Welcome to my blog

A corner of my home office

Four years ago, I left my job as news columnist in the stressful world of daily newspapers for a more challenging position: stay-at-home mom. Then pregnant with my first child, I had no idea of the seismic changes that awaited me in my new life.

Never mind that I didn't even know how to change a diaper. I figured if I could survive the pressures of writing about murder and other mayhem while covering crime, immigration and U.S.-Mexico issues throughout my 13-plus years in the news business, I would do fine with a cute baby at home. I was right about a couple things. I had a cute baby and I did fine. But not without a lot of hand-wringing and plenty of tears. And I'm not talking about the baby's tears.

Fast-forward to 2009. I'm getting ready to celebrate five years of marriage to my wonderful husband, Ross, and I'm now mother to a one-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. There are still days when I wonder whether my parenting skills are up to par, but I've learned to embrace the challenges required by this lifelong journey of parenting.

Life as a mom in Southern California

Creating is an important part of our life

One of the most enjoyable aspects on this journey has been creating a home where my kids are comfortable, engaged and interested in the world around them. I've always been curious about the world at large. I remember as a teen reading news magazines detailing international issues such as child soldiers in Asia. Later, I used my Spanish-speaking skills to explore my Mexican heritage. And always, I'm trying desperately to hold on to the basic French I learned in high school and college by doing things such as driving cross-country through France.

All this, coupled with my never-ending reporter's curiosity, feeds my passion for creating a home with finds from throughout the United States and the rest of the world. I'm hoping that, gradually, my kids will ask questions about many of the items in our home and that these questions, in turn, will lead to greater discussions about who made these products and where. My dream is that my children grow up with a deep understanding of our own heritage and knowledge of the rich diversity of cultures worldwide.

My daughter's room contains finds that come from Peru, France and Guatemala

I should warn you that this passion of mine that I'll be blogging about is all-encompassing. It covers all the realms I consider important in creating a home: books, music, decor, arts and crafts, cooking, and learning.

Ideally, Mama Without Borders will be inspirational, informative, and innovative with original reporting as time allows. For now, I plan regular posts featuring a monthly column called "Dispatch from Home," my vintage/thrifting and Ebay finds, interviews of authors and artists, reviews of adult and children's books, recipes, photo compilations of homes belonging to artists and other creative types, and much more.

So, pour yourself a cup of tea or a cup of joe and join me on my journey!