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Maracas, Parrandas, y Benito: How I Met Bad Bunny Before My 30th Birthday
What happens when you walk into a bar with a maraca, announce “¡Quiero hacer una parranda!”, and sit behind Bad Bunny? You end up with a birthday story that’s part chaos, part magic, and entirely unforgettable.
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The Demotion That Freed Me
I was exhausted, overextended, and couldn’t figure out why — until I realized I was spending first-class energy on coach relationships. Bipolar type 2 changed how I see everything, starting with who gets access to me.
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Are You Patriotic?
Today’s prompt asked if I’m patriotic. I had to laugh — because the answer is complicated, it’s geographical, and it starts with a summer afternoon in a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago staring at a Puerto Rican flag.🇵🇷
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I Need a James Bond Martini
Cried in front of a Magritte at the Art Institute of Chicago on a Tuesday. Earbuds in, podcast on, dopamine gone. Very normal behavior.
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Why Did I Come Back to the Cold?
I keep asking myself: Why the hell did I come back to Chicago? I’m afraid. And I’m tired of pretending I’m not. But here’s what I know: We don’t wait for systems to save us. We save each other. Even when it’s cold. Even when we’re scared. We show up anyway.
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Get to Know Me: The Unfiltered Version
Look, I could give you the polished LinkedIn version of who I am, but that’s boring AF. So here’s the real tea about Génesis Candelaria 🍒 — the person behind the events, the hustle, and the carefully curated Instagram grid 🔥
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The Mountain Called “Looking for Work” (And Why I’m Climbing It in Public)
When layoffs strike, ‘exceeded expectations’ becomes a canvas for reimagining your future journey.
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The Life Advice That Made Me Chaos-Proof
From Márquez to abuela to McDonald’s—three pieces of advice that shaped my messy, persistent, funny life.
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🇵🇪 PeruTina 🇦🇷
PeruTina no fue un viaje… fue una saga digna de Netflix: cinco países, dos primas, un amigo ecuatoriano-alemán random, una Amex Platinum que nos salvó la vida y un Machu Picchu que nunca nos vio.
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Home / Home
Me fui adolescente de Puerto Rico, pero Chicago me hizo mujer. Entre trenes, Polar Vortex y veranitos que tanto me gustan, encontré mi voz. Puerto Rico es casa, pero Chicago… Chicago is home.
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Entre Vecinos y Silencio
Un poema sobre lo que nunca se dijo, los silencios que pesan y los amores que se quedan en pausa. Entre vecinos, pantallas apagadas y el eco de lo que pudo ser.
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Amor Colonial
Puerto Rico, te juro que te quiero, pero a veces me lo pones bien feo. Apagones, no hay agua, sube el peaje, y el gobierno brillando… pero en montaje. El mar me canta, el coquí me arrulla, pero el día a día me hace la zancadilla. Entre sueldos flacos y herencia colonial, y un conformismo…
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Red, Prosperity & Carmen Sandiego: Try to Keep Up
If my personality had to be summed up in one color, one word, and one fictional character, this is it: Red. Prosperity. Carmen Sandiego. Thrill, success, and just enough mystery to keep people guessing. I love adventure but fear it. I crave people but need silence. And if you question my choices? Fuck off.
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Puerto Rico: American, But Only When It’s Convenient
Puerto Ricans aren’t immigrants, but the U.S. treats us like we are—no voting rights, no real representation, just good enough to send money and fight their wars. The perfect colony, as Bad Bunny said. Let’s talk about who really profits from this setup.
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Nunca Soltamos la Bandera: Reflexiones Desde “Debí Tomar Más Fotos”
Un álbum tan puertorriqueño que mezcla melancolía, orgullo y resistencia. Mi disco favorito de Bad Bunny hasta ahora, una oda a Puerto Rico y su gente que invita a capturar y romantizar cada momento.
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2024: The Year I Got Thrown in the Blender and Somehow Came Out Shining
2024 was a year that broke me, challenged me, and made me question everything I thought I knew. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me to trust myself, prioritize my health, and embrace the chaos of life’s unexpected shifts. While I don’t have all the answers yet, I’m learning to believe that even the hardest…
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Navidad: Where Puerto Rican Christmas TKO’s American Holidays
Puerto Rican Christmas isn’t just a celebration—it’s a cultural event that outlasts, out-sings, and out-feasts the competition. From midnight parranda invasions to pitorro-fueled stories and burning Año Viejo dolls, our Navidad is loud, chaotic, and undefeated.
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The Men Who’ve Impacted My Life (For Better or For Laughs)
From my grandfather’s wisdom to the laughter of my brothers from other mothers, and the unbreakable strength of my sisters, this is a story of the people who’ve shaped my life—through lessons, loyalty, and a little bit of chaos.
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La gente sabe lo que hay.
¿Qué quiero que la gente diga de mí? Que soy determinada, persistente y genuina. Que mi kindness va más allá de palabras, y que siempre pongo la autenticidad sobre la aprobación.
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Unapologetically Still Standing
This year broke me, built me, and stripped me bare until all that was left was me. Messy. Raw. Honest. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way. Grateful for the chaos, the scars, and the lessons. Grateful for me. Feliz cumple to la cabrona que never gives up—me.
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104 horas en Puerto Rico
Explora cómo el jangueo boricua ha cambiado desde María, entre apagones, códigos municipales y la falta de comida nocturna decente. Un relato con humor y nostalgia sobre lo que era, lo que queda y lo que resistimos.
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Wine, Tears, and Legends: My Dream Jam Session with Gus & La Negra
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? Hands down: Gustavo Cerati y Mercedes Sosa. Let me explain. Imagínate this: I’m in a cozy little cantina, una copita de vino in hand, y de repente bam! ahí están ellos—Gus Adrián y la Negra Sosa. ¿Qué hago? Pues, I’m forcing both…
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I Am From: A Poetic Tribute to My Roots, Resilience, and My Mother’s 50th Birthday
A tribute to my roots, resilience, and memories—written during the Main Street America summer retreat and shared today in honor of my mom’s milestone 50th birthday.
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Crossroads, Resistance, and the Path Forward
Standing at a crossroads between Puerto Rico and Chicago, I’m caught between the comfort of familiarity and the thrill of growth. Sometimes, life makes decisions for you, but finding peace in the unknown is a journey all its own.
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The Cruel Cycle of Broken Promises
2024 Elections – Puerto Rico and the US proved one thing: we are stuck in a loop of promises and disappointments. The results show that while the players change, the game stays the same.
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A Tale of Two Elections: The Diaspora’s Double Dose of Stress
As a Puerto Rican in the diaspora, election season isn’t just about choosing a president—it’s juggling two elections, two identities, and twice the stress. From deciding on la isla ballot to the U.S. one, it’s a wild, double-decker ride of loyalty and laughter.
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Ghosted: How Recruiters and Nobodies Disappear Without Warning
Whether it’s job recruiters vanishing after unpaid projects or romantic prospects playing Casper, ghosting is everywhere. With Día de los Muertos around the corner, let’s take a moment to honor the ghosts that won’t text back. But who’s got time to mourn the vanishing acts when life’s next adventure is calling?
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The Good, The Bad, and The Spicy Secrets of Running Food Pop-Ups in Chicago
Running a food pop-up in Chicago is a wild mix of creativity, hustle, and unpredictability. From fiery Latin flavors to the chaos behind the scenes, here’s a taste of the good, the bad, and the spicy moments that make it all worthwhile.
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Five Years in Therapy 🥲
In five years of therapy, I’ve learned how to function through chaos, showing up even when the world feels like it’s on fire. Here’s how you can do the same.
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Ode to My Most Expensive Misstep (aka ATX)
An ode to the year Austin took my savings, but gave me back a whole new perspective. 💸✨
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Finding My Way Back:
La Tercera La Vencida in Chicago?
After years of bouncing between Puerto Rico, Chicago, and ATX, I’m back in the Windy City for the third time. From juggling PR work with Sobremesa Chicago pop-ups to full-time babysitting, and now with a fresh outlook, the question remains: is the third time really the charm?
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Babysitting: The Unexpected Career Bootcamp
Who knew babysitting could lead to success in hospitality, advertising, and nonprofit work? Discover the unexpected career lessons I learned!
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From Sobremesa to Transforming Sustainability
Join me on a journey from the sobremesa conversations of my childhood to my passion for food sustainability. Discover how food, culture, and community shape my mission to make a difference, one meal at a time.