Monday, October 31, 2011

Honoring Loved Ones Departed…An Annual Tradition



Despite its rather morbid name and close proximity to Halloween, the Latin American holiday known as Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is all about remembering loved ones, not glorifying deathly spirits.


The History


Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, the holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember loved ones who have passed away. The celebration takes place in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Scholars trace the origins of Dia de los Muertos back to indigenous observances in Mexican Aztec culture several hundred years ago. In modern Mexico, the celebration has attained the status as a national holiday.



The Traditions

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls and marigolds. Also added to the altars are the favorite foods and beverages of the departed as well as photos and mementos. Family and friends then visit the grave site of loved one bearing these gifts. They spend time at cemeteries to “be with the souls” of loved ones who are no longer with them. But these ceremonies are by no means somber occasions. They are full-of-life gatherings of family and friends and often center around sharing funny stories and memories about the loved ones being honored.



To me—no matter whether you’re Latin, European, Asian, American, all of the above or none of the above—taking time out to cherish the life (and honor the death) of someone dear to you is a special and wonderful thing.

Warmly,
Lilo

How does your family honor the memory of loved ones who have passed away? We'd love to hear about it—here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Cutest Halloween Photos!

Just for fun, here’s a parade of Halloween cuties to get you in the “spirit” of the holiday…

Sweet little beast


Hey, who ordered lobster?


Trick-or-Treating can be so exhausting!


I’m really a prince!


Enchanted Peacock Fairy?


Awww, what a sweet bunny!


Cutest little Wookie ever!


A lovely lady

 
Don’t call me Dumbo!

Happy Halloween!

Do you have adorable photos of your kids or grandkids in their Halloween costumes that you’d like to share with us? Feel free to post one on our Facebook page for all of us to gush over!

Warmly,

Lilo

Friday, October 7, 2011

October observances are ripe with reminiscence



There are plenty of fun and nostalgic national observances this month! We picked our top 4 favorites and will reveal one each week—inviting you to share a memory that relates to each one.
We hope you’ll get in the spirit by posting here on our blog or on our interactive Facebook page. We will gather all the shared memories throughout the month and post them on this page. Fun photos are always welcome. Happy reminiscing!
Warmly,
Lilo

Top Pick for Week #1

October is National Roller Skating Month! Roller skates have technically been around since the first four-wheeled pair was invented in New York City in 1863. But President Reagan declared it as a national observance in 1983. Roller skating has been widely popular for the past 60 years, and there’s even an entire museum dedicated to collecting, displaying and preserving the history of roller skating. http://www.rollerskatingmuseum.com/


Since it’s National Roller Skating Month—tell us about your VERY FIRST PAIR of skates…

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OK, I’ll start it off. My first pair was those metal shoe skates that were adjustable yet never seemed to fit. We lived way out on a dirt road in the country so the only place I could skate was down in my basement!

My first pair of roller skates were white with red laces – Sandra R.

Black leather disco boots with bright yellow wheels and matching stoppers! Sweet – Jay R.

I was a tomboy and skate BOARDER actually .... don't remember so much about my footed wheels :) — Joie D.

The kind that attaches to your shoes (much less expensive). — Victoria S.

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Top Pick for Week #2


Of course, among October’s observances, who could forget Halloween? If you have set foot inside a grocery store or drug store in the past two months, you’ve undoubtedly been slammed with the merchandising of this spooky holiday. But there was a time–way back when you were a kid—when Halloween was all about the thrill of dressing up for a costume party and going door-to-door begging for treats!

So our question this week is: What was your all-time favorite Halloween costume as a kid—and how old were you when you wore it?

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I’ll start it off: My all-time favorite was the Pink Panther costume my mom had-made for me when I was five. I loved it so much that I tried to squeeze into it for three years in a row, and I think I even cut the feet off to make it work!


I was a hobo for many Halloweens, as it was such a simple, spur of the moment costume to get together, not to mention comfy, and living in So. Calif, we didn't have to dress for bad weather ..... ahhh, the good old days! ~ Victoria S.
A pink bunny costume my mom made. (My brother didn't enjoy it as much!) ~ Gina M.
A Pirate till my plastic sword broke :( But I got to break it on my brother! ! ~ Jay R.
Well as usual my answer is an odd one. What I remember most (and best) is the fact that I as a kid I possessed and practically lived in 'my costume box" -- it set the tone for my life, hobbies and subsequent career! Decades later I ended up with several cargo size storage containers bursting with hundreds of costumes from the theater company I had for a dozen or so years…who knew that would be the case when as a kid I was playing gypsy, fairy…and a little Dutch girl! Thanks so much for unearthing those memories J ~ Joie D.

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We hope you’ll get in the spirit by posting here on our blog or on our interactive Facebook page. Happy reminiscing!


Top Pick for Week #3

Hey, all you travel junkies out there--did you know that October is National Sightseeing Month? I couldn’t find any real research pointing to the relevance of October for this observance, so I am left to wonder. Perhaps it’s because air travel is often less expensive this month—being after the busy summer season and before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Or maybe it’s because the weather tends to be beautiful this time of year. Whatever the reason, it’s a time for getting out there and making memories…and sharing them.

So our question this week is: What is your most memorable sightseeing spot?

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I’ll start it off: Taking a thrilling helicopter ride down into the crater of the Waimea Canyon in Kauai. With red rocky cliff walls covered in lush green ferns and white sparkling streams from waterfalls cascading all around—it’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.Happy reminiscing!

I was 9, hanging from the keel of a big boat, visiting a baby dolphin for 30 minutes—loving the Florida Keys. ~ Jay R.
Paris! ~ Yoser N.
In answer to your question, a trip I made to Xian, China taught me the true meaning of the word "awe." The site of the Terra Cotta Warriors/Army in Xian ... till that trip I had always considered The Pyramids to be the most spectacular man-made creation I'd ever seen -- not anymore. ~ Joie D.

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We hope you’ll join in the fun by posting here on our blog or on our interactive Facebook page.


Top Pick for Week #4

Apples are perfectly ripe for the picking this month. Perhaps that’s why October is designated as “Mom and Apple Pie” Month. And what better way to enjoy this autumn-harvested fruit than in a good old-fashioned apple pie—the kind that mom used to bake.

Do you have any “sweet memories” of your mom baking in the kitchen? Share a delicious one with us!

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I’ll start: Mom used to bake the most scrumptious apple pie with custard and cinnamon in it. It was always based to perfection and tasted best when still warm from the oven. She doesn’t bake many pies anymore, but her homemade applesauce is still WONDERFUL!

I call my mom’s apple pie a Flan!... Mmm mmm mmm... Gracias mami! ~ Jay R.
I remember my mom made reeses cups and different flavors of rice crispy treats. Chocolate was yummy! ~ Gina M.
Oh my gosh, speaking of Reese's... I am appalled to say I just went through one of the bags of candy I purchased to hand out on Halloween, and I pulled out all the Reese's for myself! Weak!  ~ Joie D


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We hope you’ll join in the fun by posting here on our blog or on our Facebook page. Happy reminiscing!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Who’s documenting your family history?

Grandma Jane was a fashion model in the 1940s.

Uncle Frank rubbed elbows with Reagan back when he was governor.

Big sister Dana swam the chilly waters around Alcatraz Island.

Mom bakes the world’s best snickerdoodles and no one knows her secret ingredient.


October is National Family History Month, and we couldn’t be happier about it! Every family has a history worth sharing and a story worth telling…and retelling. And here at iLivediLoved, that’s precisely what we’re all about. Our express purpose is to give people a place to write down these special stories and memories, and –if you like—post photos, other images and home movies to help bring these colorful stories to life. Or maybe just a place to create digital photo albums…and let the pictures speak for themselves and illustrate the stories of your own family’s history.Whether you’re the designated “family historian” or not, and whether you’re a genealogy buff or not, you possess important family knowledge and fascinating details that deserve to be written down and preserved.


 


Here are some ideas to get your family history started:
  • Ask the oldest member in your family line to tell a story about your family’s history. Record or write down what is shared.
  • Take pictures of family heirlooms and write photo captions that describe their family significance.
  • Cook up some family recipes. Scan or type up the recipes along with any stories that go with them.
  • Create a family tree that goes back as many generations as possible. Get other family members to help you fill in the blanks.
  • Gather old family photos and take them to a business that will digitize and place them on CDs.
  • Create some new family memories and document them while the memories are fresh in your mind. 
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Once you’ve gathered these keepsakes and have them in your computer, there’s one more critical step in the family history preservation process. Sign in to your iLivediLoved account—and copy, paste and upload to your heart’s content. The next thing you know, you will have a digital keepsake box full of your family’s unique stories and treasured moments…kept safe and secure for generations to enjoy.


As always, we’d love to have you share your stories and experiences with us either here on our blog or on our interactive Facebook page

Warmly,
Lilo