A Lovely Journey

2011 Flash back {in photos}

2012-01-09T12:16:00.001-05:00

Looking back at some of my favorite images of my flckrstream :)

1. f r e s h... 1/52, 2. cup of joy {2/52}, 3. D r e a m s [Explored], 4. l u z ... {11/52}, 5. s u m m er, 6. relaxing by the shore, 7. hope u call me..., 8. morning sweetness, 9. sweet enchantment, 10. embraced by Autumn's colors, 11. light & love, 12. lovely support

at home for Christmas

2011-12-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.
-Agnes M. Pharo

my girls ♥

bokehlicious party

2011-12-08T00:34:00.001-05:00

I would like to take the time and wish everyone a very happy holiday season, filled with peace, joy & love. Thank you all who visit my blog and take the time to comment on my work. Your kind words are a great support to me. They warm my heart & brighten my day each time. ♥ :)

I took this photo during the day with my Christmas tree as the backdrop.

Loving the clean crisp light!

This one was taken at night with of course- the tree again as the backdrop.

I also love the warmth of this image.

This photo was taken at night and therefore the light was kind of harsh, so I decided to give it a pastel look and it worked just perfect!

Want to join the party? Make sure you link to:

cupcakes ready!

2011-12-06T11:26:00.001-05:00

I baked these cupcakes on Sunday with the help of my daughters. :) Hoping to get them do something fun together... but why is it that they love fighting so much? I don't get it... there were at least 18 cupcakes and they still tried to claim which one they were getting. Not to mention, they even argued about who was the best decorator! I sometimes ask myself, why are they so competitive? Sigh....

Embraced by Autumn's colors

2011-11-15T10:01:00.001-05:00

This past weekend on Saturday, the weather was lovely and the sun was shining bright all day. I was excited that finally I was getting the chance to take out my camera and play. I didn't want to miss the chance to take pictures of the beautiful trees this year. So for me to do that, I had to get up very early... and that is exactly what I did! I was up by 8:30 am! Too early for me, but I survived!Lol There's nothing better in this world than sleeping in on weekends! Who agrees with me? XD

Anyway, I waited for this moment months before. And here it was, the opportunity for me to go out there and just get in touch with the beauty of this season and capture it the way I wanted to capture it.

I always loved this time of the year 'cause it is amazing to see how nature transforms itself. As I get older, I appreciate it even more. Not only that, I feel blessed that I'm able to capture just a glimpse of what Autumn looks like in my side of the world.

♥

"Beautiful Autumn days... how much I love to be embraced by your colors and your grace"

~Carmen G.

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."
~ William Cullen Bryant

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."
~Emily Bronte

"Yellow mellow, ripened days... Beauteous, golden Autumn days."

~Will Carleton

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn."
~ Elizabeth Lawrence

sisters

2011-10-27T12:52:00.000-04:00

Sweet little moments like this one and capturing the beauty around me has become one of the greatest pleasures of my life.
♥

More of this photo shoot on my facebook fan page. Hope you click the "like" button too! ;)

filled with colors

2011-10-24T23:34:00.000-04:00

These are my most recent flickr uploads filled with seasonal colors. :)

fall flowers

"I'm too sexy for my bangs"

seasonal bouquet

balloon girl

2011-10-18T11:36:00.001-04:00

This is my daughter who asked me to take pictures of her with the balloons. It was kind of surprising since she's always running away from the camera lol.

We had fun! :)

Pink * Beauty

2011-10-17T17:44:00.000-04:00

I fell in love with this miniature pink classic, I had to take a few shots of it! Hopefully I'll own one like this in the future! XD

♥

{added warmth}

{on bright day light}

{cloudy late afternoon}

TILT {For the love of pink, purple & magenta}

2011-09-29T21:19:00.000-04:00

Oh my! I was greeted by so many beautiful uploads today on flickr, I had to create my first collage from my favorite flickr friends!!.... Please visit these amazing photographers on the links below.

1. “Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain”, 2. In full bloom, 3. Untitled, 4. :: September Sunshine ::, 5. the madness outside my balcony this very second, 6. *, 7. SUAVE-EXPLORE, 8. *, 9. A woman tries to comfort me. She puts her hand under my shirt and writes the names of flowers on my back.

life is not a race- but indeed a journey

2011-09-25T23:36:00.004-04:00

Life can make you go crazy sometimes with all the ups and downs.

Looking forward to slow down a bit.

Meditating on the quote below...

“Life is not a race-but indeed a journey. Be honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you," "I love you," and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself - plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.” ― Bonnie Mohn

"new look"

2011-09-21T15:13:00.001-04:00

Ok so I'm liking the new look of blogger!! And the new lightbox feature too! Doesn't it make your pictures look way better and your blog more interesting? I'm in love! lol

Posting these few pictures just because... =P

Hoping to give my blog a new "fall look" pretty soon. I can't live with the same thing all the time, I get tired fast.
I just need to get inspired first lol

A portrait of my daughter...

This is my kind of mornings sweetness :)

flower love ♥

little girl's birthday decor

2011-09-12T23:18:00.003-04:00

I was invited to a little girl's birthday party this past weekend and I was able to capture a bit of the decor and food. The place was filled with pretty colors everywhere and you could smell the sweetness in the air. Everything looked and was very yummy! :)

♥

Romantic & Feminine

2011-09-06T17:38:00.002-04:00

I started a new personal challenge over the weekend. Hopefully this new challenge will help me stay on track with my photography, like:

~ learn new techniques
~ get to know my new camera better
~ learn how to work with different lighting situations
~ learn more about the visual aspects of arranging elements with still life photography, etc

I customized the challenge according to my available time, which is very limited. It consist of choosing a theme before the weekend (this is the only time I get to take out my camera if I get lucky). So basically I have five days to start planning and just let the imagination bloom with ideas until the weekend arrives. I'm hoping this challenge will help me stay focused on what I love and enjoy doing and be able to grow with time as a photographer and at my own pace. :)

I worked passionately on the images below last weekend. The idea was there for a while and I'm glad it turned out just as planned. :) I named this theme: "Romantic & Feminine"

I linked this post with Darcy over at Sweet Shot Tuesday

...There are in the end three things that last:

Faith, Hope & Love,

And the greatest of these is Love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

adventure

2011-08-30T10:00:00.006-04:00

Go forth seeking adventure.

Open your eyes, ears, your mind, your heart, your spirit

and you'll find adventure everywhere.

♥

~Wilferd A. Peterson

This is one of those pictures I just kept on forgetting to edit. I took this photo early this year on a trip to Long Island. We just happened to pass by one of those year round fairs. And even though the car was in motion, I just couldn't let this moment pass me by... I zoomed in and caught this only one image... then I was very happy =)

love in a belly

2011-08-12T12:46:00.006-04:00

And who doesn't love belly shots? I had so much fun with my friend's belly shoot. It went pretty well although it was so hot out there, but we managed to make some good memories for the new parents to be. =) More photos of this shoot on my other page.

It is always an indescribable feeling

expecting the arrival of that little precious being

for any new parent.
♥

a photoshoot with my brother...

2011-08-10T00:48:00.006-04:00

{Still in NY mode =}

Did I mentioned before how much fun I had with my brother taking pictures of one another? We almost took 1,000 shots!! But that's because we spent more than 4 hours snapping our lives away lol!! Funny thing is it didn't feel that long. More than 200 pics were deleted and I bet there still more to delete. There's enough pictures to make a blog post each day for a whole month about a different topic. The photos below were some of my top favorites. I also included one of mine at the bottom 'cause I truly loved the angle in which my brother took it. =)

This post is linked with Darcy at Sweet Shot Tuesday. It's been a while since I haven't linked with anybody.
So if you are visiting me for the first time, I'd like to say thank you for stopping by! Oh, and I hope you say hi!! =D

my own photoshoot

2011-08-07T02:11:00.016-04:00

It was such a beautiful day when I visited Brooklyn last June. My dear brother had asked me to take photos of him and we thought NY city would be the perfect backdrop... so I got dressed as if I was the one for the shoot lol. The only difference was that I had to hang out with the same outfit while my brother had like 8 different shirts for the different locations we visited.

The cute hat is from H&M and I found it hanging from a fence. Too bad for the person who lost it or forgot it 'cause it sure came out handy for me! Especially when it was time for me to take pics. At first, the wind was blowing my hair all over my face, so it was getting kind of annoying. Finding it was a gift from heaven 'cause it made my job so much easier and it also helped keep the sun away from my face. It's my little souvenir from NY!! I loved it so much, I hardly took it off!! lol =D

The photo below was given an artsy touch. In other words, I had to really work hard on photoshop because of the sun that peeked thru the straw hat. The reflection of the sun on my face was similar to the photo up-left. To be honest, the "look" was pretty interesting and cool, but I wanted a shadow-free image for this one. Of course that forced me to retouch my eyebrows as well... so if you know me you can really tell they're not this perfect. My eyebrows never, ever stay in place lol.

This picture below is one of my favorites ♥

As you can tell, I was very HAPPY that day!! I got to visit a part of NY City and can't complain about my photographer. I think he did such a great job!! Thank You Eric!! ♥

the walk... {i love NY }

2011-07-02T12:54:00.010-04:00

I had a great time when I visited Brooklyn this past Monday with my brother. We parked on Columbia Heights St and I immediately fell in love with the area.
I love the architecture of the buildings.
There's something enchanting about this place that I truly adore.
The area seems very peaceful and fun at the same time

and I wouldn't mind living there. =D
I ♥ NY

the city

orange love ♥

beautiful architecture ♥

sweet yellow ♥

beach love ♥

2011-07-01T11:25:00.002-04:00

Oh goodness! I just noticed I haven't post anything for over a month now. Hopefully that'll change =P.

These are some of the pictures I took when I went to the beach about a month ago. I love the beach ♥ but I live almost 3 hours away from the coast. So whenever I get to treat myself with sand and salty water, it is like pure luxury to me ;)

“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

♥
~Isak Dinesen

the sweet scent of a rose

2011-05-24T22:34:00.006-04:00

More photos of this beautiful girl on my other BLOG

the rose garden

2011-05-20T01:15:00.018-04:00

This is one of those places that I love to visit whenever I get the chance to. Every time I make it here it's like escaping somewhere far and the drive is only 15 minutes from home. I love it's peaceful atmosphere but the the heavenly and sweet fragrance of this beautiful and captivating place is what keeps me coming back.
My mom came with me for the first time the other day and she loved it. Just the feeling of being surrounded by so many gorgeous flowers makes any one's spirit sing with joy.

♥

orange delight {16/52}

2011-05-15T16:01:00.010-04:00

and who doesn't love fresh squeezed orange juice?

it is the perfect complement for my morning routine :)
♥

Trying to catch up on my 52 weeks proyect, I've been slacking off so much... sigh... will get back on track.

I'm also having so much fun with my new camera {Nikon D7000} I just recently purchased and I love it!
Went out today and shoot my friend's daughter's soccer game. I got some good shots of her kicking the ball so I'm happy about that. :)

reflection

2011-05-15T01:49:00.008-04:00

It's hard to focus only on the future when your memory is like a mirror reflecting on moments from the past... I want to hold on and never forget the moments that made me happy and blur away the ones that made me sad.

Who do you turn to?

2011-05-13T19:58:00.007-04:00

Who do you turn to?

When your heart is aching

Who do you turn to?

When you realize that you had it all but the moment you wake up you're all naked

Who do you turn to?

When you know you've done wrong and now it's time to suffer the consequences

Who do you turn to?

When you know is best to stay quiet than to speak up

Who do you turn to?

When you feel tired and lonely waiting for someone to lift you up

Who do you turn to?

When you've given your heart away blindly to the wrong person

Who do you turn to?

When there were once foundations & structures but now you find ruins

Who do you turn to?

When you find yourself in a dead end and the only option you have is to turn around and start the journey again...

Who do you turn to?

Can somebody tell me?

by Carmen Iris

love & blossoms

2011-05-04T10:49:00.005-04:00

Love doesn't sit there like a stone. It has to be made like bread; remade all the time,...made new.

~ Le Guin

Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same.

~ Helen Keller

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

~Kahlil Gibran

Photos were linked to my3boybarians.com (sweet-shot-tuesday)

chimps

2011-04-04T22:35:00.000-04:00

Romantic Spring

2011-04-03T16:34:00.001-04:00

Hear blessings

Dropping their blossoms

around you.

~Rumi

a touch of spring love {12/52}

2011-03-29T11:49:00.007-04:00

Beauty, truth, friendship, love, creation – these are the great values of life.
We can't prove them, or explain them, yet they are the most stable things in our lives.

~Jesse Herman Holmes

light/luz {11/52}

2011-03-15T10:50:00.006-04:00

Yo no te pido

Yo no te pido que me bajes

una estrella azul

solo te pido que mi espacio

llenes con tu luz.

Yo no te pido que me firmes

diez papeles grises para amar

sólo te pido que tu quieras

las palomas que suelo mirar.

De lo pasado no lo voy a negar

el futuro algún día llegara

y del presente

que le importa a la gente

si es que siempre van a hablar.

Sigue llenando este minuto

de razones para respirar

no me complazcas no te niegues

no hables por hablar.

Yo no te pido que me bajes

una estrella azul

solo te pido que mi espacio

llenes con tu luz.

~Mario Benedetti

prayers to Japan

2011-03-14T10:12:00.004-04:00

All my love & prayers go out to everyone in Japan.

Our thoughts are with you as you recover from this tragic situation. God Bless.

dont't give up (no te rindas)

2011-03-13T18:10:00.005-04:00

♥

~I dedicate this poem to my sweet daughter~

Jadyra

All I really want is to see her laugh and be happy again

Don't Give Up

by Mario Benedetti

Don't give up, you still have time

to reach up and start anew,

Accept your shadows,

Bury your fears,

Free your burdens,

Fly again.

Don't give up, that's what life is

Continue the journey,

Follow your dreams,

Unstuck time,

Move the rubble,

And uncover the sky.

Don't give up, please don't give way,

Even if the cold burns,

Even if fear bites,

Even if the sun sets,

And the wind goes silent,

There is still fire in your soul

There is still life in your dreams.

Because life is yours and yours is the desire

Because you have loved it and because I love you

Because wine exists and love is true.

Because there are no wounds that time doesn't cure.

To open the doors,

Take away the locks,

Abandon the walls that have protected you,

To live life and accept the challenge

Get back laughter,

Practice a song,

Lower the guard and extend the hands

Open the wings

And try again,

Celebrate life and take back the skies.

Don't give up, please don't give way,

Even if the cold burns,

Even if fear bites,

Even if the sun sets,

And the wind goes silent,

There is still fire in your soul

There is still life in your dreams.

Because every day is a new beginning,

Because this is the hour and the best moment.

Because you are not alone, because I love you.

♥

No te rindas

No te rindas, aún estás a tiempo

De alcanzar y comenzar de nuevo,

Aceptar tus sombras,

Enterrar tus miedos,

Liberar el lastre,

Retomar el vuelo.

No te rindas que la vida es eso,

Continuar el viaje,

Perseguir tus sueños,

Destrabar el tiempo,

Correr los escombros,

Y destapar el cielo.

No te rindas, por favor no cedas,

Aunque el frío queme,

Aunque el miedo muerda,

Aunque el sol se esconda,

Y se calle el viento,

Aún hay fuego en tu alma

Aún hay vida en tus sueños.

Porque la vida es tuya y tuyo también el deseo

Porque lo has querido y porque te quiero

Porque existe el vino y el amor, es cierto.

Porque no hay heridas que no cure el tiempo.

Abrir las puertas,

Quitar los cerrojos,

Abandonar las murallas que te protegieron,

Vivir la vida y aceptar el reto,

Recuperar la risa,

Ensayar un canto,

Bajar la guardia y extender las manos

Desplegar las alas

E intentar de nuevo,

Celebrar la vida y retomar los cielos.

No te rindas, por favor no cedas,

Aunque el frío queme,

Aunque el miedo muerda,

Aunque el sol se ponga y se calle el viento,

Aún hay fuego en tu alma,

Aún hay vida en tus sueños

Porque cada día es un comienzo nuevo,

Porque esta es la hora y el mejor momento.

Porque no estás solo, porque yo te quiero.

~Mario Benedetti

* photo of me taken by my daughter Jadyra (girl in the yellow) :)

A rejuvenating moment... {SP}

2011-03-03T10:59:00.000-05:00

As a photographer, I don't have that many self pictures taken by me.
I would really love to learn the art of taking self portraits, but I find it quite challenging.
The picture below was taken by me sometime last year. It took me about twenty shots to get the desired look I was going for. I put my camera on self timer and placed camera on my dresser because my tripod broke. Then ran over to my bed. My little girl thought I was crazy. lol
(by the way, I'm still without a tripod) :(

And this was the final shot...

Also featured on the Divas & Dreams blog ;)

window love {9/52}

2011-03-02T11:33:00.012-05:00

I was invited by Angel to link up for her 3rd Photo Challenge themed VINTAGE. I got very excited when she asked me since I love vintage pictures! :)

I don't know what it is but there's something about a window and a flower in a vase that I love... this is the window sill of my kitchen that's right in front of my sink. I always try to have at least one flower in a vase. Just a simple flower makes me happy especially to look at while doing the dishes.

To make this photo look vintage, I decided to experiment with one of Kristy's textures that I won from her a few weeks ago. I really love how this photo turned out! I can't wait to try her other textures! Check out her blog @ Life-n-Reflection . Thanks Kristy for your wonderful textures!! And keep up the great work!! ;)

I also want to say thank you to all of you who stop by and leave a sweet comment every time. I really appreciate it very much. It makes me happy to see that I'm not just posting to a void space. Thank you, thank you, thank you! from the bottom of my heart! I also look forward to visiting each and everyone's blog as soon as I get a chance to- that way I can return the favor ;).

♥

the bath {8/52}

2011-03-01T16:43:00.004-05:00

Filled with natural delights

Oatmeal, honey and milk

And the sweet fragrance of chamomile

Candles for the mood and all I'm missing is you...

*in the bowl above*
home made ingredients for a soft skin

that you may already have in your kitchen

In a blender, blend in the following ingredients:

separately ground 1-cup oatmeal in a blender

(set a side)

blend together the following ingredients:

1/4 honeydew melon (sliced)

1-cup plain yogurt

1/4 quart cup honey

1-cup milk

pour blended ingredients in container
then pour in your bath

put ground oatmeal in a sachet bag
or use a clean sock like I did,
secure with a knot or tie with a string and place under running water
squeeze oatmeal from time to time

and last, I used
chamomile for a delicate soothing fragrance
I grabbed about 2 tablespoons and just sprinkled in the water

oh and don't forget the candles for great ambiance :)

*warning* you may not want to come out of the bath :p

♥ {7/52}

2011-02-19T17:23:00.009-05:00

Since I was behind on my 52 week project, I decided to catch up today by posting one more photo.
This one was supposed to get done before valentines day, but things always get on the way- so I thought why not still upload a photo that resembles L♥VE, right? After all, every day is love day... we all need love in order to breath better in life.

{6/52}

2011-02-19T16:50:00.003-05:00

I have to admit I'm a horrible blogger. I've been very distracted lately and that is why I haven't been able to post anything for almost a month!! What was I thinking? Hopefully this won't happen again... sigh.... we'll see what happens. Wishing everyone who reads this a lovely weekend!! ;)

moments.... {5/52}

2011-01-29T20:48:00.010-05:00

I'm very excited to say that this photo won first place @ My 3 Boybarians' blog, Sweet Shot Tuesday link up party from last week! I feel very honored! Thank you so much to Kristy @ life-n-reflection for the wonderful kit and textures can wait to start using them on my photos!! ;)
And thank you so much Angel for including mine as one of your favorites on your blog!! ♥
I also would like to say thank you to all of you for all your lovely comments! It brightens my day and makes me so happy! ;)

Juan Luis Guerra Bachata en Fukuoka

♥

Dile a la mañana que se acerca mi sueño

que lo que se espera con paciencia se logra

nueve horas a París viajé sin saberlo

y crucé por Rusia con escala en tu boca

Yo canté tu bachata aquí en Fukuoka

(tu bachata en Fukuoka)

Y un atardecer pintó de canvas el cielo

caminé la playa de Momochi, mi anhelo

y se me escapó una sonrisa del alma

aquí me enseñó arigato gozaimasu

Yo canté tu bachata aquí en Fukuoka

Pa’bailar contigo, (pa’bailar)

se me alegra la nota

Quiero cantar contigo, (quiero)

una bachata en Fukuoka

Una bachata en Fukuoka, (pa’ soñar contigo)

en el mar las gaviotas

Con tu piel de abrigo (quiero)

vivir bachata en Fukuoka

Y llegó la hora de partir y decir sayonara (con pocas ganas)

y una palomita se posó en mi ventana

Kon’nichi wa!, ohayoo gozaimasu

Pa’bailar contigo, (pa’bailar)

se me alegra la nota

Quiero cantar contigo (quiero)

una bachata en Fukuoka

Una bachata en Fukuoka

Sueños, de arena en las olas

Besos, me daba tu boca

Tengo, estrellas y rosas

Niña, cantando en Fukuoka

Pa’bailar contigo, (para bailar)

se me alegra la nota

Quiero cantar contigo (quiero)

una bachata en Fukuoka

Una bachata en Fukuoka, (pa’ soñar contigo)

en el mar las gaviotas

Con tu piel de abrigo

vivir bachata en Fukuoka

happiness...

2011-01-24T11:46:00.006-05:00

To me happiness is... having my mom and my daughters always by my side.

It is a dream come true and prayers answerd to have my mom living very close to me now,

instead of 500 miles away. I feel thankful & very blessed!

♥

Dreams...

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.

~Henry David Thoreau

{4/52}

green n purple

2011-01-23T17:07:00.002-05:00

I wanted to do something creative with oranges for the Shutter Divas group on flickr, but the three bags of oranges I bought were gone in less than 2 days!! So I went to the grocery store, took my camera with me and started snapping pictures. This is one of them. Although I don't eat asparagus, I thought the arrangement was pretty neat!! =)
Oh! And this image was also featured on Divas and Dreams blog! How nice!!

a peaceful place to wake up to and come home to...

2011-01-20T09:52:00.016-05:00

My bedroom is my favorite spot of the house. This is where I come to relax after a long day at work, or just the perfect place to read a book or watch a movie while cuddling in bed. :D

Ever since I redecorated my bedroom, it's been great to wake up every morning. It's very peaceful and I feel very happy with the fresh look. The color walls are very soft, painted in a grayish blue and I never get tired of this color. It's my favorite! The master bathroom is painted in the same color as well. To spice up the room a bit, all I do is just simply change the linen set to a different color or pattern to add instant drama. I'm very happy with the new ones I bought recently, (shown below) they just finish the look of the room.

I have to confess though, my room is not always this clean. I have a messy 10 year old girl and a messy hubby too! It makes me want to strangle them when they make my peace fly away! LOL

Here is my SOOC picture. As you can see not too much editing was done. A simple crop to straighten the picture. "Auto" leveled it on PSE. Then, I ran an action from Florabella . I chose Magnolia for this edit because it allowed me to brighten the image and enhancing the true colors of the room. For Example, on the SOOC picture below, the black on my bedspread is not really black, it's navy blue. So the colors above on the edited image are more true to life. ;)

my little pocahontas....

2011-01-17T12:38:00.004-05:00

can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
(I know, cheesy right)lol.
Well, the reason behind the title is because my daughter was born around the time when the Disney movie of Pocahontas came out. So for her 2nd birthday, can you guess what her party theme was? That's right, Pocahontas! I sometimes called her (when she was a baby) my little Pocahontas because of her copper skin and beautiful soft hair. :)

Every time I look at this beautiful shot of my girl, for some reason I relate it to the movie character of Pocahontas. And the other thing I love that makes it look so interesting is that beautiful out of focus background. For this shot, it looks like we went somewhere far, but in reality we were at a nearby neighborhood with some pretty dry grass and a lovely pond.

Photo taken back in 1/23/10

Sweetness in a bowl...

2011-01-16T00:08:00.007-05:00

one of my old time faves... oatmeal! For breakfast is a good thing, but how about for dinner or just a midnight snack? It's just as good or maybe even better!! yummm!! :)

+Sparkles of Joy+

2011-01-15T17:34:00.013-05:00

I woke up the other morning with the spectacular view of real lights. The morning sun was shining on the ice that was resting on the tree branches. It was so magical that it felt like Christmas once again. :)

This image is one of my winter favorites. I don't think I have ever seen this phenomenon before. I remember waking up from my bed around 7:45 and the sun was peeking through my window. I knew it was going to be icy and cold, because they had already announced it on the news. So, I got up... like a child on Christmas day. I don't think I headed towards the window, instead, I decided to grab my camera and change the prime lens to a zoom. I knew there was something out there waiting to be captured. I opened my window and it was magical! The sun was shining on all that ice that was resting on the tree branches. And of course, I couldn't let this moment pass me by. I had to shoot, LOL. My bedroom is on the second level of the house, these trees are way up high. I got lucky I was able to get the shot below. My zoom lens is not all that great, but I'm thankful that I have it. When I look through the view finder I see things differently, sometimes I wonder if this is the way God sees. :)

Last but not least. I would love to dedicate this image to my new friend Liza. I feel blessed that we crossed paths. I know for a fact that she was heaven sent. My life has turned a different direction because of her. She has no idea how much her presence healed me. ♥ And although we are far away from each other. I wish her the BEST of the BEST for her and her beautiful daughter. ♥

Wishing you all who read this many blessings. And may you find joy in the small things in life. Big Hugs!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
La otra mañana me desperté con este espectaculo de luces naturales. El sol de la mañana brillava en el hielo que reposaba sobre las ramas. Fué tan magico que se sentía como si fuera de nuevo
la Navidad. :)

The finished product:

This is the before picture.

My editing steps using photoshop elements:
1st) I cropped the image as you can see.
2nd) "Auto" levels. I only do this if necessary, like if there is no white, gray or black in the picture. Or if the picture NEEDS to be color corrected. Otherwise I do it the right way by going to adjustment layer and clicking levels.
3rd) I applied some Florabella Actions that I love using on most of my photos. But I also like to tweak them around and add something different if I have to.
4th) sharpen my images, and again there are actions that help you achieve this with just one click.

Sorry if this was a vague explanation, it's my first time trying to explain the steps about editing. Hopefully I'll get better in the future. If you have any questions, please ask me. ;)

another edited image...

Cup of Joy {2/52}

2011-01-14T00:18:00.006-05:00

Well finally, I got around the 2/52 project. I couldn't resist but to post a few shots of the series I took.
Here they are, hope you enjoy this cup of joy!
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!

My 52 Weeks Photo Project! {Still Life}

2011-01-11T17:45:00.010-05:00

I decided to start a 52 week photo project about "still life"
hopefully this decision will force me to use my camera more often in "2011" yeyyyy!! =D
The question is, will I be able to finish? Well, we'll see about that! lol wish me luck!

My foto below was already featured in DivasandDreams blog!! One of my favorite blogs I love to visit! Please visit my friend Christina. She is truly and inspiration to me an many, many others. There's always something lovely and interesting to look and read at her blog.

How about you, do you have any fotographic goals for the new year? If you do, I would love to know :)

~~~~~~~~~
Me he decidido a comenzar un proyecto de 52 semanas "still life"
esperando que la desición me obligue a usar mi camara más seguido para el año 2011 =D
la pregunta es, podré terminar tan grande desafío?
bueno, pues ya lo veremos... porfavor deseenme suerte!

winter love with my loves....

2010-12-26T21:11:00.021-05:00

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put foundations under them.
Henry David Thoreau
♥

today I woke up to a winter wonderland ♥

Chirstmas....

2010-12-25T22:59:00.009-05:00

a wonderful time to celebrate with family & friends...

trying to stay warm in this very cold weather....

2010-12-20T23:05:00.011-05:00

hope you are too! :)

how is the weather where you live?

tratando de mantenerme calientita en estos tiempos muy frios...
espero que tu tambien! :)

como está el tiempo donde vives?

wishing this was me right now...

my Christmas colors

(ornaments with the first snow we received this winter)

there's no better place like home for the holidays.....

2010-12-19T19:55:00.018-05:00

Welcome to my home!
By request, here's a peek at what my home looks like this year for Christmas. At least this year we'll celebrate merrily. Last year was a little sad because my mood got stolen by that horrible Grinch, but I knew I was not going to let that happen again this year.
I always have to have a natural tree, because I grew up smelling the lovely pine scent and I am not willing to give that up for a fake one. (Sorry if I hurt anyone's feelings). :)

I also joined this linky party called the Christmas Tour of Homes 2010 at The Nester. Be sure to stop by and visit some of the homes featured there. I got lucky I made it, being the last one.... like always, late for every party!

Anyways, let's not forget that Jesus is the real reason for the season. Let's celebrate with joy in our hearts for the promise of salvation. May your Christmas be filled with lots of LoVe, jOy & Happiness!!

Bienvenidos a mi hogar! Por la petición de algunos, así es como mi casita se ve este año para las fiestas Navideñas. Por lo menos este año celebraremos con mas alegría ya que el año pasado el ánino mio se lo robó el Grinch, pero yo no iva a permitir que eso pasara nuevamente este año.

Siempre me ha gustado los pinos de verdad y no lo cambiaría por uno artificial. (Perdonenme si les hiero los sentimientos a alguien). :)

No nos olvidemos de Jesús que es la verdadera razón de la ocasión. Celebremos con regocijo en nuestros corazones por la promesa de la salvación. Que tu Navidad esté llena de mucha alegría, amor y gozo!!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

finally done with my Christmas decor!

2010-12-07T00:57:00.012-05:00

I've been pretty busy getting everything ready before Christmas & I've been working like an elf trying to get my home decorated as well. I didn't do anything last year, so I decided to do something special for my family and me this holiday season. Always remembering the true meaning of Christmas which is love, joy, hope and the promise of salvation.

Good bye fall....

2010-12-06T23:40:00.006-05:00

I know it's kind of late for me to post fall pictures when we already got our first snow sooo early this year!! Last week was a very busy week for me. Trying to get my house decorated for Christmas has been fun but a lot of time consuming. Also, my computer crashed one more time and therefore I have lost photos, fonts, files, etc. That's what I get for not backing up my stuff. :( Well, the following photos are the ones that got saved because I had transferred them to my portable hard drive... uuuufff!
I can't believe fall has gone so fast and winter decided to show up with such fury. I can't wait for spring now, seriously! I love the beauty of fall; the wonderful weather that comes with it, the nice crisp air.... To take walks around this season it's trully a special treat for me. By the way, one of my pictures below of the boots & leaves was featured in Casi en Serio blog.

2010-12-06T23:36:00.001-05:00

Sunday Funday

2010-08-15T23:32:00.015-04:00

Little Miss Sunshine, having fun under the sun....
On these photos: My daughter Jadyra

Loving the Ocean (Vintage Inspired Photography)

2010-08-02T00:23:00.006-04:00

I would like to start with a series of nautical & beachy photos. I love the ocean and I enjoyed it very much when I went sailing this past June. I wish I could do that more often... (sigh) maybe when I move closer to the water. :D

This sailboat photo was from my last trip to Puerto Rico.

The following photos took place in Esmerald Isle,NC.

fooled by curiosity

I was walking by the shore when I spoted a shell with a white round object in it. I immediately picked it up and showed it to my hubby and I said: I can't believe I found a pearl!!! (something I longed to find since a child). Anyways, I started to take pictures of it before I disturbed it, because it was kind of stuck to the sand from inside the shell. So when I took a couple of shots of it, I decided to take it out and to my misfortune it was just a piece of round foam that got stuck inside the oyster lol.
I decided to take a shot with a different shell and this is the one I really like the most.
(Not the original shell I had found it in)

father & daughter

collecting seashells

A Lovely Journey

2011 Flash back {in photos}

at home for Christmas

bokehlicious party

cupcakes ready!

Embraced by Autumn's colors

sisters

filled with colors

balloon girl

Pink * Beauty

TILT {For the love of pink, purple & magenta}

life is not a race- but indeed a journey

"new look"

little girl's birthday decor

Romantic & Feminine

adventure

love in a belly

a photoshoot with my brother...

my own photoshoot

the walk... {i love NY }

beach love ♥

the sweet scent of a rose

the rose garden

orange delight {16/52}

reflection

Who do you turn to?

love & blossoms

chimps

Romantic Spring

a touch of spring love {12/52}

light/luz {11/52}

prayers to Japan

dont't give up (no te rindas)

A rejuvenating moment... {SP}

window love {9/52}

the bath {8/52}

♥ {7/52}

{6/52}

moments.... {5/52}

happiness...

green n purple

a peaceful place to wake up to and come home to...

my little pocahontas....

Sweetness in a bowl...

+*Sparkles of Joy*+

Cup of Joy {2/52}

My 52 Weeks Photo Project! {Still Life}

winter love with my loves....

Chirstmas....

trying to stay warm in this very cold weather....

there's no better place like home for the holidays.....

finally done with my Christmas decor!

Good bye fall....

Sunday Funday

Loving the Ocean (Vintage Inspired Photography)

+Sparkles of Joy+