History | Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexican Independence day. It is however, a day that Mexico commemorates winning the battle against the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 which happened 50 years after Mexico already won its independence (Sept 16, 1810).

So why did they have to fight this battle?

Mexico had debt that it couldn't pay due to previous wars, and the President, Benito Juarez, asked for a two year suspension to help recuperate. The French saw this as an opportunity and decided to invade Mexico to make it a French territory. There was a small army waiting for them when they arrived at the town of Puebla. Even though the French army outnumbered the Mexican army, the French army was defeated before they were able to get to Mexico City. Yay!

So why is it celebrated so much in the US?

This win was a symbol against French imperialism. The US helped Mexico push out the French for good. Around the same time of the Battle of Puebla, the Mexican Americans in the US used the victory as inspiration in their struggle with the Union during the Civil war. It's thought that if the French would have won in Puebla & the Mexico City, they would have aided the side of the Confederacy in the US.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in the town of Puebla with a festival, parade, and music celebrations. In the US you'll also see celebrations. I think this is a great time to educate and teach others about Mexican and American history. It's important to know the significance of any holiday that you choose to celebrate. Rather than just jump at the chance to enjoy Mexican food, and have bottomless margaritas, take some time to learn not only about another culture, but also US history. Doing this will help with empathy, understanding, and humanity as a whole. Our kids will have a better future that way.

How are you going to acknowledge this day?

It’s ok to enjoy some tacos and margaritas, but you can be thoughtful about supporting a Mexican restaurant.

You can also take this time to do research on this special day and talk about it as a family.

Think about your own history. What historical events does your culture have and how do you honor them?

I was really blessed to actually visit Puebla with my father, and then again with a close friend. I took a tour and learned all about the food, and history. It was an amazing experience and connected me even more to this special day, and my culture as a whole.

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History & TraditionsKarina Mora
Design Inspiration | La Iglesia

I'm doing a series on my San Miguel Collection prints and am collaborating with interior stylist Mylene Raspado. I'm hoping to make it easier for you to picture these fine art photographs in your home by giving you two mood boards and color palettes. 

The week I'm featuring: La Iglesia. The Spanish conquest brought two major legacies to Mexico: The Spanish language, and Catholicism. There are many Catholic churches in Mexico which are some of the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. This particular church is located in San Miguel de Allende and is one that can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. 

 
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For such an iconic picture, this framed print would be a great statement piece for a living room. The green and blue is so vibrant that you want it to be the pop and really draw the eye. Pairing this with neutral accessories will do just that. I love all of these accents to really make this photo a focal point. 

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You can also draw from the greens in the photo to add more greenery to your room. In the mood board for this bedroom, I love how the deep colors in the photo, are being drawn into other items in the room. I mean that orange bed is everything, and that golden chandelier. Yes and YES! I love how the room has light whites and grays with a few bold pops of color that accent the photo. Mylene, you've done it again both of these mood boards are perfection!

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This week only (until Sunday), I'm offering free framing on all orders of the "La Iglesia" print. Let me know if you have any questions about this design mood board, or this specific print. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment below. 

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Design InspirationKarina Mora
Coco Inspired Birthday Party
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My son Elias turned 5 years old on April 11th. Every year for my kid's birthdays I let them pick a theme, which is usually what they're really into that year, and I plan a big party around it. They LOVE looking at pinterest boards with me, and brainstorming ideas. 

This year, I was especially excited when Elias wanted to have a "Coco" themed birthday party. We saw Coco in theaters in November and I was actually surprised by how much he loved it. I was surprised because he was the kid who refused to speak Spanish at Spanish camp last year. He also doesn't like any Mexican food other than quesadillas and chips.

So, when he himself decided on a Mexican birthday party I was like ok, I'm running with it, and going all out...within reason, of course. 

 
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Elias had also asked for ONE specific thing for the party; a Coco cake. I usually make the dessert, but he really wanted one after seeing it on pinterest (thanks a lot pinterest) I knew I couldn't pull it off, so I ordered one from Pastel! Cakes and More and was blown away by how it turned out. Elias screamed with such joy when he saw it.

I also asked my friend Veronica to make cake pops for favors. I just want to say these are the best cake pops I've ever had. I usually don't like cake pops, but these were amazing...and a perfect cake topper for the cake. 

The rest of the menu:

Guacamole, agua de horchata, arroz, beans, quesadillas, barbacoa & carnitas from a local grocery store, and Palomas that Michael mixed toward the end of the evening.

Everything was delicious.  

 
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I worked hard to transform our living room to a space that felt like Mexico. I displayed some of my pieces on the wall, and hung papel picado across our ceiling. Elena helped me decorate one wall with the quote from one of the songs in the movie; "Our love for each other will live on forever" It was great.

I also made a mural as the backdrop of the bridge from the movie between the land of the living and the land of the dead. It took me a few days, but with the help of my friend I think it came together nicely. At least Elias was impressed, which made it worth it. 

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We had his friends over to break a pinata, and watch the movie Coco of course. They had a nice time hanging out and eating all the sweets they could get. We celebrated with family in the evening too, so it really was a day full of good food, celebration, and lots of love for Elias. 

This birthday was so great that Elias is already asking for a Coco birthday party for next year. 

 

 

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Family LifestyleKarina Mora
Traditions | Papel Picado

If you've seen the movie Coco you've seen the decoration known as "Papel Picado" or "pecked paper". These paper banners are most commonly displayed for holidays or religious occasions like Easter, Christmas, Day of the Dead, quinceñeras, baptisms, weddings. It was breathtaking to see the whole Day of the Dead land in the movie Coco to be so vibrantly decorated with papel picado. It's not usual that I see something like that in the US.

Papel picado came about during the 19th century. It was typically made by hand using a chisel. First, an intricate design is drawn on paper and covered with plastic to protect the original drawing. To make several copies at once they stack many thin tissue paper sheets together and chisel the design out. The stack is then picked apart and hung on a string with other papers that have different designs. This is similar to the Chinese paper cutting, but rather than being cut with scissors, in Mexico they use chisel.

The art of Papel Picado is officially recognized by the ministry of Tourism and culture in Mexico. San Salvador Huixcolotla in Puebla is known as the center of papel picado, but in the 1930s the art spread to other parts in Mexico. It was in the 1960s that papel picado made it's way to the United States and Europe. Now you'll see this decoration made out of different materials like plastic of thicker paper so that it can withstand the outdoors, or be a more permanent and sturdy decoration. 

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I have a new print called Papel Picado that I'll offer this summer in a new collection. Here's a sneak peek of it. I'll be announcing a launch date soon, but until then, be thinking and planning where in your home this print would be perfect to hang.

If you're not on my e-mail list yet, sign up so you can be one of the first to know when the new collection launches. I'll also share when new events are happening, new blog posts are shared, and give exclusive promotions. So go ahead, enter your email. :-)

History & TraditionsKarina Mora
Design Inspiration | Nopalitos

I'm doing a series on my San Miguel Collection prints and am collaborating with interior stylist Mylene Raspado. I'm hoping to make it easier for you to picture these fine art photographs in your home by giving you two mood boards for two different spaces in your home. 

The week I'm featuring: Nopalitos. The Spanish word for cactus is nopal. "Nopalitos" means little cactuses.  Mexico has many plants like the cactus that can survive hot temperatures, which often leads to them being common decorative plants in homes. 

 

 
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We actually have this photo hanging in our living room/dining room space. It's neutral colors really leaves the door open for bolder color choices in your decor.  I love the dark grays, purples, and greens to tie your space together. We have this print in a 24x36 size on one of our side walls in our living room, as a statement piece. Usually Mexico is known for vibrant colors, but I think this photo still represents Mexico using neutral warm tones. 

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A bathroom can be a hard space to decorate. At least for me it's the last room in the house to get some love. I especially love how Mylene pulled the rose gold color from this photos to use as accents with the towel holder and toilet paper holder. Genius!

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This week only (until Sunday), I'm offering free framing on all orders of this Nopalitos print. Let me know if you have any questions about this design mood board, or this specific print. Send me an e-mail or leave a comment below. 

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Join the mailing list to be the first to know when there's a new collection launch, exclusive promotions, blog posts, and to get a behind-the-scenes look as Karina travels to capture work for new print offerings. 

Design InspirationKarina Mora