latino Archives - Pura Vida Sometimes

The past: Latin History for Morons

December 15, 2019 5 Comments

I’m sorry you didn’t see actor and comedian John Leguizamo‘s Latin History for Morons because it’s brilliant. Like his other stand-up specials, it’s hilarious and physical, yet sad and very real, but this show, in particular, is extremely well-researched and -scripted and it’s such important work. The hubs and I went to see the live version of the show (which you can see on Netflix now, if not in person) last Friday upon my heavy suggestion. We’d already seen the special on Netflix, but I could watch it over and over again. Needless to say, I knew what I was […]

Career, Cornerstone, culture

Becoming Self Made: Latinas and Financial Freedom

February 13, 2018 No Comments

Growing up, most of my heroes in life, films, books, and TV were the rebels. I never liked the prescribed protagonist, most likely because she was nothing like me and I identified more with those on the periphery. As I got older and more self-aware, I realized none of my role models were Latinas. I grew up in a border town, but publicly, our successes were not celebrated. Fast forward to now, I’ve built a respectable career but I haven’t yet realized my full potential and I still need Latino heroes. There’s a particular set of challenges we face, and as I […]

culture, family

A Tale of Hispanic Heritage & Why It Matters

September 23, 2017 3 Comments

Fifty years ago, the president of this country had the social consciousness to celebrate the contributions of Latinos in United States during National Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s more important than ever to continue the tradition, tell our stories, share our joy, and dispel myths and prejudices. Hispanic Americans have risen in importance and power, but still, we are classified by color and culture. An intertwined tale of Hispanic Heritage Nogales, my hometown, is named after a walnut grove that belonged to the Elías family (Los Nogales de Elías), which was then a part of Mexico. Following the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, the Elías […]

family

Big Mexican Wedding on a Budget

August 20, 2017 2 Comments

Big Mexican Wedding DIY - Pura Vida Sometimes

Your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life, but the day’s debt should not follow you throughout your marriage. That said if you’re having a big Mexican (Greek, Indian, Korean, etc.) wedding, feeding and entertaining throngs of family and friends just isn’t cheap, but there are a few DIY options that will allow you to pull off the big Mexican wedding on a budget they’ll be talking about for years to come. My idea of an ideal wedding was to elope and get married on the beach with only our siblings, parents, and grandparents, followed by a great […]

advocacy, blogging, Career

Killer Blogging Tips, Sabor Latinx (Arizona Latino Bloggers)

July 26, 2017 No Comments

After attending a Latinx marketing event and being impressed with the caliber of information and expertise, I applied for the organizer’s Arizona Latino Bloggers workshop and was selected. I expected to see improvements in my blog but I wasn’t expecting to reconnect with my culture and purpose. Pura Vida Sometimes was the result of a perfect storm in my life. I needed to connect to my own voice as a writer, have something all my own as a mother, share interesting life experiences with others, research new media as a marketer, and I had the dream of leaving a legacy […]