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So, it’s Cinco de Mayo!? ?Fiesta!? Party!? But before you run out later to buy the tacos for dinner or the cervezas for happy hour, might I share with you a quick 40 second read on what Cinco de Mayo even is?!?

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

There you have it!? Now let me give you some quick fun things for craft ideas first, followed by food, and finally FREE music:

Food

Based on the age of children who might help you assemble lunch or dinner, Boca Beth recommends the following:?

Salsa and chips?

Big Fritos with sour cream, chili & cheese and/orguacamole for dipping?

Make your own taco station complete with meats(chicken or beef), tomatoes, lettuce, cheese,taco sauce and shells?

Flan, dulce de leche ice cream, Tres Lechescake (available in many flavors these days) orgalletas/cookies from a local Spanish grocerystore.CraftsHave the children make their ownMexican ponchos out of large browngrocery bags with paints, sequins, beads,feathers, foam shapes, etc to decorate?

Maracas can easily be made with twopaper plates stapled together (adultsupervision required), popsicle stick asthe handle and rice, pasta or beans asthe noise filler – children decorate the

outside of the plates prior to assembly.

And if you have time for some music fun during the day, e-mail me at bocabeth@msn.com for a free MP3 version of the Latin American fun song Chocolate!??I will send you lyrics and activity ideas to do hand-in-hand with the song. Happy Educating!? ?Sea feliz educando!?Boca Beth

Well, if 2008 is not the year of the entrepreneur, it certainly IS the year of the mompreneurs who share on the wonderful online community of women that Pat and Ellen created for us to inspire, motivate, cheer on, hold up, pick up, and sing praises for one another!

With that being said, the teacher in me is compelled to remind every one of us as the pace setter of our families and?as the daily inspiration provider for our children to make certain to instill this drive of following your passion and chasing your dream within each and every young child, tween and teen we touch.? It’s one thing to say that your children watch you work like a crazed chicken some moments and like a graceful butterfly other moments.? It’s a totally different thing to truly and purposefully encourage them to dream and dream big.

So often we take for granted the innocence of children and their God-given talent for unbridled imagination.? I think that often times fools us into thinking, “I don’t need to talk to Megan about dreaming big and following her passion.? She’s all over the place with her made up games and fanciful friends.”? The opposite is true………

………We should embrace her games and ask to play once in a while or elicit an introduction to that made up new friend.? We learn so much from this spontaneous play with our children and gain insight into where their minds are taking them.? And even though those two other calls need to be made or those three other “To Dos” need to get done before it’s really play time, don’t you think we should make it a point to slow down, stop for 5 minutes, give her?our undivided attention and then go back to our list that never gets done?

Society does a poor job on developing dreams and passions, we are doing amazing jobs at developing our dreams and passions, and now we need to remind ourselves to help our children dare to dream and chase that dream with passion and purpose!

Happy Educating!? ?Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Most of us are reflecting on how our 2007 has shaped up…Did we lose those 10 pounds we started the year with that we resolved to lose?? Did we learn that new language we resolved to learn?? Did we begin that new class we resolved to start to cook different meals?

Ah……just the word resolution brings about shivers to my spine!? I am one of those that really never makes New Year’s Resolutions and stays focused throughout the year revisiting my goals and my dreams often to make sure I am on track.

Leslie of Grill Charms has so inspired us all to continue chasing our dreams, but she has really shown us that we need to do it day in and day out with PASSION and the initial energy and drive that we had our first week in business!!!!!? Thank you Leslie for the unplanned kick-in-the-pants you have given many of us fellow entrepreneurs!

Our bilingual music videos hit TV airways via the Education Channel here in Tampa Bay this month!? (See a complete Boca Beth bilingual music video for FREE by clicking here!)? I can’t think of a better way to kick off a New Year than to know that many families will benefit from the music,?movement and creativity woven through each of our Boca Beth Bilingual Music Videos!

So….my friends and amigas, let’s make this an amazing year.? Send your videos in to Donny (I am!!!), network with fellow like-minded and positive people (you will feel so much better for it!), and make this week like it’s your first in business, and have the sense of urgency and excitement to make things happen NOW/AHORA.

Happy Educating!?

Boca Beth

I know!? I know!

We are all busy.? Crazy busy!? I read the blogs.? I read the online forum entries.? I know that each of us is multi-tasking like there’s no tomorrow………..

But, when was the last time you scooped your child up onto your lap (or cuddled next to him or her if they are past the ‘scooping-up’ stage!!!) and read a book with your child with not one interruption?

Believe me, I am no Poster Child for this daily event!? Once?I get past sunset on the lake, dinner with the family?followed by clean up and showers I am ready to call it a day (and I mean a D-A-Y)!

But, after reading my own abstract for an upcoming training with Head Start staff, I felt compelled to make the cry-out and the kick-in-the-pants to not only my fellow Moms who are busy running their homes as well as their businesses but to myself.

Let’s make a pact here – a friendly agreement – to read to our young children and instill in them the love of reading.? It’s crucial to their success, our nation’s success and the future of this United States of America!

Happy Educating!? ?Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth