Oh summer, how I love thee!

Even though summer hasn't officially began it sure feels like it has. The weather has been phenomenal. Last weekend was Memorial Day. Lester and I decided to take a trip to Pennsylvania to visit some friends and family during the holiday weekend. Our first stop was Stroudsburg.

Spending weekends in Mary and Jeff’s house is always fun. Plus they have the cutest little toddler, and guess what his name is? You guessed it, Jeff or as we call him Baby Jeff. He is super cute and super smart. I can’t wait for Liam to get bigger so that they can play. =) The day went on with a BBQ and music. The kids were entertained with a slip & slide. Oh how I wish I were that age again. They were having so much funWhen the night took its toll the guys put together a bong fire and we made s’mores. I have never had s’mores before! I was so exited to make them, even though I was scared to get burnt because that fire was extremely hot. FYI they were delicious! I definitely have to purchase a home s’mores kit.

Sunday we made our way to Allentown. It was my cousin Anny’s BBshower. It was fun seeing everyone again. The majority of people I haven’t seen since my own BBshower, it was nice to spend sometime with them. The food was so good, the decorations were so cute. I absolutely love spending time with “La Familia”.

Quinceañera...mis ideas (My ideas)

In the Latin American culture a quinceañera is the celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday. This birthday is to celebrate the transition from childhood into a young woman.The celebration varies significantly across countries. Whether it’s traditional or modern, the celebration is priceless and unforgettable.

When I was 14 years old my parents and my grandmother started planning my quinceanera but unfortunately, my great-grandmother passed away a few weeks before my birthday. My family is very united and I felt it was inappropriate to throw a huge celebration so recent from her death. I remember having a scrapbook with magazine cutouts, full of ideas just waiting anxiously for my day to arrive. I did get

I have so many cousins and we all get along so well. It is even better that we are all about the same age. When we all get together we just have so much fun. One of my younger cousins is turning 15 next year and I believe it is time for an extravagant quinceañera! Her name is Shannel, and she is my uncle’s only child. I told him “You have to do it is your only daughter/child!” It did not take too much convincing. After all I am a very persuasive person.

At first, I wanted it to be a surprise party but I realized that she needed to have a say. After all it is her party. Since she lives in the Dominican Republic we are planning everything via internet. Thank god for technology! Specially google! I have goggled so many ideas like themes, dresses, flowers, and the list keeps going on and on. The things I found were unbelievable and beautiful.

Shannel insisted in having her favorite color incorporated into the quinceañera which is fuchsia along with black and white. As soon as she mentioned those colors a light bulb lit up on top of my head. Just realizing I had the perfect theme for her combination of colors I googled my way into hundreds of websites and came across the perfect pattern for her. Once I showed her the “Damask” pattern she absolutely loved it. I was so thrilled she liked it. Now let the planning begin. The countdown starts now and only 16 more months to go.

Translation in spanish:

En la cultura latinoamericana una fiesta quinceañera es la celebración del los 15 años de una niña. Este cumpleaños celebra la transición de la niñez a una joven. La celebración varía significativamente entre los países. ya sea tradicional o moderna, la celebración es invaluable e inolvidable.

Cuando yo tenía 14 años comenzamos a planear mi quinceañera, pero por desgracia, mi bisabuela falleció unas semanas antes de mi cumpleaños. Mi familia es muy unida y yo sentía que era inadecuado para lanzar una gran celebración por lo reciente que era su muerte. Recuerdo que tenia un libro de recuerdos con recortes de revistas, lleno de ideas esperando ansiosamente mi día para llegar. Bueno aunque no se pudo hacer la celebracion, por lo menos me tocaron algunos regalos muy cheveres.

Tengo muchos primos y todos nos llevamos tan bien. Incluso lo mejor de todo es que todos somos al rededor de la misma edad. Cuando todos nos reunimos es muy divertido. Una de mis primas más jóvenes cumple 15 años el próximo año y creo que es hora de una fiesta quinceañera extravagante! Su nombre es Shannel, y ella es hija única de mi tío. Le dije “tienes que hacerle la fiesta es tu única hija”

Al principio, yo quería que fuera una fiesta sorpresa, pero me di cuenta de que ella necesitaba tener algo que decir. Después de todo, es su fiesta. Ya que vive en la República Dominicana estamos planeando todo a través del internet. Gracias a Dios por la tecnología! Especialmente google! Tengo ojos desorbitados con tantas ideas como temas, vestidos, flores, y la lista sigue y sigue. Las cosas que yo eh encontraron son increíbles y hermosas.

Shannel insistió en que su color favorito tiene que ser incorporado en su fiesta.Su color favorito es fucsia. Ella también quiere agregar blanco y negro. Tan pronto como ella menciona esos colores de un foco de luz iluminó en la parte superior de mi cabeza. Dando cuenta yo tenía el tema perfecto para su combinación de colores. Usando google encontre cientos de sitios en la web y encontré el tema perfecto para ella. Cuando le mostré el "damasco", yo estaba tan emocionada que le gusto a ella también. Ahora vamos a comenzar la planificación. La cuenta regresiva se inicia ahora y sólo 16 meses más para ir.

What do girls do when they are bored? Play with Betty's make up extravaganza kit and dance to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance when it comes up on the radio. LOL

First Communion!!!

It all started summer of 2004. Gladexis, one of my childhood bbf’s asked me if I would be interested on babysitting her older sister, Alexandra’s two kids. I was a teenager eager for a job so of course I said yes. Once I met BeBo a.k.a Jonathan and Jayi a.ka Jalexis they completely stole my heart. Jayi was a walking bible, as us Hispanic say when we refer to a child who knows too much for their age. They were just too adorable and so smart. I took on the title of the second mom. I took those kids everywhere I went. Whether it was the pool, park, or just to have them hanging out watching movies.

Bebo was about a year old, and this week he turned 8 years old! Jayi was 3 years old and now she is a pre-teen on her way to Junior High school. Gosh I am getting old. Time sure does fly by so quickly. I am glad I was able to watch them grow and with gods will I can continue to do so. I am so proud of them for doing their “First Communion”. Next stop is Conformation, then SWEET 16!!!!! I cannot wait! =)

Photoshop......Before & After (Part 2)

After
Before

Photoshop......Before & After

After

Before

After a couple of workshops and tutorials on Photoshop I have learn quite a bit about how to properly edit images. There times in which when Photoshop is used, and the picture looks a bit too cartoonish for my taste. A little tweaking here and there isn’t a crime but when it is overly use, I am no big fan of it. Here I have posted pictures I have taken recently and edited. Practice makes perfect! I will keep practicing until I hit my goal. =)

Summer is approaching and I cannot wait! Since it was such a nice day yesterday, one of my good friends, Beatriz and I decided to take a stroll by Central Park. We started off in 89th & Broadway, and some how ended up in Pinkberry on 81st and 2nd avenue. I took a couple of shots (well not a couple a lot. I even ran out of memory space). We had so much fun! I can't wait for summer to make it's debut this year so that I can take out Gabby more often. Yes, Gabby! I have named my camera Gabby. I think is a shutterbug thing. LOL

The Westside Community Garden

I love this time of year! The weather is just perfect and the flowers are in full bloom. Yesterday on my way home from work I came across this beautiful community garden on Manhattan's Westside. I thought to myself "I have to come take some shots as soon as possible". It turns out that I could not wait more than a day, so I decided to go on my lunch break today and explore. I also wanted to get some practice shots. Even though the lighting in some spots was too intense I still managed to get some very beautiful pictures.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Hello there!

Today is a special day for all mothers. It is Mother's Day! Even though I must say that mother's day should be celebrated 365 days of the year. A mother is someone very special. Whether your mom is close by, far away, or isn't around at all, you must always keep her in your thoughts as well as your heart. A mother’s love is unconditional. A mother is like a rare jewel. All may want it but only a few get to cherish it.

Three wonderful women raised me. My mom and my grandmothers are all great influences in my life. They are there in my good times and my bad times. Whether I am happy or sad, I can always count on them. Many times we might not appreciate what they have done for us. I would like to wish them all a Happy Mother’s Day!

I love my mommy & my grandmas and I miss them all. I wish we can all be together today but they are all far away.

I never thought someone could ever make me feel the way he does. He is the apple of my eye. My love for him is unconditional. I can't even imagine how my life would be without him. The first time he smiled at me, my heart melted. This week is going to be my first Mother's Day, and the best gift of all is you! I love my baby boy.

Wedding bells are fast approaching!

There is nothing like a happy bride to be! I would like to congratulate my cousin Pamela and her fiancé Steven. Their wedding day is fast approaching. I am delighted to be a part of your wedding and I wish you guys the absolute best. =)

While pregnant with my little bundle of joy, I was torn between name choices. I always loved the name “Liam” but it still seemed like a debate between my boyfriend and I. As I accompanied my mom on a trip to Babies’R’Us one day, something caught my eye. It was like a sign! Standing right there on top of the display was this thermo cup. As I stood there staring at it, I repeatedly said “Liam”…. Suddenly I felt my first kick! I said to myself “He must like the name also”. LOL

What a better way of practicing than with objects and a friend. =)

I have been contemplating for a couple of years now, whether or not I should pursue my love for photography. Any one who knows me well was not surprised when I said, "I have decided to take photography lessons". I am always with a camera on hand, just anxious and waiting for the perfect moment to take a picture. I have started this blog to document the road into becoming a professional photographer.