Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter

The first novel in the Crafty Chica series, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter is a charming summer beach read about creativity, redemption, and friendship. With glue guns, glitter, twigs, or yarn, the ordinary can become extraordinary . . . especially at La Pachanga. Owned by Estrella "Star" Esteban's family, the restaurant has a rep for two things: good food and great art. La Pachanga brings people together-even when it looks like they couldn't be further apart. One ill-fated evening, Star jeopardizes her family's business, her relationship with her boyfriend, and her future career. To redeem herself, she agrees to participate in a national craft competition, teaming up with her best friend, Ofelia—a secretly troubled mother whose love for crafting borders on obsession—and local celebrity Chloe Chavez—a determined television personality with more than one skeleton in her professional closet. If these unlikely allies can set aside their differences, they'll find strength they never knew they had, and learn that friendship, like crafting, is truly an art form.

With the second book in her Crafty Chica series, Kathy Cano-Murillo returns to the list with the story of a woman who finds her life's true path by teaching others to stray outside the lines. Scarlet Santana is never happier than when creating fabulous fashions for women of all shapes and sizes. Now, after years of hard work, she finally has the chance to live her dream and study under the hottest designer in New York. To raise money for her move, Scarlet opens an after-hours sewing school in a local record shop, teaching a type-A working mom whose rigid parenting style is causing her family to unravel and an enigmatic seamstress with a mysterious past. But as stitches give way to secrets and classmates become friends, the women realize an important truth: There is no single pattern for a good life. Happiness is always a custom fit.

Join the Queen of Latina Style to make joyous, vibrant, sparkly Latin-inspired crafts that are stunning to look at yet surprisingly easy to make. The Crafty Chica is back! In The Crafty Chica Creates!, a revised and expanded edition of The Crafty Chica Collection, Kathy Cano Murillo enthusiastically welcomes you into her world of making and affirmational thinking with colorful, Latin-style craft projects inspired by her Mexican heritage. With 45 projects—26 completely new joining 19 previous favorites—get fun techniques for painting, sewing, mixed media, clay, and paper crafts using affordable and recycled materials. While some are more in-depth than others, the projects are ideal for all skill levels. The Crafty Chica welcomes you to infuse the projects with elements of your own cultural heritage to make them personal and unique. Each project is presented with a materials list, clear step-by-step instructions, a large photo of the finished project, and the personal and cultural history behind it. Organized by category—Clothing, Artful Affirmations, Home Accessories, Jewelry and Accessories, Garden Decorations, and Fiesta—the projects include: Milagros (miracle charms) layered resin phone grip Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) papier-mache dog sculpture Stamped clay folk-art boxes and ring dish A stunning poncho made from Mexican scarves A picture frame upcycled with an embroidered blouse As you embrace the Latino culture or let your cultural heritage shine with creative crafts, you’ll discover: Innovative ways to work with a wide range of materials, including air-dry clay, resin, and fabric How to fully embrace vivid color palettes Ways of repurposing everyday supplies into gorgeous art pieces that make great gifts Great techniques for sculpting, sewing, painting, and embellishing that will boost skills and confidence Whether you are looking for dazzling things to make for group crafting, to decorate your casa or workplace, to release stress and lift your mood, or for gift giving, The Crafty Chica Creates! is your friendly, inspiring guide.

Winner, 2016 ALA-Choice Outstanding Academic Title In Chica Lit: Popular Latina Fiction and Americanization in the Twenty-First Century, Tace Hedrick illuminates how discourses of Americanization, ethnicity, gender, class, and commodification shape the genre of “chica lit,” popular fiction written by Latina authors with Latina characters. She argues that chica lit is produced and marketed in the same ways as contemporary romance and chick lit fiction, and aimed at an audience of twenty- to thirty-something upwardly mobile Latina readers. Its stories about young women’s ethnic class mobility and gendered romantic success tend to celebrate twenty-first century neoliberal narratives about Americanization, hard work, and individual success. However, Hedrick emphasizes, its focus on Latina characters necessarily inflects this celebratory mode: the elusiveness of meaning in its use of the very term “Latina” empties out the differences among and between Latina/o and Chicano/a groups in the United States. Of necessity, chica lit also struggles with questions about the actual social and economic “place” of Latinas and Chicanas in this same neoliberal landscape; these questions unsettle its reliance on the tried-and-true formulas of chick lit and romance writing. Looking at chica lit’s market-driven representations of difference, poverty, and Americanization, Hedrick shows how this writing functions within the larger arena of struggles over popular representation of Latinas and Chicanas.

Enlisting the help of an artistic friend to bolster her own chances at a craft competition, Ofelia raises her friend's skepticism by idolizing a craft-show television personality who hides an ugly secret.

A new anthology of works by a major writer from the New Negro Movement.

America is in trouble. Out of control spending! Massive debt! Political ineptness! Constitutional indifference! Corporate greed! Union corruption! Moral chaos! Biblical faith under attack! Militant Islam! Fifth column foes within and powerful enemies without! National weakness from top to bottom! Our very survival is at stake. Is there a way out or is it too late? Our founding Fathers would be appalled, but not surprised, at the depth to which our once legitimately proud nation has plunged. Understanding the biblical view of fallen human nature they built a cultural foundation based on Judeo-Christian Law and values unknown in the world before or since. But as brilliant as they were they could not win the battle to keep the foundation intact for posterity. They charged each generation with that. Restoring Cultural Foundations: A Wake Up Call to America shows through a study of the Ten Commandments that a return to the Judeo-Christian principles on which the Founders built our nation is imperative for an orderly society and lasting liberty. Departing from Gods ways, they believed, courted certain disaster. Written for families, businesses and churches the author lays out ways our nation can return to our foundation and regain our lost dignity, security and well-being.

This collection of lyrical and thoughtful free verse poetry takes readers on a journey through life's thoughts and sentiments. Everything from the loss of a mother to the ache of heartbreak is given a moment on the page. Readers can feel the beat of the poetry’s pulse and lose themselves in a life other than their own, while still seeing reflections of themselves in the poems’ deep waters. Poetry is written to inspire, and Cutting Pieces in Darkness & Light hopes to show readers a path through the hard times in life. Put yourselves in the shoes of the poet and experience the beauty in everything and everyone.