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Winter In Puerto Rico

Winter In Puerto Rico

For us there’s no better way to escape the winter for a couple weeks than to go to Puerto Rico. We love spending our Christmas break there, it’s a great time to see family and have warm beautiful days. On our recent trip to my 

Isabella is 6!

Isabella is 6!

And my girl is 6 and we are so grateful for every day we get to spend with her. This past year was exciting and busy, we are still in a global pandemic but doing the best we can. Isabella had two big milestones in 

5 Libros Para Enseñarle A Nuestros Hijos Sobre Puerto Rico

5 Libros Para Enseñarle A Nuestros Hijos Sobre Puerto Rico

Desde que estaba embarazada de Isabella, sabía que quería enseñarle a amar sus raices puertorriqueñas y a nuestra Isla. Quiero que aprenda todo de Puerto Rico, su idioma, comida, tradiciones, costumbres, historia, en fin todo.

Desde entonces, siempre ando pensando en diferentes formas de enseñarle y transmitirle todo esto a mi hija. Busco formas creativas, divertidas y que sean apropiadas para su edad.

Desde que Isabella nació comencé a leerle en las noches. Hoy día es parte de nuestra rutina nocturna, leemos un cuento antes de que se duerma. Entonces se me hizo fácil integrar en este espacio un poquito de de lo mucho que quiero que Isabella aprenda de Puerto Rico.

Siempre ando en busca de libros que hablen de nuestra Isla, costumbre, tradiciones que sean divertidos y sencillos. He encontrado muchos muy buenos, pero esta tarea no la hago sola. Una de las Tias de Isabella (Titi Lela, que quiere ser la Titi de los libros, le a regalado muchos libros que nos han encantado. No se como lo hace, pero siempre nos sorprende con algún libro de Puerto Rico, sin previo aviso y sin motivo de alguna ocasión especial, encontramos paquetes en nuestra puerta llenitos de mucho amor y un buen libro. Gracias a Titi Lela, por que nos ayuda en este proceso de leer y aprender.

Si deseas tal como yo eneseñarle a tus hijos un poquito más de Puerto Rico por medio de la lectura, aquí te hablo de 5 libros muy buenos para eso. Algunos en Español y otros en Ingles por si son bilingues como nosotras.

Good Night Puerto Rico by, Lisa Bolívar Martinez, Mathew Martinez –  Este es uno de los libros que llego a nuestra puerta, enviado por nuestra querida Titi Lela. Este es un “board book” en Inglés,  ideal para toddlers por su material; pero su contenido es excelente para todas las edades. En este libro, se le dan las buenas noches a todos los niños de Puerto Rico  y dan  un paseo por algunos lugares muy interesantes de la isla. Es sencillo para leer y corto y la ilustración es muy colorida y divertida.

ABC Coquí por, Maria Alou – Amo la ilustración de este libro, está lleno de hermosos dibujos que nos trasportan a nuestra querida Isla. Con este libro tus pequeños aprenderán el alfabeto, asociando cada letra con una palabra tradicional de Puerto Rico.  Es super divertido aprender de esta forma.

Yo quiero pasteles por Yvonne Torres-Hayden – Otro libro que envió Titi Lela!- Esta es la historia de una niña llamada Merci a la cual le encanta comer pasteles. Aprendemos de su familia y de sus tradiciones. Y lo importante de inculcarle a nuestros hijos estos valores. El libro es en Inglés y Español, fácil de leer y muy divertido.

Vámonos a San Juan, por Patty Rodríguez & Ariana Stein. Arte por: Ana Godínez– Este es un “board book”, bilingüe y super fácil de leer. Este libro hace un recorrido por San Juan, la ciudad Capital de Puerto Rico y lugares de interés en otros municipios. También veremos algunas de las tradiciones de los puertorriqueños y menciona platillos deliciosos que se comen con frecuencia en la Isla del Encanto. Al terminar la narración principal, encontrarás algo similar a un glosario, con diferentes imágenes mencionadas o vistas en el libro con una descripción de lo que son. 

El Flamboyán Amarillo, por Georgina Lázaro. Ilustrado por, Lulu Delacre. Este fue el primer libro que Titi Lela le regaló a Isabella, era apenas una recién nacida. Es un hermoso poema lleno de rimas y acompañado de un bella ilustración. Este cuento nos habla de una madre y su hijo y de como juntos siembran un flamboyán amarillo. Acompañamos a los protagonista en esta bella travesía hasta que el árbol florece y nos da una sorpresa al final. No se por que pero siempre que lo leo con Isabella me emociona mucho, es ideal para grandes y chicos diría yo.

Nos encanta coleccionar libros de Puerto Rico y lo mejor que los podemos guardar para así tal vez leerle a mi nietos los mismos cuentos.

Déjame saber que te parecieron estas recomendaciones y si tienes alguna otra sugerencia para nosotras.

10 Things I Love About Kansas City

10 Things I Love About Kansas City

In celebration of my 10 year anniversary of moving to Kansas City, I want to share with you 10 things I love about this city. I know there’s  so many more things but these are my personal favorites. For the past 10 years I have 

Sofrito de Puerto Rico

Sofrito de Puerto Rico

Have you heard about sofrito before? Well, Puerto Rican sofrito is a blend of spices, herbs and vegetables that is used as a base to cook many dishes. This mixture is rich in flavors with a savory aroma and is very easy to make. This 

Mexican Family Vacation

Mexican Family Vacation

Mexico is one of my favorite places! I have visited this country six times and would love to keep exploring and visiting this beautiful place. But it was not until I met Jerry that I learned how fun the all-inclusive Mexican resorts can be.

We decided to have our honeymoon at El Dorado Royale by Karisma, and I absolutely love it. Since then we’ve been 4 different times to all-inclusive Mexican resorts, three of them we stayed at Karisma’s hotels.  We really like them, their food is delicious and they have a good variety of restaurants, al la carte and buffet style. Actually they claim to be gourmet inclusive. The service had always been excellent and the facilities are well maintained.

Recently we went back and stayed in Azul Beach Resort in Cancun. This was a very special trip for us, as we traveled with Alex and Katie as well. For a couple years we have been talking about having a family vacation the five of us to celebrate, Alex graduating from medical school, Katie from her masters and Isabella moving on to kindergarten. We had a bonus person this time, my Mom joined us as well.

We spent 7 nights and we had a great time. I loved seeing Alex, Katie and Isabella together and creating wonderful memories. They have a very special bond and for that I’m so grateful. Big brother and big sister are always taking care of Isabella, spoiling her and giving her so much love.

We spent a lot of quality time under the sun and at our breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Isabella particularly loved her time in the water, and made some friends. We went for long walks trying to find iguanas, and coconuts. Yes coconuts, Isabella was obsessed with coconuts, she collected them and played with them in the room.  We tried new food and drinks and my Mom, Katie and me had massages

We always try to go out on a tour at least one day, and this time we chose a Catamaran to Isla Mujeres Island. I had my doubts on doing this because I thought maybe it was going to be to tough on Isabella. But guess what, she did amazing and she enjoyed it so much! We had the opportunity to snorkel, and yes Isabella had her first try at it and she can’t wait to do it again. Once we got to the Island we went to Playa Norte and it was spectacular. White, silky sand and crystal clear water! It was a very sunny and warm day and the temperature of the water was perfect. Katie, Alex and Weli joined us at the beach after they did a little shopping and we had such a nice time together.

If you are planning to go to an all-inclusive resort here are some tips for you.

Take plenty of sun block, take a couple bottles more than what you think you will need. Why? Well, you won’t want to ruin your vacation because you are sun burnt. And also the sun block in the resorts is extremely expensive. This time Jerry paid $50 for two bottles. So yes, be sure you have more than enough and don’t forget your after the sun aloe vera gel.

Take your essential toiletries and over the counter medications you may need. Remember the shops at the resorts are crazy expensive, and in some cases the resort can be a long taxi ride from convenience stores.

Always take a tour outside the resort. All-inclusive resorts have all you need. But in my opinion to get the most out of the trip you need to get to know a little bit of the culture, visit a new place or do a new thing. We had taken different tours through the years, we visited Tolum, swam in cenotes, visited Playa del Carmen town and shops, visited a Mayan village among others. They are affordable and a great way of getting to know a little bit more of the amazing Mexican culture. You can coordinate these tours before you get to the resort or even when you get there.

Although the tips are included in this type of  all-inclusive resorts, my recommendations is to always give a little extra tip. The service is so good that is only fair to do it!

Do your research before you purchase your trip, so you can select the best resort and area for your vacation. Some resorts are for adults only,  they have family ones, targeted to younger crowds. The ambience and amenities are different at each resort as well.

For parents traveling with children, but needing a little break I have good news. They have a kids club with different activities for them to enjoy, while you can have your well deserved adult time. For the first time we felt Isabella was ready to be in one of this activities, but she said no, no and no! Every day we asked, in case she changed her mind but she wanted to spend all her time with her family.

Try all the restaurants, join in the activities, take walks, order room service and enjoy to the fullest all that is included, so you get the most out of it.

All-inclusive resorts in Mexico are definitely a popular vacation in my household. There’s always something for everyone and is a great way of spending quality time with your family.

Santorini Eats

Santorini Eats

Santorini is not only a paradise because of the views, their cuisine surprised us in a very good way. They make good use of their harvests by using it in their traditional dishes and giving each bite a unique flavor. Many restaurants combine the exquisiteness 

Isabella is Five

Isabella is Five

It is that time of the year again my girl turned 5! She was counting the days till her birthday and was very excited for her celebration. This year everything looked different, thanks to COVID-19, but it was as special as always and we celebrated 

Santorini with a 3 year old

Santorini with a 3 year old

Visiting Santorini was a dream come true. We visited Santorini with my 3 year old daughter and my Mom. While at first, we were not sure if taking our daughter was the right thing, we discovered that Santorini in our opinion is for kids too. This is the second post out of a series of three, of our time on this Island. If you want to read the first one please click here.

We spent all our time together except for one date night, Jerry and I had. When planning our trip we were focused on finding things to do as family.

Here are some of the things we want share with you.

Enjoy the Sunsets– When visiting Santorini this is a must, hands down you will enjoy breathtaking sunsets. We made this a priority on our stay and that’s why we chose the hotel and location we chose. Our balcony and pool in the hotel were the perfect place to watch all the sunsets.  Every evening we spent time together talking, eating and sipping on local wine and beer while enjoying the magical sunsets.

Family Photo Shoot– I always wanted to have spectacular pictures of us with the caldera as the background. As soon as we confirmed our trip to Santorini, I started looking for options for our family photos. After my research I decided to go with Local Lens. Our photos  where scheduled for our second full day and the chosen place was Oia.  Everything was set and I was as excited as I could be, but I wasn’t counting  on Isabella canceling picture day. Yes, my daughter was not in the mood for pictures and she expressed it perfectly, even before leaving the hotel. All she wanted to do was to enjoy her day at the pool. So the shooting didn’t turn out as I imagined. Isabella was not looking at the camera, no smiles, no posing, no nothing. I was really stressed and upset about it. We tried hard to capture that perfect picture I was dreaming about,  but our girl was just not into it. After all I ended up loving our pictures, because they truly represented us and the photographer captured a moment of our lives that has become a funny story that we often tell. Vacations as life are not perfect, so it is always good to have an open mind.

Explore Oia– Oia is a coastal town on the northwestern tip of Santorini. Is one of the most beautiful villages I have ever seen and it is also one of the most photographed as well. Oia has narrow streets and white and blue architecture, stunning views and plenty of entertainment. We wondered around the streets looking at some of the shops, taking in the views and posing for plenty of pictures.  Of course we stopped for beers and ice-cream and we had a great time. From Fira to Oia we took a Taxi, and then to return to our hotel we took public transportation. Both of them super easy and affordable. One thing to notice is that there’s a lot of tourist all the time in Oia but specially at sunset. So plan accordingly so you can have the best time while visiting.

Explore the Island– While in Santorini Jerry suggested to rent a car and drive the whole Island. We used a local rental place and it was very easy and cheap. We had a lot of fun stopping in different areas, appreciating the views and stopping  randomly at a great tavern for lunch. The Island is small and it’s a great way of exploring more in less time.

Visit the Red Beach- We stopped and enjoyed the magnificent Red Beach.  To access the beach you need to walk through a very  bumpy path, climb and maneuver a lot, but once you are there is completely worth it.  The view is out of this world, we wondered around, dipped into the water and of course played with Isabella. One funny thing that happened was that once we got to the beach, I realized I forgot Isabella’s swimsuit. I felt like the worst Mom ever! But we made it work and she had a blast. I strongly recommend you make time to visit this beach when you are in Santorini, it’s a unique experience that you must have.

The Orthodox Metropolitan Church of Santorini– This church was very close to the hotel we were staying, so one night we decided to come in. The church was built in 1827 and offers an impressive view to the caldera. It is a beautiful cathedral with a nice mosaic on the outside and an impressive bell tower.

Evenings– For us the evenings were different, as we travel with a 3 year old. We had one date night at a restaurant near by our hotel. After that we spent some time walking and having some drinks. As a family  on evenings we walk the beautiful small streets, discover places, have dinner and eat ice cream. If you are visiting with out kids you will have plenty of options for a great night out.

Other Tips

My Mom and I decided to wake up extra early (6am) on our last day in Santorini and take a walk. If you want to take great pictures and the streets for yourself, believe me, do this.

As a side note, I want to share that one night Jerry went to get pizza for Isabella. When he returned he told us that in the pizza place he met a Puerto Rican guy and that the Puerto Rican flag was displayed on one of the walls of the place. And of course I went to see my Puerto Rican flag in Santorini.

When doing my research before visiting Santorini,  I found that there are many more activities appropriate for families. Staying closer to the beach is a great alternative for families. There’s a water park, museums, ruins, outdoor movie theaters, food tours, wine tours and other activities you can enjoy as a family.

Santorini is whatever you want it to be, if you are a honeymooner I believe this is an amazing place to visit. If you are looking for a more upbeat vacation with friends, you will find great alternatives here and if you are a family like us Santorini is the place for you as well.

Amazing caldera views, a magical island and their happy and charming people made our stay a perfect one. 

Stay tuned for my next post where I will be talking about all the delicious things we ate in Santorini. You know we love to eat so we will share our experience in that area as well.

Meanwhile tell me, have you visited Santorini?

Santorini is for Kids

Santorini is for Kids

Santorini was so good to us that we want to share every detail with you. I have created a series of 3 posts on the blog with our experience, our favorite things and more. Hope you find them useful. Santorini was on my bucket list