I love music and more...

Finally the last day of the week is here and so it's the last day of my 30 days song challenge.

It's been fun and at times definitely challenging to come up with certain songs, but I did it! and over all I think it was pretty good.

One thing is for sure

it is such a huge part of my life and although there are some genres I don't care so much for, even if all I could listen to were those, I would still choose to have music in my life.

Perhaps the best thing about music is that it's very subjecting and different styles appeal to different people, but it also makes your soul sing with happiness!

For today, the last day of the challenge I am posting- My favorite song at this time last year.

Well, I don't think I have such a song, because again, like I've mentioned before, I do not have a lot of favorites in my life, but last year around this time the following song was all over the radio, so this is it...

The song is "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train. 

And last but not least, before I finish this challenge, I want to thank YouTube and it's users for all the great videos you upload, thanks to those I was able to make my challenge...YouTube rocks!

But on another note... before I finish today's post I have to inform everybody that I am officially in love (again)...

Well, this is a love it's been inside of me for a while but just now I have a way to make it all mine, so I am going to just go with it an make it public [yeah, I know my husband reads my blog, but oh well- he's meant to find out somehow].

I am in love with "Dulce de Leche", aka delicious, scrumptious, devilish caramel cream... Oh wow!!!!

And the best part is that now I've found the easiest way to make it.

Perhaps this is old news for you (the recipe- not my infatuation), but I am going to spread "the love" and share this wonderful recipe.

All you need to make it is:

1 Can of Sweetened Milk
1 Slow Cooker
Water
Electricity

Now, to make it:

1. Take the label off the can and wash it well, making sure it doesn't have any holes or dents, put it inside the slow cooker and cover it with water.
2.Set the slow cooker on low for 8 hours (or on high for 4) and wait for it (perhaps this is the hardest part!).
3. Dump all the water and use something to take the can out as it could be very hot!
4. Taaa-daaah! You have delicious "Dulce de leche"

Now, guess what I had for breakfast this morning?

LOL! Just kidding...

Have a Sweet Weekend!!!

29 takes me back

Today is finally day 29 of the 30 days song challenge and this number takes me back about 29 years as well, because today's song to post is- A song from your childhood.

Growing up in Latin America as a child I was always accompanied by the music of a famous Mexican singer Francisco Gabilondo Soler a.k.a. "Cri Cri - el grillito cantor" meaning in English "Cri Cri- the singing cricket".

Cri- Cri was a wonderful singer, almost all his songs are stories that teach values to children. He had the tendency to give animals and things human-like characteristics, and wrote songs about dolls, animals and toys who had something special about them, that separated them from the rest.

When I listen to most of his songs (even to the day), they touch my heart in a very special way and they take me back to a time when I was very little, pure and innocent, when all I had was fantasy and magic surrounding me!

Other songs remind me so much of my Grandmother (who always loved his songs and used to sing them to me) that those I cannot listen to, they make me miss her so much that I can't help but cry. [ so, I won't be posting one of those here today!].

I believe Cri Cri wrote over 200 songs, but today I decided to post "El Raton Vaquero"- "The Cowboy Mouse" because I happened to found a very nice video on YouTube that has the translation of the song.

Isn't it a nice children song? None of that Hanna Montana/Justin Bieber stuff kids listen to nowadays... 

If I had a baby/young kid right now, I much rather want him/her to listen to this kind of music... Kid's music, not "wanna be adult stuff". 

It's kind of sad that most kids nowadays don't have the same innocence we had, full of fantasy and magic surrounding them. I believe this is something parents need to work on.

I am glad I have these songs to remind me of the wonderful childhood I had and enjoyed!!!

Have a great Thursday!!!

we gotta start somewhere...

Nowadays just by watching or reading the news, one could feel sad and in some cases ashamed of the way us humans behave.

In some cases it is ourselves that behave or have the wrong attitude about others and situations, in those cases we should not feel ashamed but we should be feeling the need to change our ways.

Child abuse, domestic violence, non environmentally friendly practices, animal abuse and neglect, unnecessary political conflicts, world hunger... are just some of those behaviors I am talking about, and unfortunately the acts of a few [and sometimes ourselves], puts the rest of us the shame...

On today's song challenge, day 28 [ I'm also there!!!] I am posting- I song that makes you feel guilty.

Well, I wouldn't say guilty but like I mentioned before, ashamed.

In my case the song I can relate to from this point of view is "Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson.

Not only this has a very powerful song but it's got a very simple message, so simple that perhaps it's very hard to follow...

But no matter if this song makes you sad or ashamed, what it should do is makes us wanna be better, reminds us that every day we wake up we have the chance to make a difference in somebody's life and that is as simple as to start with the wo/man in the mirror.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

piano [who]man

If have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, without a doubt I would choose the piano. I think it's an amazing instrument that can create some unbelievably beautiful music.

If only I could choose my teacher, I would have chosen the very talented Cuban artist/pianist, Ruben Gonzalez, he was amazing!

On today's song challenge I am posting- A song that I wish could play.

Well, in this case, pretty much any piano song is in my list,  specially if it's played by Ruben... He has some unbelievable songs.

Ever heard of the "Buena Vista Social Club"?

The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s.


In the 1990s, nearly 50 years after the club was closed, American guitarist Ry Cooder along with traditional Cuban musicians, some of whom were veterans who had performed at the club during the height of its popularity, decided to record an album named Buena Vista Social Club after the Havana institution. The album became an international success.


German director Wim Wenders then captured the performance on film, followed by a second concert in Carnegie Hall, New York City for a documentary that included interviews with the musicians conducted in Havana. Wenders' film, also called Buena Vista Social Club, was released to critical acclaim, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary feature and winning numerous accolades including Best Documentary at the European Film Awards. (A MUST SEE!!!)


The success of both the album and film sparked a revival of international interest in traditional Cuban music and Latin American music in general. Some of the Cuban performers later released well-received solo albums and recorded collaborations with international stars from different musical genres.


The "Buena Vista Social Club" name became an umbrella term to describe these performances and releases, and has been likened to a brand label that encapsulates Cuba's "musical golden age" between the 1930s and 1950s. The new success was fleeting for the most recognizable artists in the ensemble: Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and Ibrahim Ferrer, who died at the ages of ninety-five, eighty-four, and seventy-eight respectively; Segundo and González in 2003, then Ferrer in 2005.


Several surviving members of the Buena Vista Social Club, currently tour worldwide, to popular acclaim, with new members such as the singer Carlos Calunga, virtuoso pianist Rolando Luna^[1][2] and occasionally the solo singer Omara Portuondo, as part of a 13 member band called Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club. [source: wikipedia.com]

 

And this is how I discovered Ruben's music, and since then I've been captivated by most of these talented musicians, but specially Mr. Gonzalez fabulous piano pieces...

Today I am going to share with you the song "Tres Lindas Cubanas", which means "Three beautiful Cuban Girls"...

Liked it? Well, if you have some time and you feel like listening to more of his beautiful music, please make sure to visit the Ruben Gonzalez YouTube channel and enjoy!

So, yes I wish I could play the piano like him... Oh well, at least I can play it on my cd player at home, LOL!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Merengues & More

Today's song challenge is quite disappointing, because if only I was able to play music the same way I can crochet or bake, I would be able to share a song today, but I don't...

So, instead of posting a song you can play on an instrument (as the challenge today calls for). I am going to share my latest crochet creations as well as some sugar merengues I baked yesteday.

A few weeks ago I joined a Fall Frenzy Gift Swap via Life of Meg blog, I got Jamie as a swap partner so I made her this lovely little owl... I named him Dr. Who!

Also in the spirit of Fall and Halloween I made a very nice Crochet Pumpkin...

Even our dog Sheba liked it!!!

So, yes, I might not be able to play a song on an instrument, but I surely can play an oven for some delicious baking...

When we were kids, my Mom used to bake these treats for us all the time, Sugar Merengues... I love them. This is officially the very first time I make them by myself.

The ingredients are:

3 egg whites
1 cuppa suga'
1/2 teaspoon of white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar

Using a hand or regular mixer, whip egg whites and when they start to look all white, add the vinegar and cream of tartar, keep mixing and then add little by little the cup of sugar. Once you've added all the sugar mix for 4 minutes. Using a spoon put the mixture inside a decorating bag and create your little merengues.

Bake in a dark cookie sheet (not greased) for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Once out of the oven wait about 2 minutes to get them off the sheet, if they don't come out easy, then put back on the oven 5 more minutes.

And now for the final result.... [insert drum roll here]

Have a sweet Monday!!!

Day-O

Some people say, "laughter is the best medicine", plus if you laugh on Sunday, you'll laugh all week (well, not really!).

Today's song challenge is to post- A song that makes you laugh.

The following song by itself doesn't necessary makes me laugh, but the scene from the movie Beetlejuice with the song does... I just try to imagine how many times those actors had to shoot that scene without laughing...

The name of the song is Banana Boat Song a.k.a Day-O by Harry Belafonte. 

Hope you enjoyed the video as much as you are enjoying your Sunday!!! Happy week ahead :)