My Big Fat Cuban Family: A Cuban-American Blog

Gaviña Coffee Basket - A Winner

Before I tell you who won the giveaway, I want to thank all of you who shared your coffee memories. I felt like I was hanging out with you at a "ventanita" in Miami talking about that magical first time delicious coffee was introduced into our lives.

Thank you.

The winner of this fabulous Café La Llave Coffee Basket is (drum roll, please)...

Congratulations, gold digger! Please send me an email with HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line. Please include your mailing address so I can forward to my good friends at Gaviña and they will get your coffee goodies out to you ASAP.

A great big thank you to Gaviña Gourmet Coffee for their generous sponsorship. For those of you who didn't win, the consolation is that you can still order Café La Llave or Don Francisco or any of the other fabulous Gaviña brands and goodies on their website. Please click on the green link just to the right and remember to enter the code Cuban20 at checkout.

Gracias again to all who entered. And in case you've forgotten, here's the best way to get your "espumita" just right. You're welcome!

The Smell of Home - Gaviña Coffee Basket Giveaway

I remember being about 5 years old when I really took notice that my family brewed coffee a dozen times a day. It was almost a Sacred Ritual. This also happened, I took note, in every single Cuban home I had ever entered.

The daily brewing of the perfect Cuban cafecito is something that happens repeatedly throughout the day in Cuban households and ventanitas everywhere ("little windows" - these are mostly found in Miami, but that's not important right now).

I think one of my very first sensory memories has to do with the fragrance of a beautifully brewed, hot, sweet espresso. The aroma is something that evokes warmth and family and men in guayaberas and women in crisp aprons and lots of loud talking. The smell of home.

A few weeks ago I announced that My Big, Fat, Cuban Family had partnered with Gaviña Gourmet Coffee. I'm so pleased that they are my newest sponsor.

In light of this wonderful parnership, I think we need to celebrate, don't you?

And what better way to celebrate than to do a giveaway of a Basket of Coffee Awesomeness from Gaviña? Can I just tell you that my morning cafecito tastes sooo much better when drunk from one of these adorable Cafe La Llave tacitas. It does. I promise.

The Cafe La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket consists of the following:

• 2- 10oz. Cafe La Llave espresso bricks
• 1- 8.8oz. Cafe La Llave decaf. espresso brick
• 4- 1.75oz. Cafe La Llave espresso samples
• 4- "tacitas" - demitasse cups and saucers

1) To enter this drawing for this beautiful Cafe La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:

• Do you remember the first time you had a perfectly brewed espresso?
  
• Or is this a taste you acquired later in life? Tell me.
  

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Friday, March 28th, 2014 at 11am PST.

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" Cafe La Llave on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like Cafe La Llave!"

So that's not one, but two entries. De nada.

If you want even more coffee awesomeness, please click on the sponsored La Llave Coffee link to the right and be sure to enter Cuban20 at checkout for 20% off Cafe La Llave.

Also, please let them know that Marta from My Big, Fat, Cuban Family sent you. It doesn't make any difference to how I choose the winner. I just want them to know you are reading about it here, but that's not important right now.

"Move Over Mojo." - A Winner

I love when I get to partner with my generous sponsors to do giveaways on this blog. I do. Mostly because of the comments.

I read each and every one and it makes me feel like I get to know each one of you just a little bit better.

Thanks to all of you who entered this week's raffle for a case (six 12 oz. bottles) of Ana Quincoces' Skinny Latina Brand Million Dollar Marinade.

And the winner is...

Congratulations, Marta! Please send me an email with HEY MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and I will send out your case of deliciousness ASAP.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and many thanks to my friend, Ana Quincoces for so generously sponsoring this giveaway. 

Mojo is sooo moving over.

"Move Over Mojo." - A Giveaway

I've been blogging since 2006. In that space of time and all across the internet, I've made some really wonderful friends.

One of those is the lovely don't-hate-me-because-I'm-beautiful Ana Quincoces. Recently seen on Real Housewives of Miami - she was the smart and classy one - Ana is a talented chef and quite the delightful personality. If you're curious as to how we met (and also want a killer, stuffed, Cuban French toast recipe) read that story right here.

Ana Quincoces is one of the most genuine people I've ever met and I feel privileged to call her my friend. In June when the Miami Heat won the championship and my daughter, Amy was also in Miami, I made sure she and Ana found each other at Versailles some time around midnight. (Just call me Mission Control.)

Ana has recently developed a new all-purpose marinade called Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade.

Last week, this package of awesomeness arrived.

You know how much I love shortcuts when I cook. This marinade is the perfect beginning to any sauce. Ana calls it, "Cooking for dummies in a bottle. Move over, mojo!"

To help celebrate the launch of Ana's fabulous Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade, I'd like to offer one lucky MBFCF reader a case (six 12 oz. bottles) of this amazing stuff. It's low calorie, glutten-free, and delicious. Win!

On her site, Ana has recipes for 8 different sauces using her MDM as a base. Find those recipes right here.

To enter this drawing for A Case of Skinny Latina Million Dollar Marinade, please leave a comment on this post and answer the following:

~ Tell me your favorite go-to recipe that's in heavy rotation at your house.

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose one winner on Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 at 8 pm PST.

Also, I feel like I have to add this disclaimer for the benefit of all my readers:

You don't have to be Cuban to enter any of my giveaways. That is all.

Habana Brand Clothing - A Winner

First of all, I'd like to thank Habana Brand Clothing for being so supportive of My Big, Fat, Cuban Family in everything I do here.

Secondly, I'm so grateful to all of you who faithfully read, and follow along with my blogging adventures and enter my fun giveaways. I'm grateful that you're the ones who have made this little corner of cyberspace such a great place to hang out. Gracias.

Congratulations to...

Martha, you won! Please send me an email with your mailing address and HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line (so I don't accidentally delete it).

I'll forward to my good friends at Habana Brand Clothing and you can let them know which shirt you want and what size and all that and they will send out your goodies ASAP. You will be sooo proud to represent. I promise.

Also, don't miss any of their new designs and promotions, follow Habana Brand Clothing on Facebook. And love them on Instagram. You can thank me later.

Thank you again to everyone who participated. You make me so happy.

Habana Brand Clothing (MBFCF Giveaway #7)

There's still a whole lot of celebrating going on around here.

I'm the kind of person who likes to celebrate birthdays for the entire month, so celebrating my 7 years in the blogosphere really does deserve a month-long celebration, but that's not important right now.

Also, I've been busy lining up the very best the Cuban community has to offer for My Big, Fat, Cuban Family readers. So thanks to your wonderful response, this is going to be a really fun giveaway.

Let me tell you what I have in store for you today.

My wonderful friends at Habana Brand Clothing have very generously offered the following giveaway to celebrate my 7 Bloggywonderful Years. You probably remember Roland from his beautiful Cuando Sali de Cuba story that he shared with us last year.

Here's just a taste of the Habana Brand Fabulousness that you sooo want to be a part of:

Lucy and Jonathan looking sooo accidentally cool in their Habana Brand shirts.

The winner will receive both:

1. A Habana Brand T-shirt - they have some amazing designs that you get to choose from.
2. A 16 x 20  poster - you can choose from one of 5 beautiful designs.

This is my favorite.

To enter this drawing for A Habana Brand Shirt and Poster of Your Choice, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:

• Do you love wearing your Cubanness for the world to see? (Or is the word, Cubanity?)
• Do you have Cuban art in your home?

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose one winner on Friday, October 25th, 2013 at 11am PST.

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" Habana Brand Clothing on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like Habana Brand Clothing!"

So that's not one, but two entries. Because that's the way I roll...

3:05 Miami Cafecito Break (A Winner)

Wow, people! We are some seriously serious coffee drinkers. According to your answers from the 3:05 Miami Cafecito Break giveaway, our attitude is "hey, it's 3:05 somewhere..."

Thanks to all of you who entered and of course, to JennyLee Molina for generously providing such a cool giveaway.

For those of you who are wondering just how I choose a winner, here's how I do it to try and make it as fair as possible:

1. I click over to Random.Org.
2. I insert the total number of entries into the True Random Number Generator and a number pops up.
3. I count each entry and the one that corresponds with the random number is the winner.

So congratulations to winner #7:

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Marianela, you won! Also, how much do I love that there's an office full of people somewhere who know that 3:00 is the time that Lola was killed?? That is so deliciously Cuban. Plus it tells me that it's absolutely true that Miami runs on 3:05 Cafecito. So fitting.

Congratulations, Marianela! Please send me an email with your home address and put HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG in the subject line. I will forward to 3:05 Cafecito and they will send your goodies.

Please stay tuned...more cool Cuban giveaways coming up this weekend.

3:05 Miami Cafecito Break (MBFCF Giveaway #6)

Because I have had such a great response from my sponsors, I'm proud to announce that I have a few more 7th Blogiversary giveaways for you. Isn't that awesome? I have to say right here how much I love my people.

Last year when I was in Miami I stumbled upon a wonderfully clever idea that has since become a movement.

There are a few things you need to know for any of this to make sense.

1. 305 is the area code for Miami, Florida.
2. It's a habit for us Cubans to enjoy an afternoon espresso pick-me-up. Much like the English Tea Time, but without extending the pinky.
3. The beautiful and talented JennyLee Molina and her agency JLPR originated the concept that 3:05 should then become the official cafecito time for the city of Miami.
4. JennyLee Molina is a PR genius.

From the Official 3:05 Cafecito website:

The idea came about to unify the Cuban coffee culture and create and on-line community that would enjoy sharing this mutual love for Miami's nectar.

You don't need to be Cuban to enjoy it or even from Miami but Cuban coffee drinkers understand the culture. The window of a Cuban restaurant is the original social network. It is where, on any hot afternoon, you might find a relative, an old friend, the Mayor of Miami or Dwyane Wade. Sharing a coloda is an act of friendship and solidarity. 

What is Miami without cafecito?

What indeed?

I so love the entire concept of sharing your cafecito. When Amy was in Miami in June, she connected with JennyLee and reported what I already suspected: She's an absolute doll and a genius. ¡Claro que si!

Today's giveaway is sponsored by my cyberfriend, JennyLee Molina and 3:05 Cafecito of Miami.

MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #6:

3:05 Cafecito of Miami Gift Basket

The gift basket includes the following:

• Two tacitas
• two tshirts
• 1 cafe La Llave
• 1 cafetera
• 1 espumera
• azucar
• 4 stickers

1) To enter this drawing for this beautiful 3:05 Cafecito of Miami Gift Basket, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:

• Do you take an afternoon cafecito break? Or tea time? 
• What does that look like? (On the run? In the break room? Meet up with friends? At home?)

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Thursday, October 17th, 2013 at 11am PST.

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" 3:05 Miami Cafecito Break on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like 3:05 Miami Cafecito Break!"

So that's not one, but two entries. I'm a giver that way.

Also, if you're on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and want to share your cafecito, use the Hashtag #305cafecito. You just might just find yourself as part of the 3:05 Cafecito community.

How accidentally cool is that?

MBFCF Giveaway Week Winners

I want to thank you all for celebrating with me this week. Also, to my very generous sponsors for providing the cool Cuban giveaways I've been priviledged to share. Thank you all. I'm blessed and humbled by your constant love and support.

MBFCF Giveaway #1 - My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Cookbook

goes to....

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MBFCF Giveaway #2 - WASSUP En LA? Family Gift Pack

goes to...

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MBFCF Giveaway #3 - Cubamerican The Movie, Tickets

The winners will be contacted by the Producers of Cubamerican.

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MBFCF Giveaway #4 - Santayana Jewelers' Leather Bracelet and the Azabache.

goes to...

Also, if you're still interested in this beautiful bracelet (and I know you are), remember that Santayana Jewelers has graciously added a special promotion for MBFCF readers:

$40 off your $150 purchase with the promo code MARTASENTME.

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MBFCF Giveaway #5 - The Cafe La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket

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I want to thank you all for entering my giveaways and for participating in my weeklong celebration of my 7th Blogging Anniversary. 

To all the winners - Congratulations! Please shoot me an email that contains your mailing address. Put HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line so that I don't accidentally delete it and I will get your goodies out to you ASAP.

But wait! There's more....

I wasn't quite prepared for the ridiculously generous show of support from my Cuban Cubiches and now I have some more sponsored giveaways coming up this weekend!

Please stay tuned for MBFCF Giveaway Week - The Sequel.

Many thanks to you all for entering and sharing. I'm overwhelmed with pride and love for all the friends of MBFCF. Seriously.

"Mas café por favor!" (MBFCF Giveaway #5)

I hope you're enjoying the week long celebration of My Big, Fat, Cuban Family being here on the web for 7 years now. I'm so seriously delighted with the generosity of my sponsors and I'm grateful to all my Cuban cubiches who are helping me celebrate by offering such fun prizes.

This summer, Eric and I had the wonderful opportunity to enjoy a day at Gaviña Gourmet Coffee Roasters.

La Llave is my husband's absolute favorite espresso. In fact, (warning! over-share alert!) he makes happy, yummy sounds pretty much every single morning as he's having his La Llave. This, of course, pleases me greatly. I love that such a simple thing makes him happy.

I further love that he's embraced this part of my Cuban heritage.

This is Eric happily supervising the vacuum packing of the La Llave coffee on the Gaviña tour.

"Mas café, por favor!"

He says it with an almost flawless accent. It reminds me of my dad and I feel a catch in my throat. My husband happily drinks his La Llave from one of these gorgeous little cups every day. His wife sits in wonder at the continuity in her life.

My good friends at Gaviña & Sons Coffee have graciously agreed to sponsor a La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket for today's giveaway, which includes those same awesome La Llave "tacitas."

Isn't it fabulous?

MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #5

The Cafe La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket consists of the following:

• 2- 10oz. Cafe La Llave espresso bricks
• 1- 8.8oz. Cafe La Llave decaf. espresso brick
• 4- 1.75oz. Cafe La Llave espresso samples
• 4- "tacitas" - demitasse cups and saucers

1) To enter this drawing for this beautiful Cafe La Llave Cuban Coffee Basket, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:

• Do you drink espresso? How often?
• Do you like it sweet? With milk? Latte? Cappuccino? Tell me.

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11am PST.

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" Cafe La Llave on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like Cafe La Llave!"

So that's not one, but two entries. De nada.

Also, please let them know that Marta from My Big, Fat, Cuban Family sent you. It doesn't make any difference to how I choose the winner. I just want them to know you are reading about it here, but that's not important right now.

The Azabache. (MBFCF Giveaway #4)

Today's lesson in Cuban culture comes to you directly from Miami from my friend, Elena Santayana. Last year Elena was kind enough to share her family's "coming to America" story here on My Big, Fat, Cuban Family. Her family owns the beautiful jewelry store of the same name. Santayana Jewelers in Miami.

• Santayana Jewelers • 917 SW 122 Ave. • Miami, Florida • (305) 559-8565
• Santayana Jewelers • 640 Crandon Blvd. • Key Biscayne • (305) 361-2786

The azabache is a black onyx stone. Cleaned and polished and attached to a pin of some sort. The unassuming azabache is the grand protector of all Cuban babies from untold evils.

There were two things that every Cuban child was practically born with: Violetas cologne and an azabache.

The Violetas is a light cologne scented with violets. I am venturing to guess that there is not one Cuban child in my family who was deprived of smelling deliciously of violets, but that's not important right now.

Also mandatory for every Cuban kid, was the azabache. It's the only thing that can protect from jealousy, the evil eye, and all sorts of untold calamaties brought on by strangers glancing sideways at you as they pass by.

As Santayana says, "The azabache...keeping you safe on the playground since 1978..."

Today's very Cuban offering for MBFCF Giveaway Week is generously sponsored by Santayana Jewelers.

And it is.....you guessed it - An azabache!

Not just any pedestrian azabache, either. It's a Santayana exclusive design - an authentic silver azabache pendant on a leather and silver Chamilia bracelet.

MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #4: Santayana Leather Bracelet with Azabache (retail value: $90.)

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win this gorgeous Leather Bracelet and Azabache charm from Santayana Jewelers and please answer one or both of the following questions:

• Did you have an azabache pinned to you as a baby?
• Did you pin one on your own kids - por si acaso? (I know you did. Confess.)
• NOTE: Even if you're not Cuban and don't have the fantastic superstitions that we grew up with as part of your emotional baggage, please feel free to enter to win this beautiful bracelet. Just tell me anything about yourself as a child.

For an extra entry,, please go "like" Santayana Jewelers on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:

"I like Santayana Jewelers!"

So that's not one, but two chances to win.

I'll choose a winner at the end of MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway Week on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11 am, so you have all week to enter.

If you absolutely can't wait for a winner to be drawn next week and you want to go ahead and order your own Azabache Bracelet immediately (take no chances with your health, people!), Santayana Jewelers is very graciously offering an online promotion for My big, fat, Cuban family readers.*

*Santayana & MBFCF Promotion: $40 off your $150 purchase with the promo code MARTASENTME. (I feel sooo accidentally cool.)

Cubamerican, the Movie (MBFCF Giveaway #3)

I'm always happy when the Cuban community steps up when asked and they have not dissapointed so far.

There's a beautiful documentary called Cubamerican. There will be two screenings next week here in Los Angeles:

Friday October 11th at 7pm and 9pm • Gene Autry Museum, Los Angeles

From the Cubamerican site:

CUBAMERICAN is the stirring story of how the Cuban Revolution shattered the Cuban family. Spanning the past 60 years of Cuban history, the film evokes this tragedy and its universal themes of loss, freedom, assimilation, struggle and triumph through the stories of Cuban exiles that have achieved acclaim in diverse fields in the U.S.A. and beyond, rendering a mosaic of a bittersweet exile experience. A pro-immigrant story that grapples with the agony of displacement, contributes rumination on the future of Cuba, and highlights the absolute need for all of the world's people to be able to freely exercise their fundamental human rights; CUBAMERICAN is an insightful and powerful experience.

Today's giveaway is generously sponsored by Cubamerican The Movie. It's for my Los Angeles people, so if you know anyone who deserves the tickets in our West Coast community, please leave a comment on this post and submit their names.

The producers of Cubamerican, as a heartfelt thank you to the Cubamerican community, have offered two (2) tickets each to the following for the 7 pm. screening of Cubamerican at the Autry Museum on Friday October 11th.

1. A single mother/father who is an exemplary Cubamerican Mom/Dad.
2. An armed services veteran of war
3. An individual who risked their life for freedom.
4. Someone who is battling a life-threatening illness.
5. Someone who has made a difference in their community.

 
Leave a comment on this post with the name of the people you are nominating to enter. Leave as many names and reasons why as you think are deserving. Please answer one or all of the following questions:

• What is the name of the person you're nominating.
• Which of the 5 categories would they fall under and why?

Winners will be announced on Monday October 7th, 2013 at 11 am.

Also, this film will be screening very soon in in a city near you.

Follow Cubamerican La Pelicula on Facebook for the latest screening information.

Here's Wassup. (MBFCF Giveaway #2)

Back in March, I was privileged to be an eyewitness when television history was being made.

The pilot for Wassup En LA? was filmed before a live audience that included me and Eric. I originally got involved with the project after seeing an online pitch for a Kickstarter to fund it, which didn't work out, but technically, it did, because the person who became the Executive Producer on the project read about it right here on my blog and decided to jump into the fray, but that's not important right now. (I'm looking at you, SugarCube Productions.)

Notice my Varadero sign above the kitchen door. See? I'm totally the Cuban Props R Us.

Co-creators Rudolpho Zalez and Carlos de la Vega approached me about pulling together some Cuban props for the Diaz television home. I quickly started collecting stuff around my house and off my walls. Just call me Cuban Prop Mistress Deluxe. (Or maybe that could just be a cool band name.)

We met for lunch at Porto's (of course) and became insta-friends in that familiar Cubans-love-each-other-at-first-sight way. I wrote about our day at the Wassup En LA taping in great, newsy detail.

Here's a 60 second spot showing the highlights of that pilot episode.

  

When I was contemplating who I could reach out to so they could help me celebrate my 7th Year in the Blogosphere, my first thought was, Wassup En LA. They quickly and graciously agreed to be a sponsor and so without further ado....

MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #2:

Wassup En LA? Family Gift Pack

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a the WASSUP Family Gift Pack which includes:

• Wassup en LA? jute gift bag
• Wassup En LA? tshirt
• Wassup En LA? hats,
• Wassup En LA? mini Cuban cafetera (!!!)
• Wassup En LA? tacita
• Café Sol de Cuba
• Conchita Guava Bites (I know. Shut up!)

Please leave a comment on this post and answer one or all of the following questions:

• What is your favorite TV sitcom of all time?
• If you were cast as a character in a Cuban American sitcom, what part would you play?

2) For an extra entry, please go "like" Wassup En LA? on Facebook and come back and leave me another comment telling me:  

• "I like Wassup En LA!"

So that's not one, but two entries apiece. You're welcome.

I'll choose the winners at the end of MBFCF Blogoversary Giveaway Week on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11 am.

Seven Years. (MBFCF Giveaway WEEK!)

 

You know that I'm all about celebrating.

Big events. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Summer. Dinner. I believe in celebrating. Often. And well.

Today marks my 7th anniversary here in this space. SEVEN.

My big, fat, Cuban family is 7 years old today. And so I'm celebrating. *fires off the confetti canon*

But first you have to sit through the usual recap of my 7 years in the Blogosphere. 7 years, people! I totally deserve a party. Or at least a recap. But before the 7 year recap, how about a celebratory video?

Yes, I think a video would be perfect. Enjoy!

Did you know I also have a YouTube Channel? I know. The over-sharing never ends.

Also, if you're following me on Instagram, you'd recognize that most of my life takes place at #CasaDeLaLoma. I'm Smrtqbn, by the way. (See what I did there?)

Year One. October 1st, 2007. I was delighted to have found my voice and an audience.

Year Two. October 1st, 2008. I was taking care of my family and sharing the stuff I had cooked. And people liked it. Who knew?  I also wrote a cookbook that year, which gave me something to give away. And so the giving away commenced in earnest.

Year Three. October 1st, 2009. Three years? I was amazed that I had been able to keep at it for so long. And I fell in love with you, my readers. Always kind and ever gracious. I felt like I had won the lotto.

Year Four. October 1st, 2010. I could have graduated from an institution of higher learning with a degree. Bachelor's in Bloggology?

Year Five. October 1st, 2011. It was a rough year, filled with some physical challenges, but then I became the "little Cuban that could" and just kept right on writing. (<--That last bit took tremendous grammatical focus, as do most of my blog posts, but that's not important right now.)

Year Six. October 1st, 2012. Six years. Add lots of great experiences and some amazing blog-friends later, I was still standing. Seriously so much to celebrate.

Which brings us to today.

Year Seven. I am so very grateful that I get to write and you are still there, reading and sharing your lives with me. You get my sense of humor and you seem to enjoy my writing style.

I have met so many of you in person and I'm always amazed and humbled by your enthusiastic response to whatever silly things I'm up to. I enjoy hearing from you on Facebook and Twitter and (even if I don't respond right away) I love receiving your emails.

And yes, of course I'm going to get to the giveaway, but first I want to say thank you. I would not be doing this at all if it wasn't for my awesome online and (for some of you) now real life friends.

Thank you. From the bottom of my big, fat, Cuban heart. Seriously. Thank you.

You may have noticed that I've changed up the banner up on top there and added color. It makes me happy and I hope you'll enjoy the things I've got coming up this year.

I have so much to celebrate!

In fact, I'm going to be celebrating ALL WEEK. From today, October 1st, 2013 through October 7th, 2013.

Seven glorious days and seven fun-filled nights of celebrating that I've survived and possibly even thrived right here on the internet. For this next week I've lined up some wonderful Cuban friends that I've met because of my blog who have graciously agreed to sponsor some very cool giveaways every single day for the ENTIRE WEEK to celebrate each of my SEVEN bloggy years.

I can officially call this MBFCF Giveaway Week! (7 days and all that...) Yay!

To kick things off - here's MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway #1

My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Cookbook

An autographed copy of My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Cookbook. I know. Shut up.

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win my cookbook and please answer the following question:

• When and how did you find My big, fat, Cuban family?

I'll choose a winner at the end of MBFCF Blogiversary Giveaway Week on Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 11 am, so you have lots of time to enter.

Thank you again and let the celebrating begin!

The Cubans: Our Footprints Across America (A Winner)

When I first read Fernando Hernandez's book, The Cubans; Our Footprints Across America, I was intrigued. I read through and was impacted by two things:

1. The scope and reach of the Cuban community is not a small thing.
2. Our stories are so familiar and yet absolutely unique.

Thank you all who left such beautiful and poignant comments about your lives. If you haven't already, please consider sending me your complete "coming to America" stories to include in my Cuando Sali de Cuba feature.

The book, The Cubans; Our Footprints Across America is available on Amazon. (Click this link, or look over to the right on my sidebar.)

The winner of the book, The Cubans; Our Footprints across America is:

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Congratulations, Nancy!

Please send me an email with your mailing address and put: HEY MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line (so I don't accidentally delete it) and I will forward to Fernan who will get your book to you ASAP.

Thank you, again, to Fernando "Fernan" Hernandez for his generosity in providing this book for my readers and for so fearlessly and eloquently telling our stories. He believes, as I do, that we Cubans have to keep letting the world know the cause of our exile. We musn't be shy in explaining that communism ripped all we love from us and that we have survived and thrived and that we have a brave generation of parents that we can never completely and adequately thank for their sacrifices.

In Fernan's own words,

"One of my goals before I depart this existence is to see erected a statue in a free Havana honoring our Pedro Pan parents, their suffering during the separation period from us was incalculable."

Amen.

It Can Wait®. Take the Pledge. (A Winner)

{Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and AT&T. I also received the same AT&T "ItCanWait" gift bag that I'm giving away. The opinions are my own.}

I'm so proud that my family and I are part of AT&T's It Can Wait^® movement.

I'm a big believer in the fact that no text is worth risking your life for. And I want my kids to live long and happy lives, and to eventually get married and have children of their own and so on and so on. In other words, I want the Circle of Life to continue.

As difficult as this is, I'm asking you to watch this very sobering video about a lovely fun-loving woman who died while texting and driving as told by her sister who loved her deeply and misses her immensely. She tells about what it was like for her parents to get that terrible news.

Please click on this link here.

I think texting while driving is just like any other bad habit. It may be hard to break, but infinitely worth it. Good can replace the bad. In this case, here are the steps that can be taken:

Set an example for your own kids. Know the risks. Take the pledge. Speak up. Keep this conversation going. For you Blackberry and Android users, download the free AT&T DriveMode mobile app. I promise you will be saving lives. Again, the goal is to make texting and driving as unacceptable as drinking and driving.

At&T's goal is to save lives and the "It Can Wait^®" Movement is focused on a simple and powerful message: no text is worth dying for.

I want to thank all of you who have taken the pledge and have shared your promise on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ItCanWaitNoTextingWhileDriving page and on Twitter (#itcanwait).

It makes me happy to see that so many of you are taking this as seriously as I am.

Congratulations to the winner of The Blackberry Q10 and the AT&T "ItCanWait" Gift Bag.

Here is what you've won:

• Blackberry Q10
• ItCanWait T-shirt
• ItCanWait thumb rings
• ItCanWait Non-Woven Big Tote
• ItCanWait Decals/Spanish
• ItCanWait Cleaning cloth
• ItCanWait Silicon snap bracelet
• Interior Double Side Cling

Ody, please send me an email with your snail mail address and HEY MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line and I'll get your new Blackberry Q10 and the AT&T It Can Wait Gift Bag to you ASAP.

Also, in case you're wondering why I am so invested in helping AT&T save lives...I have four really compelling reasons.

It Can Wait. A (Blackberry) Giveway

{Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and AT&T. I also received the same AT&T "ItCanWait" gift bag that I'm giving away. The opinions are my own.}

I have my phone on me pretty much all the time. I'm guessing it's the same for most of you. That's the world we live in. Life in 2o13 is mostly shared via text. At least in my family.

And my kids? They always have their phones close to them. If they don't, I think they experience phantom-limb syndrome (but that's not important right now). Their smart phones are like appendages.

I take photos and I text every single day. So does my family. It's how we communicate with each other. It's how we share life.

But if they're out in the world and they're driving, I absolutely don't want them to respond to any texts. There is not any text response that is worth their safety. It. Can. Wait.

Don't Text and Drive

Which is why I'm on board with AT&T's It Can Wait Campaign. This is serious to me and I believe it should be for all parents. The reason I'm an advocate for this no-texting-while-driving campaign is that I want the day to come when texting and driving becomes as unacceptable as drinking and driving. There. I said it.

Even having the conversation with your kids and loved ones makes a difference. Since the movement was launched in 2009, more than two million no-texting-while-driving pledges have been logged through ItCanWait.com, social media such as Facebook, and don't text and drive events. And it's working. Attitudes and behaviors are changing and ultimately lives will be saved.

There are a few things I want to share with you today before I introduce this giveaway.

AT&T has developed a free app for Android and Blackberry called AT&T DriveMode^®. It already has more than 310k unique downloads. 

• Once downloaded and set up, the app will turn on automatically once your vehicle starts moving 25 miles per hour. Then anyone who tries to text or send email will receive an auto reply message telling them you’re currently driving and will get back to them soon.
• When the app is turned on, all calls will automatically be sent to voicemail; however, the user can identify up to five numbers that can always be dialed, and 911 calls are always allowed.
• When setting up the app, the user has the option to select one navigation and one music app that can be accessed while DriveMode is turned on.
• While enabled, depending on your device, the app also stops incoming sounds for texts, emails and voice calls – so you’re less tempted to grab your phone.
• The app automatically turns off once the vehicle is going less than 25 miles per hour for 5 minutes and then the user can view the calls, messages and emails as they normally would.

The Blackberry Giveaway

Today's giveaway has been generously donated by Blackberry and sponsored by AT&T.

The "ItCanWait" gift bag includes the following:

• Blackberry Q10
• ItCanWait T-shirt
• ItCanWait thumb rings
• ItCanWait Non-Woven Big Tote
• ItCanWait Decals/Spanish
• ItCanWait Cleaning cloth
• ItCanWait Silicon snap bracelet
• Interior Double Side Cling

To enter this drawing for The Blackberry Q10 and the AT&T "ItCanWait" Gift Bag please leave a comment on this post and do the following:

• Go to www.itcanwait.com.
• Take the no-texting-and-driving pledge. Leave me a comment that says, "I took the pledge."
• Share your promise with others via Twitter (#itcanwait) and Facebook at www.facebook.com/ItCanWaitNoTextingWhileDriving
• Leave me another comment telling me how you shared your pledge.

Please leave your comments on this post and I'll choose a winner on Thursday, September 19th, 2013 at 9:00 am PST. (That's 2 entries allowed per person. I'm trusting you to be honest about it.)

IMPORTANT: You must use a legitimate email address to comment and not just a Facebook link. I need to be able to contact the winner.

This post will stay at the top of my blog until September 19th. I encourage you to take the pledge, tell friends and get involved. We're saving lives here, people.

Cuban Heritage Day At Dodger Stadium - A Winner

 What do I love more than Cubaneo*? I can't think of anything off the top of my head. (I know. However, the "husband and kids" answer is way too easy, but that's not important right now.)

(*Cubaneo is when a bunch of Cubans are together and trying to talk over each other. It's an amazing thing.)

We're going to the Cuban Heritage Day at Dodger Stadium on Sunday and I couldn't be more excited.

And we're taking a lucky MBFCF reader with us!

The winner of the Two Cuban Heritage Day Dodger Tickets is:

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Congratulations, Ileana! I look forward to having you join My Big, Fat, Cuban Family for all the Cubaneo and Dodger baseball.

Please send me an email with HEY MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line so that I don't accidentally delete it. Then I can connect with you and we can make plans. And we can wipe away tears together as Arturo Sandoval plays the National Anthem.

Okay, maybe you're not as sappy as I am, but still...

I promise I will most definitely buy you a Dodger Dog.

Go Dodger Blue!

If you are still interested in going to the game on Sunday, September 1st, but haven't gotten tickets yet, go to www.Dodgers.com/Cuba and use the promo code 13CUBA for exclusive savings.

Viva Los Dodgers - A Giveaway

 {Disclosure: This post is not compensated by any organization, nor affiliated in any way with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I, personally, just have some extra tickets that I'd love to give away.}

Cubans and Baseball. A Love Affair.

The Cuban love of the game of baseball is legendary. From the late 1800's when the Almendares began playing baseball in earnest, we Cubans embraced baseball as part of our own national identity.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I remember going to Dodger games with my brothers-in-law. They would bring transistor radios with them to the game so they could hear the legendary Vin Scully calling the play-by-play as they watched the game live.

Personally, I don't really enjoy watching baseball on TV, but a live game....The Best. Plus when we go watch the Anaheim Angels play at Edison Field, we get to wear red. (It's the little things.)

And my 99 year old mom? She still gets totally excited about the World Series every year. I know. Shut up.

So, last month my kids, Jonathan and Amy Kikita went to a Dodger game to watch Yasiel Puig play (also, we look really great in Dodger Blue, too), but sadly he had gotten hurt and it didn't happen. But they had a fantastic time sitting with a large group of noisy Cubans (is there another kind?) out behind right field.

In case you haven't been following the story, Puig defected from Cuba last year and started his rookie season this year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's young and brash and a little cocky and okay, maybe not too bright, but that kid can hit!

Viva Los Dodgers!

Anyway, the Dodgers are hosting Cuban Heritage Day next Sunday, September 1st at Dodger Stadium and we Darbys are all going to be there, because hey, it's Cuban. Heritage. Day. (Actually, for reasons unbeknownst to me personally, they're now calling it Viva Los Dodgers Day and I'm okay with that. The tickets still say Cuban Heritage Day, but that's not important right now.)

There will be a pre-game shindig pachanga with the salsa band, Charanga Cubana and a meet and greet with another fabulous Cuban player, Paco Rodriguez.  The party starts two hours prior to the game 11:00 am where we will celebrate our Cuban culture and love of all things baseball with music, games and entertainment.

After the game, everyone is invited to stay to enjoy a special screening of the baseball movie The Sandlot. (The kid who played Benny in The Sandlot? Also Cuban. We're everywhere!)

My big, fat, Cuban family will be there all day on Sunday and we'd love to have you join us. I have two tickets to Sunday's game (in the Cuban section, of course) to give away to some lucky (?) reader.

If you live here in Southern California, or will be here next weekend and would like to hang with me and my big, fat, Cuban family at Dodger Stadium, here's your chance.

To enter this drawing for Two Tickets to the Los Angeles Dodgers Viva Los Dodgers Day, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:

• Are you a baseball fan?
• Which team is your favorite? (Note: Just saying "Dodgers" does not improve your chances of winning.)

Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 at 7:00 pm PST.

IMPORTANT: You must use a legitimate email address to comment and not just a Facebook link. I need to be able to contact the winner.

So, come on. Let's talk "beisbol."

Also, please just leave a comment only if you're interested in winning the tickets, any political comments will be deleted. Thanks.

Tickets Winners for Cubamerican, the Movie

Thanks to all who entered this giveaway. I can't tell you how much I love hearing a little bit about all of you. Especially about when you came here to the U.S. and where you're from.

I used Random.org to choose the winners of the movie tickets to see Cubamerican at the Tower Theater in Miami on Friday, June 14th.

And the winners are......

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Congratulations to all four winners! You've each won two tickets for the showing of Cubamerican.

Please send me an email: m darby (at) cox (dot) net. Put HEY, MARTA! I WON STUFF ON YOUR BLOG! in the subject line so I won't accidentally delete it.

I'll make sure you get your tickets to the film. Trust me, you will love it.

For those of you who didn't win, please try to get to the screening anyway. Trust me, you will love it.

Cubamerican will be showing beginning Friday, June 14th in Miami at The Tower Theater • 1508 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, Fl.

WARNING: take tissues.