Welcome to LICUADORA BRUNCH!

Why LICUADORA BRUNCH and a few other interesting things.

Photo by Carmen Maldonado.

It is possible to have moments of joy amid loss and trauma.

I have a dynamic group of friends with whom I gather whenever I visit Guatemala (my home country). It doesn't always happen, but when it does, magic happens. In 2020 when I was a couple of weeks away from moving to the United States, this group of friends threw me an outdoor brunch as a going away party—something like the most beautiful picnic. Despite the excruciatingly tough time I was going through (more about this later), what fun I had! It is possible to have moments of joy amid loss and trauma. After that revitalizing gathering, I officially called this eccentric group of intelligent female friends Licuadora Brunch.

You might be wondering where the name comes from. I initially thought about it in 2014 when I wanted to start a series of Sunday brunch gatherings. The project never took off, but the name stuck with me. The literal translation to English for “licuadora” is a blender. What do we use a blender for? Well, we use it to blend ingredients to 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 to choose a name that made sense to me and didn't sound so generic. Why not Licuadora Brunch? It will be difficult to pronounce if you don't speak Spanish, but with some practice, you will master the name in no time, strengthening your Spanish skills.

This newsletter will act much like a blender. A handful of outfit ideas here and there, an occasional healthy pour of recipes, a drizzle of personal thoughts and feelings, a spoonful of recommendations and great finds, and who knows what else? I will not try to put this newsletter inside a box. I will not call it a fashion, shopping, personal style, food, or decor-dedicated newsletter. I will let it become what it needs to be. I'm still trying to figure it out, but It's better done than perfect because perfect doesn't exist. A domino effect of awesomeness inevitably follows when you make a decision to leave your comfort zone and do things.

I only have half my life to conquer my dreams and fulfill my divine purpose. There is no time to waste.

When you are a middle-aged woman, you come to the daunting realization that you are somewhat halfway from dying. I don't mean to scare you, and I know this is a bit dramatic, but it's true. Even though I know I will live to be 120 years old, I only have half my life to conquer my dreams and fulfill my divine purpose. There is no time to waste. And this goes to younger women too. I urge you to get up and do what you know you must do.

I must trust that if God puts the desire in me, something will come out of it. I will do my part and will let Him do His.

God has put this urging inside of me to start this adventure. Anyone who starts a newsletter or blog has the same thought; who wants to read me? Do I really have something to say? Will people like my content? What if no one subscribes? You know, lies our enemy tries to whisper in our ears. I must trust that if God puts the desire in me, something will come out of it. I will do my part and will let Him do His. This allows me to put myself out there, tell and own my story, and start a new community of friends, which I hope you will join.

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What I’m listening to

As a welcome to LICUADORA BRUNCH gift to you, I put together a playlist of funky songs that I usually like to play in the kitchen. It’s a fun playlist. Enjoy. More playlists are coming your way so stick around.

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What I’m obsessing about

I compiled a list of five things I’m obsessing about right now. I’m obsessing about so many things that I struggled to put this together, lol! Expect more lists to come your way. I navigate the web, so you don’t have to.

1. A few days ago, I read an article on BoF about the re-birth of the 80s and 90s superstar brand ESPRIT. I was like, Oh my God, ESPRIT! Teenage vibes all over again. I was intrigued, so I visited their website and found this adorable flowy printed dress that would serve me well in my new Miami life because the heat and humidity here are no joke.

2. I love everything Aimé Leon Doré, but I’m especially obsessed with this tote bag that is actually SOLD OUT! Obviously, I already submitted my email address, so I will be notified when the bag is back in stock. They have other cute totes, like this one or this one. I can’t resist a lovely canvas tote bag; I don’t discriminate.

3. I am obsessed with everything that Mina Stone cooks. I recently moved across the country, and the only book I brought with me (inside my bag) is Lemon Love and Olive Oil by Mina Stone. This is her second book. I want to buy her first book, Mina Stone Cooking For Artists. Everything she makes is simple and delicious.

4. I didn’t know that HOKAs were so popular until recently. And not because I read it someplace, but because I’ve seen many people wearing them. Then I read another article on BoF about the brand. Needless to say, I was curious. I love the design and color combination of their HOKA x Cotopaxi Anacapa Breeze Low hiking shoe. I would not wear them for hiking but instead with overalls, dresses, wide-leg pants, etc. You get my point.

5. All of the Zara Home x Saint. Lazare collaboration. The notebooks, notepads, labels, tote bags, posters, all!

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I want to end this first post by saying welcome to LICUADORA BRUNCH! Stick around for more. You are awesome. I genuinely believe in you.

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

Until next!

xoxo

MC