truly enjoyed it this year (even without tamales) because it was the first year that my parents went.  Now that dad has retired he is full of energy to do everything that I suggest, like tonight we will be attending a posada at a local parish where our bishop will be celebrating Mass.  I think it’s important to embrace some of the secular traditions because through them we embrace others where they are at, but it’s also important to incorporate our Catholic traditions.  I have found that together this mix of customs enriches my life and helps me connect with everyone I love, whether Christian or not.  What are some of the things you do every December?

Macklemore Unofficial Thrift Shop Challenge

Basically if you know me, you know that I am a thrifty person.  More than ninety percent of what I buy comes from secondhand stores.  This is no secret, even at work the news has spread about my ability to score great deals.  So, the other day my coworker came over and told me that I remind him of that song by Macklemore “Thrift Shop.”  Since it was a slow day I decided to google the song to have a listen and in my search I found that this song started an unofficial thrift shop challenge!

The rules are:

Step One: Go to a thrift store and like the chorus in the song says, with “Twenty dollars in (your) pocket.” Snap a picture of your twenty dollars before you begin shopping.

Step Two: Find an item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a picture.

Step Three: Spend your twenty dollars any way you like and photograph your spoils.

I was more excited about the challenge than the song.  So, yesterday afternoon I headed to the Salvation Army to see if I could spend twenty dollars in one visit! After roaming around and digging in piles of not so interesting items I found a few lost gems.  I think the reason I love to thrift is because I feel like an archeologist digging sites for lost treasure and pieces of history.  And like a true excavator I am always surprised by what I find- never knowing what I will bring home with me (smile). Below my documentary of the challenge.

Step One: I am going to spend some cash, “Only got twenty dollars in my pocket.”

Step Two: Find an item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a picture (quoting lyrics).

“What you know about wearing a fur?”

“My gator shoes those are green”

“They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard”

“The sneakers… got the velcros”

Step Three: Spend your twenty dollars any way you like and photograph your spoils.

Brand New Birkenstock Sandals: $4.99, these normally retail for $135 so I saved 130 bucks!

Like New Toms Sunglasses $7.99 they retail for $139 I saved 131 bucks!

Brighton Christmas earrings new with Tags .99 cents and they had a $48 price tag!

Zandra Rhodes seashell shoulder bag $4.99 retails for $80, saved 75 dollars and it's a vintage piece!

Christmas hat for Dollar .25 cents from Target retails 9.99! 

Total Spent = $19.21 Total Saved= $387.78

I had so much fun and wanted to share a little silliness here today.  Though I would caution about the song- listen to the version that is appropriate for the radio.  Hope you are having a lovely beginning to this chilly Thursday! 

Weekend in Pictures: December Celebrations

I had an extremely busy weekend, between my annual best friends holiday parties, celebrating the Feast Day of our Lady of Guadalupe and attending a half-day Advent retreat - I couldn’t help going to bed quite early last night exhausted.  Yet, it was good exhaustion.  Today, we honor the patroness of the Americas, our Lady of Guadalupe, since I knew that I would not make it to the traditional mañanitas service, my parents and I celebrated on Saturday attending the festivities our parish hosted.  It began with a beautiful service with mariachi music and children dressed in traditional Mexican dress.  Then continued with a full blown fiesta outdoors with live music and Mexican delights.  We bought some yummy homemade food, listened to good mariachi music and went home satisfied with the loveliness of the celebration.

Later, that afternoon I attended my second friends Christmas gathering.  Every year, I have two traditional family festivities with my best friends from childhood and my best Catholic friends and their families.  This year they were back-to-back, on Friday I had one and Saturday the other. Both are usually pot-luck style, each of us bringing a dish to complete the meal.  Then there’s a children gift exchange and it’s so wonderful to see the happiness the children get opening their gifts!  These annual dinners are such family fun- that fill one’s heart with joy.  They are also moments that help us adults celebrate our friendship and the blessing God has given us of one more year able to share in each other’s lives.  Part of the joy of Christmas is having others to share it with (smile).

After a couple days full of activity, I wanted to get away and contemplate the coming of Jesus.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus sisters, in Santa Ana, host an annual Advent retreat.  It pays reading the church’s bulletin because that’s how I found out about the event.  I wasn’t sure what to expect about a six hour retreat, but I was in for such a treat!  First of all, the sisters have a Nativity in every corner of the retreat house which made me feel like I was at home! I also sat at the table with the mother of our soon to be bishop of Orange, Reverend Timothy Freyer.  His mom is such a lovely woman, she was telling me that he is her only child and she’s ecstatic with her son’s appointment.  She even invited me to his ordination in January… The retreat was really nice, it included: two talks, a good amount of time for personal prayer, lunch and Mass.  It was advertised as an adult retreat with the majority of the people in attendance being seniors and ladies.  I think I might have been the youngest person there, and by a big gap; but it was nice being surrounded by people who take their faith seriously.  I left feeling elated with the wisdom I received and just the slow pace of the day. 

This Advent- I have tried doing less and it has made such a difference.  It’s the first year, in sometime that it feels like Christmas! Many times in the rush of December I never get to experience that desire for Jesus’ coming and this year cutting back on activities and being very particular of the activities that I do participate in has allowed me the time to pray and reflect.  How’s your Advent going?