Why I had my last tall latte or any kind of Starbuck's product..

Last thursday while Aitana was in her dance class, Bidane and I walked to Starbucks. For me as ussual, asked for a "tall" latte, Bidane wanted juice, she is always happy going to that place, she looks the cookies expectant that I say: o.k have a cookie if you like- that never happened, so I think she keeps faith some day it would.
Pepe always complained about my thursday coffee in Starbucks: that coffee is so expensive... in Spain (since he traveled to Spain, he is so "español") you have "un cortado" for 1.50. I believe him, and I see it, in Borders you get it for less the price Starbucks charges.
Anyway I just wanted coffee and a little walk with my girl; that day I noticed in the coffee shop they offer bottled water, it suppose you buy and they send profits to Ethiopan children, something like that. I thought that's cool, supporting the children of Africa.
Then on Friday I found something interesting on the internet about a movie called Black Gold, the crisis of coffee prices and issues between Starbucks and Ethiopan producers... (ahhh). That made me re-think my Starbucks consumption.
I've always believed that Starbucks made committments with social issues and environmental ones, in fact you see the paper lavel they have, it says "Starbucks is committed to reducing our environmental impact through increased use of post-consumer recycled materials. Help us help the planet". All the image they have is about things like that, they have even "won awards" related to the same.
So, the problem is they do not pay "fairtrade" to the producers and if you want a fairtrade coffee from them, you need to ask for it, it is not part of their "tall, grande, whatever"choices, if you want it, they will press it just for you... and you have to pay more...! and of course, if the employee get confused when you ask for a small size, imagine when you say "fairtrade".
They sell water to help children of Ethiopia, but they do not pay fair prices to the coffee producers from the same country, still selling its grandes and talls so expensive...!
Now as a conclussion, I'm not a "fairtrade- organic, fanatic" consumer yet, but if a company campaigns it self as committed, helpful to the world, and asks more money for their products, at least I expect from them what they offer.
For my little girl will not be anymore walkings to Starbucks, probably we will find better thing to do.

A lo Francés

Por que las francesas son delgadas? ésta es la pregunta que se hacen de este otro lado del Atlántico y que ha sido respondida en varias ocasiones por diferentes autores. Libros que se han vendido como pan caliente a consumidoras en busca de lo esbelto (igual movidas por la envidia).

Ahora de nuevo, alguna otra escritora se mete en lo intrinseco de la respuesta para las "Americanas", señala que si te comportas como las francesas lo hacen en cada estación del año, posiblemente logres ser delgada: come sopas en invierno, esparragos y fresas en primavera, tomates y asados en verano asi como peras y papas en otoño.

Si bien, viviendo a lo francés tal vez te mantengas delgada, seguramente el paso del tiempo no dejará de hacer su trabajo (como muestra ahi esta Brigitte Bardot), a lo cual "las Americanas" si tienen una solución: la cirugía.

Beckham es el príncipe valiente de Disney.

Hey Caroline don't you want to be Sleeping Beauty?

I'm not the kind of person that would love to sponsor Disney, but well, just for fun it is o.k. This picture is part of the new campaign to Disney parks. It seems that his new home will give him more jobs to do, apparently Hollywood is happy having him around.

De ecoaventura

Y este señorito quien será? su nombre es David de Rothchild, un millonario inglés que les disputa a los príncipes de Inglaterra el puesto del soltero mas codiciado, y además es un activista ecológico. Lo último señalado es por lo que me llama la atención, no vaya a pensar usted que sea por algún atractivo físico que tenga, además lo encotré en la revista National Geographic.

Have you heard about David de Rothchild? he is member of the english nobility, I found his photo in the National Geographic magazine, not in "People or Hello". But what it dragged me was not his looks, but that he is an activist: Environmental crusader & adventurer, "que taaaaaaal"!

I found it interesting, he is exactly a modern version of his 18th and 19th centuries english-gentleman-ancestors, looking for geographic adventures around the globe, interested by nature and using his money to try understand the earth processes. He travels to the north pole or talks about global warming.

I say his web site is cool, he tries to "inspire environmental awarness among children", I don't see anything wrong being rich and green at the same time, but I wonder if this ecological adventure of his is the way to show up his brilliant feathers or really a profound commitment for a better place.

It is not uncommon to see famous people or powerful ones trying to aware others about the environment or social issues, see Bono as example. The message is all that we need to do is a common effort.

I wish organic products and those that use new technology were less expensive and every body could have acces to them, not just Julia Roberts and George Clooney. I will put an every day example of this, it is supposed Starbucks brings fair trade coffee and supports post recycled material and every body feels fine when buying from a social responsible company, but their coffe is superior expensive that a local coffee shop! Coffee after oil is the next trade product in the world! so... who is winning here.

Any way, support social responsibility and environmental awarness, but see from whom you consume.

Viva! American girls

The American girls stories had brought a lot of questions and curiosity to Aitana and I love it. She is fascinated by the historic characters and she wonders the most about Josefina. As you may know, Josefina context is around 1820's in New Mexico, when that part of the U.S was still Mexico. Now Aitana questions why that territory is now U.S, and how all of the sudden, families that one day were mexicans the next day are American-o-. She wonders about Mexico City at that time, she even has told me she would love to know how the city looked like at that time. And lucky her, some time ago I got a children version of the book written by the wife of Spain's embassador in 1830, where she described the every day life in Mexico city. I like she feels connection and affinity with this mexican-character, hopefully Aitana can dig more about her roots and heritage.

Bidane y Don Gato

Abuelita Paca took this picture of Bidane and el Gato, I loved it because usually things between both of them are not like this! either he is scratching her or she is bugging him. But you know Bidane, she is all Diva passionate little girl.

Oh my Aitana ya tiene 9!

Aitana tiene 9, y para acompañarla en su cumpleaños su abuelita Paca vino a visitarla.

Aitana is 9 years old already! and I'm posting about her birthday a week after, what a mamá she has...

Her abuelita (Pepe's ma) came to visit to spend the important day with her.
We had a last-minute party, since Pepe wasn't here we didn't plan any celebration until the last minute.
Thanks to all of you. That happy birthday song touched me deeply.

I remember when she was born in a snowy winter in Canada, when I looked through my hospital room window I just saw a white scene covering the entire town. And there she was with her dark hair and nice tanned skin.

Have you made your numeros?

Quien hizo propositos de ano nuevo? Yo si tengo un proposito por cumplir, sin embargo me he puesto de plazo hasta mi cumpleanos para cumplirlo, es decir me quedan todavia 9 meses para desarrollarlo. Sin embargo, hoy escuche en las noticias que este dia es el peor para aquellos como yo, con propositos de ano nuevo, pues nos damos cuenta que no hemos hecho nada por cumplirlos y para colmo, empiezan a llegar las cuentas que pagar! Lo cual pone de malas a cualquiera.

Yesterday I was talking with Pepe about what I need to acomplish this year, since I'm going to be 40, my objective is a big one, so I put as a dead line octuber, but there are steps that I need to take to get there, and need to put action before it is to late. I took my box with notes and more notes, getting lost in so many things I have accumulated through the years, it seems like every january I write something about the moths gone and what I want from the new year, and my preoccupations are basically the same year after year.
Suddenly on the radio something caught my attention, TODAY IS THE GLOOMIEST DAY OF THE YEAR! because persons like me find themselves that nothing is been done to start with the new objectives, the bills of spendings are coming and every thing seems no caminando.

Queeeeeee flaca!

Following the last comment I made about Victoria A-Beckham. She is soooooo thin, look at her legs, if it wasn't by her job in her breast, she would be a living mummy. Oh my... se desbarata de tan flaca la pobre, en cambio la inocente mujer de atras.

I feel sorry for the woman behind her. She seems just a soccer fan, if I was her (almost, hahaha), I would be as " happy" as she is: Knowing, you are an extra in pictures around the world and every body got to see you.. as you are.

Caroline ama a Beckham.

OOOOOOOOOh I remember those days in middle school, when you used to write or see your name printed on the walls, boards, benches, what ever surface, just in the expression of love. Personally I hated it, si que lo odiaba! specially when you did not nothing to do with the other person.
But well, this is just a silly introduction to this video of Beckham sleeping, and I thought Caroline would love it.

Lo que falta... y mas.

Ok, here I'm, a little tired, but don't want to let go more days before I post something. So... here you have "algo" from last week or days before.

American girl place, si eres niña y casi nueve, este es el lugar mas emocionante de la tierra.

Bobsleigh champions, papá e hija... ha, ha, ha, Los Martínez.

El punto azul, osea yo.


Old Town y Dia de los Reyes Magos.

Feliz Dia de Reyes, every body had a rosca piece. Thank you Arredonalds for having us and remember: you got the tamales, I put the house... just kidding, I can make tamales too.

El zoo.

Dosmil siete

Ya llego, ya esta aqui, deseamos que todos los lectores, tengan Salud, dinero y amor. En el orden que deseen, que si existen proyectos se logren y que si no los hay, pues mucha creatividad para que lleguen.