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¡Boricua! sign in San Juan, Puerto Rico, taken by me. July 25, 2025

Long, overdue visit back to my mama's home country, Puerto Rico

August 08, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

It cannot be overstated enough: my mom’s family is really one of the best families in the world. They will fly to help each other in crisis, give each other the clothes off their backs, support each other financially, feed each other, just going above and beyond what most families do. At least, most American families anyway.

I specify that last point because my mother’s family is from Puerto Rico. Which, while a colony of the United States of America, is not an “American” culture. And for that, I am so grateful and thankful for. Fuck all that nuclear family, keeping secrets, and letting things fester until they kill you bullshit. My mom’s family refuses to let people fall by the wayside, they will always step in and help.

I am my father’s daughter, more than I care to admit, and have become so hyper independent and self-sufficient that I forgot what its like to let myself be taken care of by my family. And man, do they take care of you!

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Recently traveled to Puerto Rico (and then on to Florida) for my husband and I’s 10 year anniversary (can you believe we’re in the damn double digits?!) with our daughter. And we were surrounded by so much love and kindness, it was a bit overwhelming. I came to a realization this is why I value community building so much, why I see friends as family, because that’s how my mama’s family rolls.

The second my mom’s cousin heard we were planning to stay in a hotel in San Juan, she immediately offered her house for us to stay. I was emotional when my mom first told me about her offer, because honestly, I never expect much from anyone. (Is this a negative frame of mind? Maybe.)

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I haven’t been to Puerto Rico since I was 17, so being back here with my made family and my mother to share it with was all kinds of special. We went to Old San Juan (including El Morro), Cataño, Bayamón, Guaynabo, all the way up to Cerro Las Tetas, and into Guavate in Cayey. All of it was magical. The food wasn’t even the best part, which is shocking, but to me, the music and the dancing was everything.

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It feels like there’s a rhythm pulsing through Puerto Rico and every resident knows it, feels it, and moves to that beat in their own way. No matter where you look someone is dancing and singing, encouraging someone else to join in, sometimes with a plate of food or a drink in their hand. Magical place, I tell you!

Another thing I noticed was how many Afro-Puerto Ricans were around. Boricuas who are pushed into fame tend to look like Jennifer Lopez or Ricky Martin, the lighter ones. It was a refreshing reminder that Puerto Rico is home to Black people too.

Being able to experience everything with my daughter and especially seeing my mom share it with her granddaughter is a privilege I know a lot of people don’t get to have. One thing I will say is this whole experience has motivated me to get more confident in speaking Spanish, so I can keep sharing that with my kid.

August 08, 2025 /Vanessa Young
puerto rican life, travel, puerto rico, family, motherhood, mom life, my life
The Life
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Superman 2025 IMAX movie theater

Photo by me, taken at AMC Town Square

A Super-fangirl from Cleveland loved the new Superman movie (shocker!)

July 17, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

I knew from the moment this James Gunn’s Superman was announced that I was going to have work hard on not being biased when I eventually did my review. And I feel like I nailed that. Now I want to react like a fan, like a person who has been obsessed with Superman since she was a child.

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This movie was a breath of fresh air. Just a complete joy to witness, even with some of its questionable choices. I was gagged a bit when we just get dropped right into Superman getting his ass beat. I’m not going to lie, I really don’t like seeing my fave superhero get wrecked either in the comics or in live action. I eventually got over though because it definitely served a larger point.

It was also incredible seeing the city I grew up in get demolished by Lex Luthor’s insane envy. I was kicking my feet and giggling when the Arcade/Clois kiss scene happen. I would like to recreate that ASAP.

Our new Superman is so much more human and touchable than any other we’ve had in the films or in TV. I’m genuinely thrilled we have someone like David Corenswet playing Clark Kent/Kal-El. More men should aspire to be like this. A kind, wholesome, lovable goof who helps people is the standard.

Seeing it by myself, with press, with friends, or with my husband, the feeling continues. The joy, the relief, the genuine happiness that we finally have a universe worthy of the books they came out of. This is a Superman I can share with my daughter and my niblings. I don’t care how many people call it silly or stupid. THAT’S WHAT COMIC BOOKS ARE.

It’s okay for things to be silly and campy and goofy. When did we lose our sense of fun? 2016? 2020? We need to find some balance. Everything can’t be doom and gloom or rainbows and sunshine. This new DC universe genuinely gives me hope. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

July 17, 2025 /Vanessa Young
superman, movies, comic books, dc comics, my life
The Life
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Providence, Rhode Island. Photo by me.

Survived the 4-city travel blitz with a smile

May 28, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Okay, shoutout to Providence, Rhode Island. What an adorably cute and friendly city. I went for like a day and a half for a work retreat, got to meet my co-workers in person and explore an area I’d strongly consider living in one day.

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Then I had to make my way to Ohio for a wedding celebration and squeeze in some much-needed family and friend time. I’m always grateful to my mom for being on board to help us whenever we travel with the kid. I miss the East Coast/Midwest a lot. I say this every time we go back though.

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May 28, 2025 /Vanessa Young
my life, ohio, work life, travel, motherhood
The Life
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Mother’s Day 2025. Photo by the husband.

Every Mother's Day gets sweeter each year

May 22, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

All I wanted was a pool day and my favorite dinner for Mother’s Day this year and my husband delivered.

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It’s unreal that this was my THIRD Mother’s Day. One day, it’ll feel normal but I’m still in complete awe at motherhood. My kid mimics everything I do, which has me editing, in real time, what I do and say.

She’s changing me into a kinder, patient, more thoughtful person. Couldn’t have asked for a better daughter.

May 22, 2025 /Vanessa Young
motherhood, mother's day, my life, vegas local
The Life
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Obodo Urban Farm

Obodo Urban Farm, Las Vegas. Photo by me

Obodo Urban Farm and an impromptu baseball game

April 22, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

You really have to make an effort to be bored in Las Vegas. There’s always something random to do, something new to check out, somewhere new to eat, etc. We ended up at Obodo Urban Farm and a Las Vegas Aviators game because it was Blippi night! If you don’t know who that is, consider yourself blessed.

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April 22, 2025 /Vanessa Young
vegas local, las vegas, farm, my life
The Life
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Downtown LV. Photo by me.

If only every Saturday was this chill

April 16, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Spring is so pleasant in Vegas, when it’s not skyrocketing to 90 degrees.

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April 16, 2025 /Vanessa Young
Vegas, vegas local, las vegas, my life
The Life
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CinemaCon 2025, a Delight from Start to Finish

April 06, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Another year down at CinemaCon and I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more. I loved all the cool clips and peeks we got, but more importantly, loved getting to bond with my people.

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April 06, 2025 /Vanessa Young
las vegas, cinemacon, my life
The Life
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Life-ing normally when your country is regressing at a rapid pace

March 06, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Living life in a weird place (the place being America).

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March 06, 2025 /Vanessa Young
my life, mom life, friends, daughter, family
The Life
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Last-minute mountain dinner; first time the kid sees the snow

February 16, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Introduced my kid to mountain dining life.

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February 16, 2025 /Vanessa Young
family, vegas local, mountains, my life, daughter
The Life
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It's nice to be bored, it's a privilege, actually.

January 12, 2025 by Vanessa Young in The Life

Being bored in Las Vegas is a true test of wills.

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January 12, 2025 /Vanessa Young
family, daughter, my life, las vegas, vegas local, Vegas
The Life
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