Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Oh, the Things I've Learned & the Places I've Been

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since I've rummaged through this little corner of the blogosphere. If the amount of dust and debris left in the wake since my last appearance were to actually materialize, I'd be choking, wheezing, and reaching for my inhaler. 

Do blogs even exist anymore?  



One thing for certain is that it's been so long since my last blog post, or since I first started this blog back in 2009, I'm not the same person anymore. In the span of my absence, I've moved at least five times. I've had seven or eight different jobs. (Like in-home cooking lessons and working on the 2018 elections, just to name a few.) And I encountered a few struggles along the way. Oh, have there been struggles! Sometimes I felt so overwhelmed by my struggles, that I wasn't sure I'd make it through. Yet somehow, by the grace of God, I survived. Therapy helped too. A lot! 

I'm still me at my core, yet I feel like I'm more me than I've ever been. It was through the aforementioned struggles that I've discovered who I am. I know what I want out of life, I know what I like and don't like, what I'm willing to tolerate, and what I won't. I've learned to reach out and ask for help. And most importantly, I've learned to advocate for myself and set boundaries, which for a recovering people pleaser like myself has been a huge game-changer. No is a powerful word and it can be a complete sentence too.

I've also realized that I need a hobby. A creative outlet for my musings. Something other than retail therapy. And writing fulfills those needs for me. So, here I am. It's 2023. I'm livin' it up in L.A. I'm pushing fifty. And... I'm a grandma!

Life is ever-changing and I'm just here to enjoy every twist and turn no matter how bumpy the ride may get. So stick around and let's see where this adventure takes us. 



Thursday, June 21, 2018

Three Months...

It's been three months since I returned to the US.

In that time I renewed my California ID and driver's license, opened a bank account, switched to a US cell phone, rediscovered my love of driving, wrote my very first article for the Livestrong website, signed a contract to write my second cookbook, wrote said cookbook, reconnected with friends and family (which has been so good for my soul), brought my three eldest kiddies to the US for a one-month vacation, and took them to get their US ID's. (They're here until July 5th.)

feeling like a lost soul - lacasadeleslie.com

Not too bad for my first three months.

But still, I feel like I've failed completely.

You'd think that I'd have all my ducks in a row and my life somewhat together by now, but my duck's seem to have scattered off to play hide & seek while I'm barely holding myself together with tape and glue.

I still don't have a real job. I'm broke AF and I don't have a steady income coming in. Oh, and as of 9 o'clock this morning I no longer have a car. (Hope's godfather graciously lent me a spare Suburban he had lying around, but I had to give it back today.)

So... I'm right back where I started three months ago.

And what's even worse is that I've failed my babies. I hadn't really taken them anywhere because I didn't have the money. And now I really can't take them anywhere because I don't have a car. At least they had a good time the week they spent with their aunt, who even took them to Disney. (For that I am grateful!)

My spirit is broken and I feel defeated. But I'm not ready to give up. I can feel my fighting spirit bubbling deep within me.

I just don't know what my next step is going to be.

I am however giving up trying to figure it all out on my own, because I have no clue what I'm doing. So, I'm putting it all in God's hands and letting Jesus take the wheel.

Where this adventure leads, I have no idea, but we shall see.








Thursday, March 29, 2018

Starting Over

Embarking on a new adventure - lacasadeleslie.com

Hi, my name is Leslie Harris and I'm embarking on a new journey.

I'm not a fan of vague social media posts, but in this instance, I kinda have to be. (You'll understand, in time.) Without going into too much detail, after having lived in Small Town, Mexico for almost 18 years, I have recently moved back to SoCal (southern California).

For now, it's just me.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Let's Talk About Sex (Education)...

sex education in Mexico - lacasadeleslie.com

Can you believe it's the last week of January, already?  Not only is this the last week of the first month of the new year, it's also the last week of Hope's extended Christmas vacation.  One of the perks of being a high school student in Mexico is a two month Christmas vacation.

Last year, I didn't know if Hope was even going to be able to attend high school this school year.  And now she is days away from starting her second semester of 10th grade, where all new books, subjects, and teachers await her.  I never thought we'd get to this point in time.

As thankful that I am that Hope was finally able to attend high school, there was a short period of time when I wasn't sure I wanted Hope to attend high school after all. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Little Boy Who Couldn't Take a Normal Christmas Photo

the one with the Christmas photo - lacasadeleslie.com

Remember The Little Boy Who Never Wanted to go to School?  Well, he's up to his old antics again, but this time he just can't sit still long enough for his mommy to take his picture for the family's Christmas card this year.

Friday, November 2, 2012

What I Want on my Altar de Muertos

El Día de Muertos is a beautiful Mexican holiday celebration that teaches us to embrace death while honoring the memory of our deceased loved ones.

What I want on my Day of the Dead altar - lacasadeleslie.com

Dia de Muertos isn't a holiday I grew up celebrating, even though I was raised by my Mexican grandparents. But, having lived in Mexico for so many years, it's a holiday that I've come to embrace and love.

Monday, September 3, 2012

How to register your US-born child as a Mexican citizen (in Mexico)

Did you know that the Mexican constitution states that any child born abroad to Mexican-born parents has the right to Mexican citizenship? It's not mandatory, nor is it necessary to live in Mexico, but it does make enrolling your child in school (in Mexico) much easier.

How to get dual citizenship in Mexico - lacasadeleslie.com

Friday, June 1, 2012

The Half-Naked Housewife

My grandmother warned me that this day would come.  Back then, I was a know-it-all teenager who couldn't imagine ever doing something so potentially embarrassing, even if it was in the privacy of my own home. 
The Half-Naked Housewife- lacasadeleslie.com

Monday, March 19, 2012

The little boy who never wanted to go to school...

The little boy who never wanted to go to school - lacasadeleslie.com

Once upon a time, in a tiny Mexican village, lived a little boy named Jack.  Jack was a typical 7 year old little boy who loved to play soccer, ride his bike, and jump rope.  But there was one thing that Jack didn't like to do and that was go to school.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Never have I ever...

I've been 37 years old for almost a whole month. You'd think by now I'd have my life together and already started crossing things off my bucket list (which I really need to share with you one day), but it occured to me that there is still so much I haven't done. Some are trivial little things that I've never had the chance to do or experience, and others are great big things I've always dreamed of doing. And then there are a couple of things I've never done, and never plan on doing.

In honor of my 37th birthday, here are 37 Things I've Never Done.

Never have I ever - lacasadeleslie.com

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

If you give a kid a camera...

What happens when you let your kiddies use your camera?

I'm not really sure.  But it did involve them dressing up their little brother in various costumes and capturing it all on film! 







No big brothers were harmed in the taking of these pictures.




Photobucket