Those who know me well know I’m no good in the kitchen. I love to eat, but not to cook, which is really weird because my father was an ace in the kitchen, but sadly, I didn’t inherit any of his culinary talents. Even so, I have to cook for my kids and husband regardless of my cooking abilities. So, anything that will make this busy mom’s life easier in this arena is always welcomed!

That’s why when Walmart gave me the opportunity to review two very cool kitchen gadgets that promised to make cooking simpler, I jumped on it.

The first product is called the Fusion Juicer ($119 at Walmart) and it’s the first juicer I’ve ever owned. I’m really excited about it because ever since I turned 40 earlier this year, I promised myself I’d start having breakfast every morning — problem is, I’m usually not very hungry when I wake up. I made myself a tropical fruit juice recently using a nice mix of fruits, and I was impressed by the power of this gadget, despite it being so quiet. The juice tasted pretty good, but I still need to figure out which fruits go together best.

The second product is called Health Master Elite Blender ($149 at Walmart) and it’s pretty much that, except that it’s super powerful and versatile because you can use for pretty much anything from making quiche to making margaritas.

We’re coffee lovers in this house — especially my husband — and since it’s been unseasonably hot these past few days, we decided to try out the blender to make frozen cappuccinos.

We used the simple recipe that comes with the blender’s booklet and we were blown away by how quickly we were drinking some delicious coffee drinks. I think it took longer to make the espresso than for the blender to mix everything up. My favorite part was the froth! Next up we’re making chocolate chip muffins.

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Editor’s note: Michael, a 13-year-old homeschooled teen, is the son of Rachel Matos, one of our occasional contributors and fellow blogger. He had been anxiously awaiting the premiere of “Lincoln,” so we decided it would be great to encourage him to attend an advance screening and give us his personal review. 

A year ago, I heard that Steven Spielberg was going to do a movie about my favorite president Abraham Lincoln. I’d been excited ever since. When they released the cast information for the film, I saw some names I recognized – such as James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon Levitt. However, the name I did not recognize was the actor picked to play Lincoln – Daniel Day-Lewis. My Dad is in the movie marketing business and was coincidentally working on Lincoln. I asked him to tell me about Daniel Day-Lewis. His reply “He is one of the greatest!” Later that day, we watched one of his films – Last of the Mohicans. I was amazed! I felt like I was watching history, and I started to wonder how he was going to portray Lincoln – as a president and as a father.

I grew a deep interest about the life of Abraham Lincoln three years ago. My school class had to do a project on an icon in American history. We were assigned people randomly. Although I quietly hoped I would get Martin Luther King Jr. (Another one of my favorite historical figures), I was assigned President Abraham Lincoln. I went to the library and got a book called Abraham Lincoln by Tanya Lee Stone. After learning so much, I became obsessed and checked out two other books and got more information about Lincoln online. I learned a lot about his family and about his friendship with Ulysses S. Grant – the 18th president. The thing that I liked the most about Abraham Lincoln was that he seemed to have a big heart and that he ended a huge part of slavery.

I finally got to see Lincoln last week at a pre-screening. I think if you are going to pick an actor to play Abraham Lincoln you have to get the best. This movie has the most believable acting I have ever seen. Steven Spielberg showed more than the struggles that Abraham Lincoln went through as a president. He also showed that Lincoln has a sense of humor and loved to tell stories. The film also explores his relationship and struggles with his son Robert Todd Lincoln (played by Joseph Gordon Levitt) and the relationship with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln (played by Sally Field). The film shows Lincoln’s life after his re-election and right after the death his younger son William. It was a very rough period in his life. Daniel Day-Lewis shows that his character seems happy on the outside but in a cold and dark place on the inside, who is struggling with his family relationships and the loss of his son. You can see it in facial expressions and the way he would deliver his lines. You knew he felt lots of pain but couldn’t show it.

My guess is that this movie will win a few Oscars and I really think Daniel Day-Lewis will win for Best Actor … again. Lincoln comes out November 16th. I highly recommend you go see this film. You will not be disappointed!

Michael Wynne is a teen homeschooler, avid video game player and football fanatic, who loves movies, sports and a good pizza.

I was recently lucky enough to recieve a Fofos handmade sweater to review for my six-month old baby, Lucia.  Before I sing the praises of the lovely sweater, I’d like to quote from www.fofosbabyboutique.com to highlight one of the things that sets this company apart:

“Fofos Baby Boutique is excited to have partnered with the Obra Social Legaria in Mexico City, a not for profit association that helps low income Mexicans raise themselves out of poverty by giving them the tools and training in new skills to promote their personal and professional development.  Fofos sweaters are hand knitted by a group of women at the Obra Social Legaria with a strong commitment to quality  and attention to detail. By purchasing a Fofos sweater you are not only purchasing an exclusive handmade design, but you are also making a difference in the lives of these women and their families.”

Not only is Fofos baby boutique a mom-owned company, it is a company with a social conscience. For me, that makes their products immediately more attractive.  I like to think that my money will go towards supporting communities that I care about personally.

Now, as for the sweater: It was lovely. That is the perfect word for it.  Everywhere we went, people asked who knitted the sweater, assuming a friend or relative.  It is apparently hand-knit by a very talented knitter.  It is simple and sweet, and very very soft.  It feels exactly like baby clothing should feel–cuddly. The style is classical and not trendy. Their sweaters, like all of the Fofos designs, won’t go out of style and could easily be passed down from one sibling to the next.

Each of their styles is a classic, and many of the “boy” styles could be worn by a girl because they are all made in very soft tones and are absolutely precious.  One of my favorites is the Matteo, even though it is in the boy section.  The delicacy of the yarn and coloring would look adorable on a girl, although they do offer the same style in pink, named the Carolina.

The price point for these handmade sweaters, between 40 and 50 dollars, is certainly not cheap, but it is a bargain considering the price of comparable items in stores like Jacadi or Nordstroms.  Unlike those chain stores, Fofos also accepts custom orders.

If you are shopping for classically-styled baby clothing I recommend Fofos Baby Boutique. 

The Giveaway

We’re giving a way either a Matteo or a Vivianna sweater to one lucky winner. )Sizes subject to availability. Both are currently available in 0-12 mos). To enter this giveaway, please visit Fofos Baby Boutique and come back here to tell us which one was your favorite sweater, who you’d get if for and why.

That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you’ve completed the step above):

**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.

1. Subscribe to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you’re already a subscriber. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with.

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post and @SpanglishBaby. Copy the link to the tweet in an additional comment on the giveaway’s post.

3. Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook and join a thriving community of parents.

This giveaway ends Sunday, May 22nd at midnight EST and is open to everyone over 18 years of age.  Check out the Giveaway Rules.

Disclosure: We received a sample to facilitate the review. All opinions are our own.

Elsie Rivas Gomez is a mother, wife, teacher, and writer living in Pasadena, CA. She was born in El Salvador and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her first collection of poetry, Swimming in El Rio Sumpul, was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. You can find her blogging over at MamaFeminista.

If there’s one thing we all want for our kids, it’s for them to follow even their craziest dreams. We hope that no one can deter them from pursuing what they desire. That’s why it’s so refreshing to read a book like Un Pato en Nueva York, in which the protagonist – an adorable little duck – refuses to stop wishing. He knows in his “pequeño y valiente corazón” that he is destined for the bright lights of Broadway.

This translated version of A Duck in New York City from The Secret Mountain publishers is impressive, to say the least. Its mixed media illustrations by Fil & Julie are worth a second look on every page. Everything from the reeds in the pond to the button wheels on the taxis and the geographically accurate newspaper headlines represents an astoundingly creative approach to book illustration.

While this visually attractive book would appeal to toddlers, it is also appropriate for older children (5-7 years old) who are learning to read in Spanish, because it includes high-level vocabulary, varying verb tenses, and purposeful repetition of several phrases.

Even if you are not confident in your Spanish reading skills, you can enjoy this book with your children. It includes a CD with the audio version of the story and twelve catchy canciones. My favorite is “Una nube quiero ser,” and my son enjoys “Si te gusta el hipopótamo.” This CD will surely replace your child’s favorite sing-along songs for long car rides without driving you crazy.

If you’re searching for a new, quality cuento with a little (actually, a lot) of something extra, this is the book for you and your niños. Enter the giveaway to see why Un pato en Nueva York is worth sharing.

By the way, if you live in Los Angeles, you can catch a performance of Un pato en Nueva York at LéaLA, Feria del Libro en Español de Los Angeles. For more information about this book fair, check out Ana’s post here.

The Giveaway

Speekee TV is a UK-based online series of Spanish episodes aimed at children 2-10 years of age. I had the pleasure of watching all 10 episodes currently available via subscription with my son. Though he speaks fluent Spanish already, he loved the program and asked me to watch it every chance he got.

The format of the videos is great for any age. They feature Speekee (a cute, purple lemur) and a couple other animal puppets, Jim (the company’s co-founder), and five Spanish children speaking, dancing, and singing. Each episode is about 20 minutes long and has a theme based on location: for example, “El Parque” or “La Fiesta.” The images are a mix of real-time video – filmed in Spain – and interesting animations using items on the screen.

I love that the introductory and concluding songs are always the same, though the imagery changes depending on the episode’s theme. Kids can pick up on the lyrics quickly, and they’re the type of tunes that are sure to get stuck in parents’ heads all day! Both the songs and dialogue have Spanish and English subtitles, which make the videos applicable to older children who can read. In addition, there are useful downloadable activity pages with every episode that summarize the new vocabulary.

Cute video and kid-friendly music could describe any Spanish lessons. What sets Speekee TV apart is its quality vocabulary. Speekee has full conversations with his viewers, consistently asking “y tú?” With no prompting from me, my son answered him every time. I imagine that this would be the case even for children who have not been exposed to Spanish before, because of the smart repetition of key phrases. Because it is a European production, Speekee TV features Spain-specific vocabulary and customs, which is great exposure for any of our children who are accustomed to only Latin American Spanish. I highly recommend Speekee TV to all young Spanish learners because it is engaging and contains a variety of conversational topics. The videos are funny and educational, and your children will want to watch them again and again. I, for one, can’t wait for the second installment of episodes: “Speekee 2!”

All of Speekee’s products are perfect for the SpanglishBaby community, especially because they were created by parents with interest and expertise in language learning. Along with Speekee TV, there are DVDs and teaching products available, including a forthcoming Homeschoolers Curriculum and forum. An online subscription is FREE for the first two weeks; thereafter, it is just $7.50 per month (with an option to cancel at any time).

To start your adventures with Speekee, enter the giveaway to win three free months of Speekee TV access.  Go here to enter giveaway –>

THE GIVEAWAY!

Speekee TV is giving away a three month free subscription to one winner.  To enter just leave a comment telling us why you think your child will benefit from Speekee TV.

That’s all you have to do to enter this giveaway. If you want to up your chances at winning, then this is how you can get additional entries (only after you’ve completed the step above):

**Please leave a separate comment for each so we can count them and avoid mistakes.

1. Subscribe to receive blog updates and subscriber-only content via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so or that you’re already a subscriber. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with.

2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to the post and @SpanglishBaby. Copy the link to the tweet in an additional comment on the giveaway’s post.

3. Like SpanglishBaby on Facebook and join a thriving community of parents.

This giveaway ends Sunday, May 1st at midnight EST and is open to everyone over 18 years of age.  Check out the Giveaway Rules.

Disclosure: We received a sample to review the product. All opinions are our own.

My daughter is at the ripe age where new words are just constantly flying out of her mouth every day.  I’m in total awe of this natural language-acquisition process of an almost two-year old.

I’m also in awe that she’s definitely already a bilingual little niña, using her hundreds of new words to construct mini Spanglish sentences, like: “Más jugo, please.” “Shoe acá pié.”

I’m totally not bothered by it because that’s exactly how my own brain functions, moving seamlessly from one language to the other.

That’s why the language-introduction approach used in the Professor Pocket CDs was completely relevant to us. Professor Pocket is a family-owned company that’s created two bilingual (Spanish/English) CDs and supplemental materials to help children develop a lifelong passion for learning languages.

At first, I thought Camila was still too young to completely understand and follow the storyline in “Our Silly Farm Adventure” since it’s recommended for children ages 2 and up. That was not the case at all. Maybe she still doesn’t grasp the context of what she is listening to, but she loves the silly animal sounds, the catchy songs and the identifiable kids’ voices. I’ve also caught her adorably repeating the key words and anticipating the songs many times.

You will like:

• How it naturally and aptly flows from English to Spanish through the wacky interaction of the three main characters: Professor Pocket (English), Desi the Dinosaur and Chico the Chicken (mostly Spanish).
• The original story lines with just the correct dose of silliness to entertain toddlers and older kids alike. A dinosaur on a farm?  Yes, it’s far-fetched, but it works.
• Spanish words and key concepts are effectively reinforced with the use of songs which you will find yourself singing along to in no time, like: “¡Ay, caramba! No hay dinosaurios” and “La la la la Leche” (a song about a cow that produces chocolate milk, yum!).
• PERFECT FOR LONG CAR RIDES!! OK, in my book, this should be reason enough to love these CDs. Your child will be absorbed, entertained, she’ll learn new words in both English and Spanish and you’ll have a smile on your face from watching her dance in her seat and imitate the voices she hears. At least I do.

The two mom’s behind Professor Pocket, Nathalie and Paula, want to give you a chance to win a free copy of both “Our Silly Farm Adventure” and “Our Hawaiian Hula Adventure.”

To enter to WIN:

All you have to do for your chance to win is visit the Professor Pocket website Shop section where you can listen to samples of some of the songs on both CDs. Come back here and leave us a comment telling us which song you liked and why. Please be detailed so we know you visited their site.

If you want to increase your chances of winning you can get additional entries by doing any of the following.

1.  Blog and/or tweet about this giveaway. Please leave an additional comment with the link.

2. Subscribe to our feed via email and leave us an extra comment letting us know you did so. Make sure to leave the comment using the same email you subscribed with. And please do verify the subscription once you receive the email to do so. We will check in order to validate the entry.

3. Subscribe via RSS. Once you do, or if you’re already a subscriber, email us the “Secret Phrase” at the bottom of the post to: giveaways@SpanglishBaby.com.

4.  Become a fan of our Facebook page.  Leave us another comment letting us know you did so.

This contest will close tonight at midnight PST Sunday, July 5th at midnight EST…so don’t hesitate and enter now. These two Professor Pocket CDs could be yours!!!

For the part that nobody likes, but we’ve gotta have, check out the Giveaway Rules.

Scroll down to the next post for another giveaway from fabulous t-shirt line with a Latin attitude: ChíChí&Flaco

Photo by moi

¡Hola! You’ll find a little bit of everything in today’s links…

1) Los Cisnes Salvajes – Go over to Cody’s Cuentos so you can hear this classic from Hans Christian Andersen, the story of the sacrifice a sister is willing to make for her siblings. I love the way this was recorded by Maclovia. I wish I could tell Vanessa cuentos the way she does. Extremely enjoyable!

2) “La Bandeja Típica/Paisa” Colombia’s Favorite Dish – “Ever wonder why Latinos love to eat? It’s because food is part of our culture. Even during this so called “recession” we have to have our Goya products. Whether it’s a ceviche, arepa, arroz con pollo or platanos, we have so much to choose from. Growing up I expected to eat rice, beans, chicken, steak, lentils, potatoes or something in between.” This is by far my favorite Colombia dish, the only thing is that it’s a LOT of food, but really good food. Like the post’s author says, if you find yourself in a Colombian restaurant and you’ve never tried their food, this is a great choice! Enjoy!

3) Most Latino Children in the US Were Born Here, Study Says – “A majority of Hispanic children are now the US-born children of immigrants, primarily Mexicans who came to this country in an immigration wave that began around 1980, according to a report released a few days ago. The analysis of Census data by the nonpartisan Pew Hispanic Center charts a demographic shift among the nation’s 16 million Hispanic children, who are one of the fastest-growing child populations in the United States and already account for more than one out of five US children.” The most amazing thing, according to the study, is that in about 15 years, one in THREE children in this country will be LATINO! Increible!

4) CNN Plans Latino Documentary – “Following last year’s successful Black In America documentary series, CNN will turn its cameras on America’s Latino community with the two-part documentary series Latino In America premiering in October. Latino In America, hosted by CNN personality and Black In America host Soledad O’Brien, will focus on the growing U.S. Hispanic population and the pertinent issues that face the community. The first part of the series will explore the lives of people across the country who share the surname “Garcia,” the eighth most popular family name in America. The second part focuses on how four different communities are meeting the challenges of disparities, immigration and discrimination in terms of language, education, citizenship, and cultural identity.” It’s about time… this should be interesting…too bad I don’t have cable!

5) Cómo Manejar Las Citas de Juego – “En la edad preescolar, es muy común que los niños tengan citas para jugar con sus amiguitos y aunque las citas de juego son muy beneficiosas tanto para niños como adultos (por el pequeño respiro que nos brindan), es importante tomar en cuenta ciertas consideraciones. Antes de dejar a tu hijo(a) en casa de otra familia o de que alguien deje a su niño(a) con ustedes, es importante que se comuniquen los padres para asegurarse de que hay un entendimiento común acerca de qué va a suceder durante ese tiempo.” Although I’ve been a part of all of Vanessa’s playdates, these are valid points all mothers should be aware of when planning to attend or host them.

6) What is a Latina? – “I just read a column titled “When is a Latina not a Latina?’‘  The author, part Puerto Rican and non-Spanish-speaking, details frustrating moments when she was neither white enough nor Latina enough. I shook my head in empathy as I read it, for as an American-born woman of Cuban, Spanish, Scottish and Norwegian heritage, I have been there. And, as the column detailed, the questions and pronouncements about my particular flavor have come from both Latinos and non-Latinos.” Although I’ve never really experienced this myself, it’s a great read from Carrie – one of our favorite mamás blogueras. By the way, if you haven’t checked out her new blog, Tiki Tiki (it’s hers and three other Latinas – two of whom you’ve read about before here in SpanglishBaby), I suggest you go there immediately. ¡Te va a gustar!

Finally, a review and a GIVEAWAY for a book that looks awesome:

7) Before You Were Here, Mi Amor - “Pregnancy is a time full of wonder, excitement and much preparation. Children often exhibit curiosity about their birth, especially when their own mother becomes pregnant. My daughter poured over the new baby and sibling themed books I brought home before her brother was born. It helped her prepare for a sibling, and she never seemed to exhibit an “adjustment period” because we involved her in the pregnancy. She especially loved hearing stories of when she was a baby growing inside my belly.” This is an incredible coincidence and I know exactly what Brimful Curiosities’ author is talking about because we’re going through what she describes right now. Just last night, Vanessa asked me to “cuéntame el cuento de cuando yo nací.” She has loved hearing that story for a while now, but even more so now that she has a baby brother on the way. I don’t know how much she understands, but she seems to love hearing about it. I’d love to win this book myself and you probably would too. So, go on over there to read the review and to enter! I already did!

If you like what we’re talking about sign up for free SpanglishBaby updates via email or via RSS. You’ll like it.

In case you’ve never visited LLBC, I recommend you go visit as soon as possible. This blog was created “to provide parents with suggested reading for their families. Our goal is to help our children develop pride for their Latin culture through education and literature. We also strive to support Hispanic authors through interviews and our reviews of bilingual young adult and children’s books. Each month we will feature one book and author that we feel is exceptional. So read to your children and help spread Bookjoy!”

Si les gusta leer, you’re going to love Latin Baby Book Club!

Please let me know what you think…and gracias to Monica for inviting me as a guest blogger!

If you like what we’re talking about sign up for free SpanglishBaby updates via email or via RSS. You’ll like it.