While in Austin... {Picture Recap of Austin Trip}

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Austin, with my company for a conference. You can read more about it here.  Today, I am giving you a little recap of what I got to see while I was there. It was more about business than it was a touristy type visit.

One thing that stood out to me were colors, I loved the colors in downtown Austin. As the guitar above states, it's a vibrant city. 

I walked a lot which helped with my daily step count. I even ventured out onto 6th Street the first night, like a Momma on 6th Street at 9 p.m., as you can imagine..... nope didn't work. I walked right back over to my hotel and got in bed. Not sure what would posses me to think, anyway. Along the way I found Mexi-Arte and decided I would visit on another day. Glad I did. 

The museum's current exhibit is Dia de Los Muertos altars. They are filled with colors, beautiful details and of course my favorite, LAS CALACAS! Houston has a similar exhibit which we have visited several times since the kids were little, you can read about it here.

Another friend suggested I visit, St. Mary's Cathedral, but I never made it during mass hours. So, I explored outside the building. It's a beautiful structure. I wish I could have gone inside. But, there will be October, when I return, for yet another Momma adventure... 

I kept walking and found small buildings with obvious historic background. 

On one night I made it all the way to the Capitol building. Which my Husband reminded me that I had already been and even went inside. I am now 34, my memory of 10 years ago, is not the same. Ha. This time though it was different. When you are older there is a different appreciation of the silence, the clouds, the structure itself and of course the History.  

I was born and raised in Texas and sadly tried to learn more about Mexico up until recent years. I guess, Mexico is a part of me, that I don't want to loose but I am proud to be Texan as well. This time, I was reminded of the other side of my roots. You know the side across the Rio Grande where I was born and raised, Texas/Tejas. 

To be standing in a place that will forever hold true Texas history, is such an inspiration. Finding the Tejano Monument made a great difference. 

I love reading about how Tejanos contributed to the growth and presence of our state. 

Until next month Austin, when we meet again.... 

{Rodeo Houston} 2013

While the rest of the world is turning... Houston enjoys Rodeo! For 3 whole weeks the city if consumed by Cowboys, Horses and Concerts. Lots of fun Concerts. This year so far I have gone to see Lady Antebellum and Thursday, it was Bruno Mars!

One of my life long habits has been volunteering. In High School it was the library and nursing homes. In college it was well... just about anything from church to official governmental offices that helped people complete their INS forms to become Citizens. I have always loved helping. More so in those areas where my culture, my language {Spanish} and my passion would shine through!






In 2008, I was asked to become a part of a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committee which provided daily tours to students and international visitors of the Rodeo... in particular those who spoke Spanish. I was added on to the roster of Bilingual Tours Committeemen and I won an award that year... Best Spanish Speaking Tour guide! Say What! Ha. I did. It was a fun committee. I loved, I mean LOVED it! More so hearing the Hispanic kids mostly Mexican kids tell me how their parents; owned horses and ate pigs! True story one little boy in particular gave me the run down as I gave his class a tour of the Ag-Venture livestock area... he told me that his Dad had goats and that he would kill them and eat them... {circle of life}, but amazingly as we went on this possible 2nd or 3rd grader went on to tell me how they also had pigs and how they also killed and ate those... when we got to the cows he said he Dad showed him to milk the cows just like the one I was telling his class about. When we got to the horses I said. "So, do you eat the horses too?"... and in a very Norteño accent he says to me in Spanish; "No'mbre! Esos los montamos!"And, as I pictured the little boy and his Dad, Vaqueros of the Houston area, riding away into the sunset and this little man being so full of agricultural knowledge and life long skills, I knew that my job as a volunteer with the Houston Rodeo....would be a fulfilling one!









I loved it and as the years go by I am excited to be a part of such an awesome Houston; lifestyle and tradition. I mean the days of riding off the farm in your horse and carriage into the city to work or conduct business are long gone, the Vaquero traditions live in this city very vividly for 3 weeks! Along with tradition, entertainment and Texas heritage the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings large groups into Houston from all over the world. I mean, I have met many Mexican Cowboys and European Cowboys as well as people from Japan and many parts of the U.S. Who come specifically to see what the Houston Rodeo is all about. There is also the matter of money raising for not only local kids but Texas High School students to obtain not only agricultural skills but also scholarships to go to college. My current committee raised over 6 Million this year alone!





It's definitely an organization that I am very proud of and enjoy participating with. And, all of the above mentioned are the kind of Texas and Mexican culture that we want to instill in our Children. Volunteer work, Heritage and yearly traditions!

I used to be in LOVE with Mexico and every year thought that NOTHING could ever compare to my Mexico lindo y querido! But, as I grow older and learn to enjoy local Texas cities and traditions I know that Mexico is beautiful, but  Houston and Texas has a lot to offer a family who wants to have well-rounded and locally educated children! Don't get me wrong... one day I hope to be able to travel to Mexico to show my children the cities where their Grand-parents were born and where I grew up {Cuernavaca & Reynosa} but for now... we will have to settle for local grounds!


YOU CAN SEE LAST YEARS EPIC FAIL ::HERE:: 


And, a THANK YOU to Xenia from Raised by Culture...for helping me gain some perspective and inspiration... 

Sometimes we don't realize our own potential until someone opens your eyes...