Welcome Back!

Why I took a leave of absence, and why Licuadora Brunch.

Dec 31, 2024

Hello, friends! It's been a while since I last reached out. First and foremost, thank you for not unsubscribing during my absence. I don’t want to go into detail about why I had to stop writing for several months, because I will share bits of my story gradually. For now, I can say that 2024 was perhaps the most challenging year of my life, and I am here because of the grace of God. At times, it became so difficult that I could only focus on survival. God is always faithful and always good. Therefore, I dedicate this comeback to the one that loved me first, and to the people, who, like him, showed me their love by listening to me, helping me, encouraging me, taking care of me, being there for me. You know who you are and I love you.

“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

If you’ve been following this newsletter for a while, you may have noticed that I’ve rebranded its image and removed all previous content. I made this decision because I want to start fresh. However, I will be republishing a few stories that hold special significance for me. Throughout this week, I will share those stories again before I introduce new content. Starting next week, I will publish only on Sundays.

I originally published this newsletter post in 2023, when I launched Licuadora Brunch. If you are not familiar with why Licuadora Brunch exists, read the following story. I feel the same way today as I did back in 2023.

I have a dynamic group of friends that I gather with whenever I visit Guatemala, my home country. Though it doesn’t happen every time, when it does, magic unfolds. In 2020, just a couple of weeks before I moved to the United States, this group organized an outdoor brunch as a going-away party for me—something akin to the most beautiful picnic. Despite the incredibly tough time I was experiencing (more on that later), I had such a wonderful time! It is indeed possible to experience joy amidst loss and trauma. After that revitalizing gathering, I officially named this eclectic group of intelligent women "Licuadora Brunch."

It is indeed possible to experience joy amidst loss and trauma.

You might be curious about the name. I conceived it in 2014 when I first wanted to start a series of Sunday brunch gatherings. Although that project never took off, the name stuck with me. The literal translation of "licuadora" in English is "blender." What do we use a blender for? We use it to blend ingredients and create something digestible. A little bit of Carmen, a dash of María Cecilia, a pinch of Joanna, a sprinkle of Maggie, a handful of Paola, a cup of Fernanda, a spoonful of Matus, a drizzle of Diane, a healthy pour of Meches—and we have one extraordinary concoction of women. Sometimes some ingredients are missing, but the results are always delicious.

When I thought about starting a newsletter, I wanted a name that resonated with me and didn’t sound generic. Why not Licuadora Brunch? It might be challenging to pronounce if you don’t speak Spanish, but with some practice, you will master it in no time, all while improving your Spanish skills.

This newsletter will function much like a blender. I’ll sprinkle in a handful of outfit ideas, add an occasional healthy pour of recipes, drizzle in personal thoughts and feelings, mix in a spoonful of recommendations and great finds, and who knows what else? I won’t try to confine this newsletter to any particular theme. I won’t label it as a fashion, shopping, personal style, food, or decor-focused newsletter. I will allow it to evolve into whatever it needs to be. I'm still figuring it out, but I believe it's better to get it done than to seek perfection, as perfection doesn’t exist. A domino effect of positive outcomes inevitably follows when you step out of your comfort zone and try new things.

Even though I believe I could live to be 120 years old, I feel a pressing need to pursue my dreams and fulfill my purpose while I still have time.

As a middle-aged woman, I’ve come to the sobering realization that I am somewhat halfway through my life. I don’t mean to frighten anyone, and I know this sounds a bit dramatic, but it's true. Even though I believe I could live to be 120 years old, I feel a pressing need to pursue my dreams and fulfill my purpose while I still have time. And this message is for younger women too: I urge you to get up and do what you know you must pursue.

I must trust that if God has placed this desire within me, something wonderful will come from it.

God has placed an urge in my heart to embark on this adventure. Anyone who considers starting a newsletter or blog often faces the same doubts: Who will want to read what I write? Do I have something to say? Will people like my content? What if no one subscribes? These are the lies that can taunt us. I must trust that if God has placed this desire within me, something wonderful will come from it. I will do my part and let Him handle the rest. This approach empowers me to put myself out there, share and own my story, and build a new community of friends that I hope you will join.

What I’m reading…

Over the past five years, I have experienced a miscarriage, faced the loss of a newborn, relocated to another country, and then moved to a different state. Additionally, my mother was diagnosed with mixed Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and I spent seven months solely looking after her. These experiences have taken a significant toll on me and have led me to embark on a healing journey, which I am still navigating.

What I’m watching…

I finally started watching “This is Us” from the very beginning and I love it. I got tired of trying to find something good to watch that was new. I’m on Season 2, so I have a long way to go and I’m thrilled about it.

What’s on my shopping list…

I’ve been wanting to get a pair of Solomon sneakers for a very long time. New years, new Solomon’s.

I want to end this first post by saying welcome to Licuadora Brunch again! Stick around for more.

Let’s get to know each other. Introduce yourself in the comments. Let me know who you are. If we know each other, just say hi. I love you for being here.

Until next!

xoxo