Exactly a week ago I celebrated my 40th birthday in a place I thought I would never see, my homeland of Cuba. My grandparents fled in 1969, leaving everything (including family) behind to give their children and in turn me, a better life. For many years I’d only heard stories about Cuba. About its beauty, sadness, and its stolen promise. I had (still have) complicated feelings about going because it cost my grandparents so much to leave. And yet, it breaks my heart that my grandfather never got to see the beach he called “la mas linda en el mundo” again (the most beautiful in the world). But here, in Varadero Beach, I felt closer to him than I had since he passed. I’d like to think that he was there, celebrating my milestone birthday with me and encouraging me to continue to explore my roots.
A special thank you to my good friend @msjliu for not only accompanying me on this “heritage tour” but for initiating it and making me feel comfortable about going. I appreciate your patience, even after hearing my family story for the 700th time (I was asked a lot thanks to my “pinta Cubana” — Cuban look), but mostly for making my birthday so special with surprise after surprise. She’s the kind of person who brings a suitcase full of medicine to give out to the people in Cuba, who so desperately need it. I am so grateful for you and your big heart 🩷
I really wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday this year and this experience has been that… and more. That said, more to come!
#Cuba #ReturnToMyRoots #CubanHeritage #VaraderoBeach #Varadero #Matanza #CuevaDeSaturno
Exactly a week ago I celebrated my 40th birthday in a place I thought I would never see, my homeland of Cuba. My grandparents fled in 1969, leaving everything (including family) behind to give their children and in turn me, a better life. For many years I’d only heard stories about Cuba. About its beauty, sadness, and its stolen promise. I had (still have) complicated feelings about going because it cost my grandparents so much to leave. And yet, it breaks my heart that my grandfather never got to see the beach he called “la mas linda en el mundo” again (the most beautiful in the world). But here, in Varadero Beach, I felt closer to him than I had since he passed. I’d like to think that he was there, celebrating my milestone birthday with me and encouraging me to continue to explore my roots.
A special thank you to my good friend @msjliu for not only accompanying me on this “heritage tour” but for initiating it and making me feel comfortable about going. I appreciate your patience, even after hearing my family story for the 700th time (I was asked a lot thanks to my “pinta Cubana” — Cuban look), but mostly for making my birthday so special with surprise after surprise. She’s the kind of person who brings a suitcase full of medicine to give out to the people in Cuba, who so desperately need it. I am so grateful for you and your big heart 🩷
I really wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday this year and this experience has been that… and more. That said, more to come!
#Cuba #ReturnToMyRoots #CubanHeritage #VaraderoBeach #Varadero #Matanza #CuevaDeSaturno
Exactly a week ago I celebrated my 40th birthday in a place I thought I would never see, my homeland of Cuba. My grandparents fled in 1969, leaving everything (including family) behind to give their children and in turn me, a better life. For many years I’d only heard stories about Cuba. About its beauty, sadness, and its stolen promise. I had (still have) complicated feelings about going because it cost my grandparents so much to leave. And yet, it breaks my heart that my grandfather never got to see the beach he called “la mas linda en el mundo” again (the most beautiful in the world). But here, in Varadero Beach, I felt closer to him than I had since he passed. I’d like to think that he was there, celebrating my milestone birthday with me and encouraging me to continue to explore my roots.
A special thank you to my good friend @msjliu for not only accompanying me on this “heritage tour” but for initiating it and making me feel comfortable about going. I appreciate your patience, even after hearing my family story for the 700th time (I was asked a lot thanks to my “pinta Cubana” — Cuban look), but mostly for making my birthday so special with surprise after surprise. She’s the kind of person who brings a suitcase full of medicine to give out to the people in Cuba, who so desperately need it. I am so grateful for you and your big heart 🩷
I really wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday this year and this experience has been that… and more. That said, more to come!
#Cuba #ReturnToMyRoots #CubanHeritage #VaraderoBeach #Varadero #Matanza #CuevaDeSaturno
Exactly a week ago I celebrated my 40th birthday in a place I thought I would never see, my homeland of Cuba. My grandparents fled in 1969, leaving everything (including family) behind to give their children and in turn me, a better life. For many years I’d only heard stories about Cuba. About its beauty, sadness, and its stolen promise. I had (still have) complicated feelings about going because it cost my grandparents so much to leave. And yet, it breaks my heart that my grandfather never got to see the beach he called “la mas linda en el mundo” again (the most beautiful in the world). But here, in Varadero Beach, I felt closer to him than I had since he passed. I’d like to think that he was there, celebrating my milestone birthday with me and encouraging me to continue to explore my roots.
A special thank you to my good friend @msjliu for not only accompanying me on this “heritage tour” but for initiating it and making me feel comfortable about going. I appreciate your patience, even after hearing my family story for the 700th time (I was asked a lot thanks to my “pinta Cubana” — Cuban look), but mostly for making my birthday so special with surprise after surprise. She’s the kind of person who brings a suitcase full of medicine to give out to the people in Cuba, who so desperately need it. I am so grateful for you and your big heart 🩷
I really wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday this year and this experience has been that… and more. That said, more to come!
#Cuba #ReturnToMyRoots #CubanHeritage #VaraderoBeach #Varadero #Matanza #CuevaDeSaturno
Exactly a week ago I celebrated my 40th birthday in a place I thought I would never see, my homeland of Cuba. My grandparents fled in 1969, leaving everything (including family) behind to give their children and in turn me, a better life. For many years I’d only heard stories about Cuba. About its beauty, sadness, and its stolen promise. I had (still have) complicated feelings about going because it cost my grandparents so much to leave. And yet, it breaks my heart that my grandfather never got to see the beach he called “la mas linda en el mundo” again (the most beautiful in the world). But here, in Varadero Beach, I felt closer to him than I had since he passed. I’d like to think that he was there, celebrating my milestone birthday with me and encouraging me to continue to explore my roots.
A special thank you to my good friend @msjliu for not only accompanying me on this “heritage tour” but for initiating it and making me feel comfortable about going. I appreciate your patience, even after hearing my family story for the 700th time (I was asked a lot thanks to my “pinta Cubana” — Cuban look), but mostly for making my birthday so special with surprise after surprise. She’s the kind of person who brings a suitcase full of medicine to give out to the people in Cuba, who so desperately need it. I am so grateful for you and your big heart 🩷
I really wanted to do something meaningful for my birthday this year and this experience has been that… and more. That said, more to come!
#Cuba #ReturnToMyRoots #CubanHeritage #VaraderoBeach #Varadero #Matanza #CuevaDeSaturno
Happy Easter peeps! 🐥 I tried to remove the people in the background cause my younger cousin told me it was super easy (“anyone can do it”). Well, I guess I’m not anyone (second slide 😂)!
Happy Easter peeps! 🐥 I tried to remove the people in the background cause my younger cousin told me it was super easy (“anyone can do it”). Well, I guess I’m not anyone (second slide 😂)!
It’s been a #TeenBeach week! 🎶 “CheeChee and Rascal together at last…” 🎶 = a song we never finished writing but a friendship that still keeps growing. I can’t believe @kent_boyd and I have known each other for over a decade (swipe for evidence)! Can’t wait for people to see all the creative and fun projects this talented surfer is about to make waves with 😘 P.S. Just noticed a confused af @ross_lynch in second pic 💀 #TeenBeachMovie #TeenBeach2 #surfers #bikers #disneychannel #CheeChee #Rascal
It’s been a #TeenBeach week! 🎶 “CheeChee and Rascal together at last…” 🎶 = a song we never finished writing but a friendship that still keeps growing. I can’t believe @kent_boyd and I have known each other for over a decade (swipe for evidence)! Can’t wait for people to see all the creative and fun projects this talented surfer is about to make waves with 😘 P.S. Just noticed a confused af @ross_lynch in second pic 💀 #TeenBeachMovie #TeenBeach2 #surfers #bikers #disneychannel #CheeChee #Rascal
Self-care Sunday however you actually need. Even if that’s getting into an empty tub in a vintage dress and full-on glam ❤️ 📸: @heather.rival 💇🏽♀️💄: @mx._monroe
Self-care Sunday however you actually need. Even if that’s getting into an empty tub in a vintage dress and full-on glam ❤️ 📸: @heather.rival 💇🏽♀️💄: @mx._monroe
Self-care Sunday however you actually need. Even if that’s getting into an empty tub in a vintage dress and full-on glam ❤️ 📸: @heather.rival 💇🏽♀️💄: @mx._monroe
Lela & CheeChee left Wet Side Story and hung out in the real world again (swipe) 😂 So great catching up with my biker babe, @graciegillam 🩷 #TeenBeachMovie #TeenBeach2 #Bikers4Life #DisneyChannel
Lela & CheeChee left Wet Side Story and hung out in the real world again (swipe) 😂 So great catching up with my biker babe, @graciegillam 🩷 #TeenBeachMovie #TeenBeach2 #Bikers4Life #DisneyChannel
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
That time I roamed #SanFrancisco looking like a nurse 💁🏽♀️ #NoScrubs #TheLoveDoctorIsIn #PagingDrFit #girlstrip #sanfran #goldengatebridge #bffs #houseofnanking #spaday #annualgirlstrip
