Between Threads and Tortillas

The first time Monica Ocejo knew love was real, she had just stepped in dog poop—at a wedding, in six-inch heels, wearing a dress she’d designed herself. When her future husband knelt down and scrubbed her shoe clean without hesitation, it wasn’t just romance—it was foreshadowing. Because life, as Monica learned, is equal parts glamour and grit, threads and tortillas.

Between Threads and Tortillas: Memories and Recipes of a Mexican Immigrant serves up a memoir that’s as comforting as a bowl of caldo de pollo and as bold as a shot of mezcal. Monica shares her story with warmth, wit, and just enough sass to keep you smirking between chapters. Raised in a privileged pocket of Mexico City, she steps on couture dreams, stumbles through a tequila-soaked adolescence, and eventually lands in Miami—with three kids, one business visa, and zero chill.

Her life’s journey—equal parts telenovela and Food Network special—takes readers through family feuds, fashion faux pas, culture shock, and cancer survival. She turns fear into salsa and setbacks into seasoning. From sewing her first dress, participating in Miami Fashion Week and battling breast cancer with lipstick intact, Monica reveals the spicy truth about chasing your purpose and reclaiming joy.

And the recipes? Let’s just say if laughter doesn’t cure you, her shrimp cocktail might. Each chapter ends with a beloved family dish, from mango-studded ceviches to “oops-I-might’ve-overdid-the-Tajin” margaritas. These aren’t just meals—they’re edible memories.

Perfect for fans of memoir, food writing, or anyone who’s ever said, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but let’s do it anyway.” Between Threads and Tortillas is a deliciously honest tale about falling apart, cooking through it, and laughing your way back together.