Favourita Boriqua: Tu me haces falta e que hisciste

A Christmas JLO jingle

All I want for Christmas is 5 fabulous things

5 Holiday Gift Ideas:

TRAVEL:
A Rocky Mountaineer rail journey under the Christmas tree. The two-day, all daylight train trip through the Canadian Rockies is on everyone’s wish list and is guaranteed never to be re-used, re-gifted or recycled. And, by booking now, travellers will receive the Early Booking Bonus offer – a Fairmont Hotels & Resorts gift card worth up to $600 per couple which can be used for amenities such as dining, shopping or spa treatments. A gift that keeps on giving, a Rocky Mountaineer vacation will provide loved ones with a lifetime of lasting memories.

FOOTWEAR:
A pair of sheepskin Australian UGG boots from Victoria's Secret. You save over $100 if you buy them online and shipping and handling won't break your bank. Every stylish mami needs a new pair of UGG's light or dark colour, anything goes with these sexy fasion statements.

ACCESSORIES:
Sparkling and shining, bada bing bada bling! Everyone needs holiday glitter and glamour for the holidays. When you’re swamped with holiday parties and your winter wardrobe is looking less then glamourous, add a dab of fab to any night-out outfit with a dazzling necklace. Banana Republic and Mexx have some great goodies, so have a boo. Go bold, embrace it, along with all the other goodies the holidays have to offer like Eggnogg lattes from Starbucks.

WARDROBE:
Oh I love the winter wooly coats, especially basic black and fab colours like red or purple. Guess has a wonderful jacket that is perfect for any body type, plus it has the high colour high fashion look.

HOME:
Christmas time is a time for spending time in your humble abode, so why not make it dazzling? Urban Barn has the greastest treasures in the most stunning colours to make your house shine and sparkle just like your neckline. Check out the living room accents like pillows and throws.

The X in my Christmas

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree. Yes, Christmas tree, Christmas eve, Christmas day, Christmas sleigh, it is all on its way in the next couple weeks or so and I am very excited. I have been listening to my Boney M Christmas tunes for a few weeks now and I am forever in the spirit. Christmas is my favourite time of year, my favourite time to be with family, friends and the ones you love. It is the most anticipated day of the year, like a super hot sun day or big fall stay at home snow day. Everyone is excited for Christmas, but is it for the right reason? The saddest thing I see at Christmas is the many car accidents, thefts, rude mall toe steppers, stores jacking prices and all those big bad sad things that make that X in Christmas. Like, changing the word Christmas to Xmas......the meaning of Christmas is Xed out and along with it comes the sad things that I see happening in the world around me. Even if you do not believe in Christ, Christmas has a meaning for everyone, no matter what religion, ethnicity, or culture. Christmas is about celebrating a time in which you can spend time with your family, exchange gifts and warm wishes and genuinely have a day to appreciate life and its many wonders. It's the wonder of Christmas, the love, the celebration. Why would anyone want to X that? Why would anyone want to sing "Feliz Xidad" or "We wish you a Merry Xmas" - is it just to shake the mold or to poke at something that only celebrates good, love, happiness and peace. There are many things I would like to put an X on, but Christmas? It does no wrong.

North America’s Coolest Train Trips

Travel and Lifestyle writer, Kristin Luna, produced a fantastic piece on the Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer trains and we have to agree that the Rocky Mountaineer is indeed one of “North America’s Coolest Train Trips”

Check out the story and some comments from yours truly.

By the numbers

One day until the US election, two days until I can buy the pair of dark brown pants at Plum, three days until my last day at work before my holiday, four days until I get my hair done, five days until my Saturday house chores, six days until my nephew's baptism, seven days until my vacation, eight days until I wear my pj's all day, nine days until I organize the laundry room, ten days until I veg out and watch chick flicks, eleven days until I do a brisk walk around the block for fitness, twelve days until I hit the mall seeking shopping refuge. Again.

In a just a few short 12 days I accomplish a whole lot of nothing much, because I deserve it. I need my break. I need time to recollect, chill, organize and spend time with the person that matters most to me, myself. 12 days to get to know this soul a bit better than I have known her for the past 26 years. It will be nice spending time a little bit of time with me.

Take another little piece of my heart Houston

Today I woke up, jet lagged and my head pounding, but when I stepped out onto the street in front of my hotel I breathed in the warm air as the sun shone on my face....and knew that yes I was in Houston, Texas. My travels to Houston are for business, I am attending the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) Conference and meeting over 140 journalists to pitch the story of one of the world's greatest travel experiences - the Rocky Mountaineer. So, I brought to Houston a little bit of Canada, a bit of my own history and exciting stories to share to this beautifully clean and comfortable city. The streets of downtown Houston are almost deserted on a Sunday morning as I walk to the George Brown Convention Centre. The city of Houston is charming, it is warm, safe and open. The wide open spaces of the skyline and the streets reflect the slogan that "everything is bigger in Texas" and smartly so - Houston has built its city in a way that will avoid those heartattack traffic jams and crowded sidewalks. A city to be admired for its structural construction. The beauty of Houston is in its quietness, calmness and very friendly, almost Canadian like, people. And of course, I cannot forget the best part of Houston, the humid hot weather - I love it. If you go to Houston catch a bus from downtown for $1 and go to The Galleria mall and shop around for the day, I guarantee you, with hundreds of shops you will be in there for more than four hours with lunch at Kona Grill- get the crunch roll, calamari and california roll - some of the best sushi I have ever had. Comparable with the sushi joints in Maui Hawaii, so you better believe you can get some good sushi in Texas and a big 12 oz burger to boot.
Other sites to see are the Space Center, Houston Zoo and some of the beautiful museums and parks. If you are here on a Sunday, like me, attend the mass at the Annunciation Catholic Church - 9:30am mass is best and don't forget to light a candle for a cause close to your heart.
Two more days in this beautiful city and I will have left a piece of our history here and taken home a piece of theirs.

Worldwise Quiz: Test Your Chocolate I.Q.

Another National Geographic Worldwide Quiz for your enjoyment:

What do you know about the makers of the chocolate world? Try tackling these questions: 1) Thorntons, a British chocolatier, created an 860-pound wall of chocolate in 2007. Dubbed the “World’s First Edible Billboard” (and devoured in three hours), the wall graced which London shopping area? 2) Theodor Tobler created the Toblerone chocolate triangles, which mimic the shape of the Matterhorn and honor his native country of Switzerland. Name his hometown, of which Tobler also exalted by placing its symbol, a bear, within the logo artwork. 3) The cocoa tree’s scientific name (Theobroma cacao) means “food of the gods” in Latin. Cocoa was considered as such by the Aztecs, who made chocolate beverages from the beans. Cultivated for thousands of years in the Americas, the trees are native to which South American geographical region? Find the answers to these chocolaty questions and learn more in this month’s Worldwise Quiz.

Voting begins but the decision is never infinite

Today is voting day in Canada, yes the federal election and four parties are at the forefront. I am sad to say, I will probably not be able to get to my polling station fast enough to cast my vote before 7pm this evening, but I will be happy to report that my family and friends are all voting for the same party that I want to win. Really, this election was called too early and at such a terrible time. At this point, I am kind of fed up with federal politics, but still our vote matters. This year, like most years, I am voting Conservative. But it is not for the same reasons I have voted Conservative before. This year, I am voting Conservative because of the lack of options avaliable to me, I am choosing the best piece out of the pile of shit that exists. Dion is a wimp, Layton is uncivilized and May is just too far out there, especially with the legalization of drugs on her platform. Did you see the televised debate? The only civilized player at the table was Harper, everyone else was in a shouting match. These politicans make me want to become an MLA more than ever now, to move and to shake the politics that exist today. If I do make it to the polling station this evening , I might even write on my ballot "Obama for PM" because that is really who I think the winner should be, both in Canada and the US. Oh...bama...if only that was possible. I found an article on political leanings that I found quite interesting today, have a read and let me know what you think: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=organization-and-political-leanings
Get your VOTE ON!

There are no calories in clothing

Splurge, indulge, take it all in! These are words you would not like to be hearing if you were sitting in front of a big bag of Ruffles potato chips or a big bin of Baskin and Robbins ice cream. But these are words that you would like to hear if you were thinking of purchasing that Guess sweater or those True Religion jeans.....shopping, ahhhh it's every girl's guilty pleasure - just like that itty bitty bag of mini reeses pieces.

So, here is a list of the 5 I love to love this fall:
1. Uggs - they are not as popular as they once were, which is why I love them. I hate looking like "every other" girl, but if you wear your Uggs with some new found styles you will be sporting very savvy fashion sense. Wear them with skinny jeans for a casual night or a super short skirt for hitting the town and showing off some serious leg. Just remember, buy the real thing. No tacky knock offs.
2. Knock-off designer sunglasses. Did I just say no tacky knock offs? Well, yes I did, for the beautiful sheepskin Uggs. But for sunglasses it's a different story. If you buy cheap Uggs they end up looking old fast and you end up walking on the sides of your feet - very flimsy quality when it is not the real thing. Shades on the other hand look hot no matter what the brand and they have the same UV protection as the real thing. Black is hot this season - big squared Coach and DG are a few of my favourites. You can be playful and get a few shades from rainbow colours such as red, blue and green. And white shades are in, depending on if they go with your colouring or not.
3. Anything purple - sweaters, blouses, scarves and defintley trench coats. Check out this cutie at Banana Republic.
4. Gold - Be bold, wear gold and where it on your ears, your neck and arms. Gold bangles are hot, but remember to where them in fours and eights. Do not where just one bangle alone. Gold necklaces with charms are hot (like a cross, the saints or a key) and pair it up with gold hoops. JLO has some hot creations that look good paired or alone.
5. Turtle neck sweaters - a sexy sleek turtle neck sweater makes any outfit classy, buy any and every colour and pair with a slack or skirt with a high knee boot. Its comfy, classy and makes your chest look great!

And so, here is a list of the 5 I love to hate this fall:
1. Everything Lululemon. It's boring, it's old, everyone is wearing it. I am tired of seeing all the girls wearing their Lululemon sweat pants, especially now since I am seeing them in the workplace! A big no no. Get some style and stop mirroring every other girl out there. Lululemon is over priced and its not all that lovely. Buy some sweet sweat suits from Lotuswear or Aritizia. The price is better and the pants make your ass look equally hot.
2. Small studs. I love diamond studs, but they have to be at least the size of the rock on your finger. Tiny little studs get lost in your ears and there is no point ever wearing earrings when your studs are small. Medium to big diamond studs are sparkling, stunning and gorgeous. And come on ladies, I know you like your studs large.
3. Posh cut. Let you hair grow long for fall, you might need the extra scarf for winter. Or, cut it sassy and short or maybe shoulder length. Make your hair cut your own trend, not someone elses copy cat chop.
4. Skin coloured nylons. So yesterday and so sad looking. Get some sexy black, maybe with a funky pattern. Or, ditch the nylons all together and show some skin....if you feel shy and pasty white, use some self tanning bronzer to make them shine.
5. Super long shirts. They are cute to a certain length, but sometimes they can worn too long and look super sloppy. Be choosy about how long your shirt is and what you wear it with. Button up is a no no, but maybe something more fitted and less loosy goosy. Keep it all in proportion.

Happy fall and happy shopping!

Pointing out the big blue double door garage

You know sometimes when you want to avoid a certain topic, when you get nervous or shy, you revert the feeling by carrying out another conversation. Perhaps it is completley on another tangent, completley unrelated, or perhaps it is on a similar vein but just has some kooky off-topic element thrown into the mix. I am talking about sitting on a skytrain chatting about the wonders of the world and then, when the conversation gets too deep, you point out the obvious....like "oh look there's Nanaimo Station" or "oh look a big tall building". All of this "pointing out the obvious" has a meaning. It is to change topic when the conversation is getting to serious. It is the need to input some "pun" into the discussion at hand that perhaps hits a nerve with you. Although some may look at you strangely and question your motives.....some people get it and it is those that do, who sit back and laugh with you endlessly about the joke that neither of you really understand.

Put your fresh face forward

I recently discovered the beauty product of all beauty products. My personal beauty secret which I am happy to reveal is Avene Thermal Water Spray. Okay, so you read this and you say “water?” I can just drink water, take a bath, or sit outside in the rain if I want to feel the benefits of water. But this is different. Ever since I have started using Avene, which is about a few months ago, I have not been prone to any nasty blemishes on my face (knock on wood) and my skin looks more vibrant, clearer and more refreshed than it’s ever been. And with the fast-paced life that I live and on a maximum of seven or eight hours of sleep a night, I need Avene to wake me up, set my makeup and give me the fresh face forward start that I need to begin my day. And I end my day with Avene too. It’s the last step of my Biotherm Age Fitness cream regime - a spritz of Avene (and one for my husband too) before we tuck ourselves in for the night. Everyone I talk to rolls their eyes at me and tells me that it’s all in my head. But really, I see the difference and I notice the results. I am a results oriented person and this product has provided me with yet another beauty secret that I love sharing. So, try bringing some more water into your daily life, especially if you are not taking in those eight glasses a day.

The kismat connection

Kismat, pleasant to the ear and pleasant to the taste buds. I love East Indian food, especially the traditional kind. I am not just a lover of the common Butter Chicken dish....I love Chicken Saag, Paneer Pakora, Chick Pea Masala. My tounge has learned many flavours of India and adores them all. I have visited quite a few Indian restaurants here in Vancouver and with such a big Indian population it is not hard to find one on every street corner. Plus my best friend is Punjabi, so her mother cooked me all the traditional favourties when I came over for dinner. Naturally, when I moved out to the suburbs after getting married, I thought finding good Indian food would be a challenge. My taste buds are always up for a challenge, especially when it is for sampling exotic fare. My husband D. detested Indian food before he met me and I begged and pleaded with him to give it a try, so he did...in the suburbs. We stumbled across at quiet little, ambiance perfect Indian cuisine in Langley called Kismat. I urged him to try the Butter Chicken dish, a choice that you cannot go wrong with. It was the safe choice, the right choice. He devoured it and then the cravings kicked in. Kismat is one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to and we crave it on a weekly basis. I compare it to hot spot Indian joints in New York, LA, downtown Vancouver and I always state the same verdict - Kismat is the best. My husband echoes my thoughts and is now a lover of this new found food. Kismat has beautiful ambiance, a plentiful menu, exotic flavours and gorgeous servers. Along with my food at Kismat, I am always served the biggest smiles and flavours that make mouth water. Eat in or take out - I suggest eating in so you can enjoy all the elements of dining at its best. Eating in allows you to order a delicious tall cup of authentic Chai tea ....a perfect complement to any dish. For your appetizer, try the paneer pakora or veggie samosas. For your veggie main eat the chana masala and for your meat main, I suggest the butter chicken (medium) and the chicken saag (mild). And don't forget to order a side of rice with each dish and some garlic naan bread. Ahhh....pleasing Indian flavours and so close to home.

Test your geography I.Q.

How much do you know about the world’s unfinished business? Try to tackle these questions: 1. The unfinished Ryugyong Hotel is the tallest and most prominent structure in which Korean city? 2. The Palace of the Soviets was to be the first of many Soviet skyscraper projects, though its construction was interrupted at the onset of World War II. The project was subsequently canceled, and the foundations were transformed into what was then the world’s largest open-air swimming pool in what city? 3. The red sandstone Hassan Tower was intended to be the world’s largest minaret when its construction began in A.D. 1195. It only rose to about half the planned height, and now makes up part of a historical complex in which Moroccan city? Find the answers to these questions and learn more on this WorldWise Quiz by National Geographic. Your geography and history lesson for the day!

Living La Vida Lusa

Portugal. Portuguese. Portuguesa. Port. Those are a few of my favourite words. Being Portuguese, being Portuguese-Canadian is one of the greatest things in my life. I am proud of my background, where my parents came from and proud to be associated with such a wonderful culture, that is not only located on a beautiful pennisula, but located near the ocean, the beautiful endless ocean. The Portuguese community in Vancouver is small, somewhat seperated and unlike other communities. We cannot be compared to the larger communities that exist such as the Filipinos, the Croations, the Chinese. We cannot be compared by numbers nor can we be compared by cultures. I love walking down Commerical Drive, listening to the sound of Portuguese spoken on the streets, visiting the PCOV, now newly renovated and open to serve you a wonderful Bitoque or Carne Alentejana....my mouth waters just thinking about it. And during World Cup Soccer time or even during the Euro, it's the greatest place to be to cheer on your favourite red and green team. Did I mention food and the love of sport (especially soccer, most defintley soccer) is a very cultural element of being Portuguese? Where do you think the song "Ole Ole Ole" came from? Of course, our brothers and sisters from Brasil, another great country, another great culture, speaking the same great language of Portuguese. Although their Portuguese has a bit of a sutac (accent) which sounds very song like, it's a beautiful accent that simply makes the language a bit more interesting to listen to....try rolling some words off your tounge like "bahia" or "matumbina". One of the funniest music videos I have seen is by Fernando Rocha, it's actually a great song if you like to move and shake. It's a hypnotic beat, so turn it up. Loud. There are lots of great Portuguese music and amazing singers....some favourites of mine are Roberto Leal, Quim Barreiros, Roberto Carlos, Teixeirinha, Jorge Ferreira, Emanuel and more....amazing music from such a small culture. Sometimes big isn't always better. Great things have emerged from Portugal and Brasil, even some great Canadian artists, Nelly Furtado, Shawn Desmond, the new Canadian Idol - Brian Melo. So hats off to Portugal, a small little country but with loads of passion and big foot prints left all over the world. Portugal meu amor. If you are proud to be Portuguese and you are Canadian, join us at PROUD TO BE PORTUGUESE CANADIAN. And while you're there, think of joining our youth group JovensVancouver and our community newspaper hitting world-wide stands, Lusitania. Try being Portuguese for a day or even for just a moment.

Don't forget to flush

No one wants to speak about politics at the dinner table, but the “blog” is the perfect way to venture out and speak of the forbidden, speak of what everyone is thinking of at this exact moment. Topics such as the US election, the Canadian election, the Maple Leaf Meats listeriosis outbreak, the Popes red Prada shoes…the list goes on.
Harper is set to call an election sometime in October, which is perfect timing for him if you ask me. He appears to be jumping on the “Obama” Wagon using the US election as the perfect opportunity to keep him in the spotlight and present the case that Parliament is not working…..but this excuse seems to be masking some other political agenda that Harper has in mind. As Stephane Dion says “it’s only a charade, it’s a fake”. Perhaps Harper is calling this election because he is not ready or able to approach or face the economy and perhaps he foresees a recession in Canada, which normally follows close at the heels of its Southern neighbours. Opinion polls show that an election called in the fall will most likely serve in the Conservative government’s favour. Interestingly enough, I am a Conservative, but not of the Conservatism that exists in Harper’s mind or many minds in North America. My agenda does not favour the war, sending our young Canadian soldiers to fight. It does however favour a lower GST rate, which perhaps is not a good example since money is being taken from another pocket. If Harper’s government does stay it needs to have some better mandates in play, or perhaps Harper should work on keeping some of the promises he made at his convention in the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey a few years ago. I remember cheering for him, praising his party platform, shaking his hand and ultimately voting for him. A mistake? Sure it was, but voting for any politician is a mistake. No political platform will mirror my own and after this election we will see everything go back to where it ended off eventually, straight down the pipes.

Good in bed

I read a novel recently by Jennifer Weiner, the witty yet emotionally moving writer that produces those cheesy yet “make you think” novels.
Good in Bed is about Cannie Shapiro, an overweight beautiful writer from Philly that goes through a whirlwind life. Her mother’s a lesbian, she gets pregnant by her ex-boyfriend and she has a weird yet strangely cute little cross-breed dog named Nifkin. This novel makes you think…..you don’t need to be stick skinny to be confident and beautiful, Cannie shows us that confidences comes from the inside – so okay, you already knew that. You’ve heard it all before. But the novel is deeper that this and there is a meaning to all of her successes and failures. Maybe the meaning is not so hidden, but the real meaning lies in the dark moments of Cannie's messed up/sort of great life. Her father abandoned the family when she was a child, and this weighs heavily on her and her siblings. His disappearance is what affects all of her relationships throughout the novel, and it is not until she unexpectedly runs into him, that she comes to terms with the lasting effect he has on her life. Some other significant event happens ( I won’t ruin it for you, but she loses someone she loves) Cannie falls deeper into a place where she seems so out of character – she loses her charm, loses her humour and ultimately loses all of her weight. Yes, she becomes a size 4 envy but with a bitch of a personality.
But what’s the greatness of weight loss when she cannot enjoy her life and her achievements because of larger more pressing issues taking precedence? I guess losing weight isn’t all it’s cut out to be. But I guess you knew that? Read Good in Bed on the metro or on your front porch, its just one of those reads right after your read Skinny Bitch. Because although being skinny shouldn’t be the centre of your life, you should really cut out the crap...and eat your cake too.

Laying the groundwork

I hear the sound of the hammer banging around my house often and new developments spring up everywhere, like new kitchen tiles, culture stone around our fireplace, a new fig tree planted in the backyard. The work of a handyman, craftman, brilliant man, my husband. He can do everything from new & old construction to home renovations. You want new hardwood, you want italian floor tiles, you want crown moldings? He does it all and with perfection. Rough hands make the man. If you are looking for a little or alot of home improvements check out Rocco & Son Construction and make your house the place you want to come home to.

This is me....now

So this is me, now. 26 years later, 26 years stronger, 26 years tested and tried. You know the feeling when everything in your life is going perfectly and then all of sudden you find yourself thinking of the past, reflecting on memories and past occurences, both good and bad. This usually happens around my birthday or some significant event. And indeed there is a significant event that is approaching. My first wedding anniversary. One whole year, feels like ten, feels like it just begun, feels like wow, feels like holy cow. I can sit back and say that I am truly blessed, truly lucky to be in such a fortunate position. Yes, truly happy. The beats vibrating from my basement below reminds me of my renters and my upcoming mortgage payments and my car bills and my unpaid phone bills, ouch. I guess reality isn't always smiling, but it's all part of the bigger more beautiful picture - life. Life at 26.