I BELIEVE....

THIS YEAR....

I BELIEVE I CAN BECOME A BETTER PERSON, I BELIEVE I CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL, I BELIEVE I CAN WORK HARDER, I BELIEVE IN BEING A BETTER MOTHER, I BELIEVE I CAN BE A BETTER WIFE, I BELIEVE ITS JUST TAKES SOME WANTING TO GET ANYWHERE, I BELIEVE IN MY DAUGHTER'S SMILES, I BELIEVE IN HER URGE TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER HER LIFE, I BELIEVE IN WANTING MORE CONTROL ON MY LIFE, I BELIEVE I WILL GROW MORE THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE IN SNOW, AND WHITE CHRISTMASES, AND BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS THAT SING HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I BELIEVE IN SILENCE AS A METHOD OF LETTING THINGS TALK BY THEMSELVES, I BELIEVE IN MORE LOVE, I BELIEVE IN MORE LAUGHTER, I BELIEVE IN MORE FAMILY CONNECTIONS, I BELIEVE IN FORGIVENESS, I BELIEVE IN FOREVERS, I BELIEVE IN A SHAKE OF A HAND, I BELIEVE IN THE MEANING OF A TEAR, I BELIEVE IN MYSELF, I BELIEVE IN MY COMPANY GROWING MORE, I BELIEVE IN MY CONFIDENCE TO DO MORE, I BELIEVE IN MY FAMILY, I BELIEVE IN THE JOY IT IS TO SEE MY DAUGHTER EVERY MORNING AND SAY GOOD MORNING, I BELIEVE IN LOUNGING, I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE MOON, AND THE STARS, I BELIEVE IN GOOD PARTIES, I BELIEVE IN FRIENDSHIP, I BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE, I BELIEVE IN TENDERNESS, I BELIEVE A SMILE CAN SAY A MILLION WORDS, I BELIEVE IN " I LOVE YOU'S" I BELIEVE IN LOVE, AND MOST OF ALL I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF HAVING LOVED ONES TO FALL BACK ON WHENEVER WE FEEL LOW. I BELIEVE IN FAIRIES AND THEIR FAIRY DUST. I BELIEVE IN FRIENDS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!

A LITTLE ON OUR HOLIDAY IN MIAMI!

First of all I am so thankful that we totally missed that blizzard that hit NYC. We would have been stranded in our apt for at least 2 days. You know how that could be with a toddler! We are in warm Miami. We had a cold front...50-40 degrees... brrrrr.. imagine that. jajajajaj People here are wearing winter clothes big time even if its 60. Its kind of funny. We have been going to the beach, eating out, meeting up with friends and their kids making mermaids and turtles in the sand and having a lot of down time. Which I must say is so nice! Here are some pics!

The cutest pic ever!
Making sand castles
Maia doesn't want to take this dress off. She wants it all the time, because she is "a princess".

On the way to the beach!

This is Maia helping out with our christmas tree.

CHecking out for a couple of days!!!!!

New stuff coming soon!!!!!

LITTLE STEPS: THE WINNER OF THE PHOTOSHOOT IS,,,,,

LITTLE STEPS: THE WINNER OF THE PHOTOSHOOT IS,,,,,: "THE WINNER IS...!!!!!!!!!! JILL ALLISON OPELL. YOU ARE THE LUCKY WINNER OF A FREE PHOTO SESSION WITH LARA ALCANTARA PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!!! THIS..."

THE WINNER OF THE PHOTOSHOOT IS,,,,,

THE WINNER IS...!!!!!!!!!! JILL ALLISON OPELL. YOU ARE THE LUCKY WINNER OF A FREE PHOTO SESSION WITH LARA ALCANTARA PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!!! THIS IS A $375 VALUE. YOU GET A 30-40 MINUTE SHOOT AND A CD WITH 30-40 HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES! CONGRATS! KEEP ON LOGGING ON!

LITTLE STEPS: WIN A CHILDRENS PHOTO SESSION FROM Lara Alcantara...

LITTLE STEPS: WIN A CHILDRENS PHOTO SESSION FROM Lara Alcantara...: "LAST TWO DAYS!!!!Hello all! Win a photo session with Lara Alcantara Photography. All you have to do is click on the follow icon, become a fo..."

THE POTTY HAS BEEN MASTERED!

This is a strange thing to share but here it goes... If you are not a parent you would probably not understand the excitement of a parent seeing your kiddie going potty number two! But if you are, oh my.. you know how thrilled you are to see that your little pea has understood the urge to go number one and two in the potty! No more yukky diapers! Maia woke up two morinigs ago wanting to go pipi in the potty all day, no diapers please she asked. Today she actually sat there and dropped the mother queen in! jajajaja Totally disgusting right! yes! I love it! I am so happy! yei yei! for beautiful Maia!

WISH LIST FOR MAIA'S ROOM NEXT YEAR.

I have started thinking of Maia becoming a little girl and getting ready to sleep in her own bed. Some of you might think I should have done it already! What a thought. I must be honest, if it was my choice I would not change her ever! I kind of love when she wakes up and plays by herself in her crib. She gives Elmo a bottle , she feeds him his eggies and makes him warm with her blanket. She stays there... is what I really mean. No running into my room at whatever time and thinking that it's even a possiblity to come sleep with mom and dad. No no no.... I am very strict about this. No kids sleeping in here! She has her own room! So the whole bed idea scares the crappers out of me. How do you keep a child in her room or bed? No idea, Ill let you know when it happens! Here are some wish things on my list.

This she could use to display all of her great art pieces she does in her school.

Write her name out of hangers

A ton of pictures all over her bed so she can see them at night before going to bed. Will keep you all posted on how this comes along.

BACK IN MIAMI!

Hello, we are back in Miami! ready for the holidays. Today we are getting a tree and making it pretty! with music and wine! Maia can have her bottle. Maia is obsessed with this white polo dress. She wont take it off! Very funny how my little girl is so girly! I love it!

And the winner is....!!!!!!!!

THe winner of our amazing chinese tea giveaway is Maria Carolina Telleria! Congrats you have won some of the best chinese tea I have ever had! I need your adress so I can send them to you!

Makeover! for the new year!

I am happy to say that today my friend Jill took me to her hairdresser in Long Island, to get me some highlights and a cut! I have been only doing highlights when I go back home to Caracas. Why???? because I love the way they do my hair there and it is usually half the price. Of course I don't buy a ticket to go do this It just happens we go home once a year to see the family and for Maia to play with all of her cousins and enjoy the beautiful weather and gardens that her grandparents have. I have been scared to go here in NYC, because already once they screwed my hair up so bad, I looked like a porn star. Leslie did my color and Joyce cut my hair. Joyce chewed gum while cutting like I have never seen anyone chew gum before, only in the 80's movies. very funny. She looked like she was from another era. I am so happy with how it turned out! I now have a new hairdresser! Yei!!!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

We wish you all the best for the new year, may your days be filled with peace, love and lots of laughter!!!!!!!!!

TURKEY CHILLI! IN 20 MINUTES!

Hey guys thanks for checking in. It has been a cold week for Maia and for me, so I decided to make Turkey Chilli. mmmhmmmm good. It is so easy to make and not only that, you can freeze it and save some for another very cold day! Maia had a bowl last night!

Ingredients:

Serves about 8-10 bowls

Low fat ground turkey A package

1 onion . chopped

1 clove of garlic. minced

1 red pepper. chopped

Salt and pepper to taste.

1 big can of Crushed organic tomatoes

2 cups of low sodium chicken broth

1/2 glass of white wine

3 Cilantro stems cut up into tiny pieces.

1 tablespoon of olive oil.

1 can of kidney beans

1 can of red beans

First saute the onions and the garlic until transparent, then add the ground turkey and mix in until you see it starts to brown a little. At the same time in a big pot bring your tomatoes and your chicken broth to a boil with the beans inside for ten minutes, put on low. Add salt and pepper to both. When the turkey is fully cooked use a spoon with little wholes in it to transfer it to the pot making sure the extra juices are drained out. Then mix together and let simmer for at least 25 minutes. By ten minutes add the wine and stir. You can have it as is or make rice and serve it over rice. Slice thin pieces of gouda cheese and let it melt, ready to eat up!

IS IT COLD OR WHAT????

Last night it snowed here in NYC , not too much but it is cold!!!!!!!!! This is our fountain the day before!

CHINESE TEA GIVEAWAY!

This weekend was an incredible weekend I must say. Maia was in her best behavior all weekend long, and was so responsive to everything that was told to her, and spoke her words to ask for things, she didnt have one tantrum! ( If you dont have a 2 1/2 year old you would not understand that this is a mayor achievement!) We went swimming in the building pool, we played with Mario, we danced ballet, we laughed, Played with Eva, went to the city bakery for hot coco, went to Bed bath and beyond, Phew! I am already tired by telling you all the fun stuff we did. I bought some special chinese tea in China town. Amazing, and its soooo good I am giving away some of it, because you can't miss this one! You put it in hot water and the flowers open up and all you can smell is the amazing aroma! To win this, become a follower . Deadline is Friday the 17th of Dec. 2010. Good luck!

Ernesto Klar, Artist

Hello all, I have to share this day with you. I met today a Venezuelan artist called Ernesto Klar. He is a media artist. He has an opening on the 15th of December at 3LD ART AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER 80 Greenwich Street. 1212 645-0374. I had to shoot him for a magazine in Venezuela called Todo en Domingo. I really enjoyed his company for the hour and a half that we walked around the industrial parts of Greenpoint in Brooklyn. Here are a couple of images. Enjoy and come join the show on the 15th. Bring the kids it is an interactive installation with lights!

PEA KEBABS!

Have you ever had a little bit of struggle for your kids to get veggies???? I have the perfect solution for you. This was posted in the New York Times about two months ago, in an article about making food fun for kids. So I sent them my pea kebabs and they got a spot in the 12 image slideshow! Maia loves these! She thinks its fun to eat so she'll eat about 7 of these on one sitting. DON'T FORGET TO CUT THE POINTY PART OF THE TOOTHPICK!

MORE MIAMI!

This is my beauty...

Maia loves the sand

My husband took this image. She just brightens my life.

Is this not the most romantic moment you have ever seen?

MAIA AND HER GOBBLE GOBBLE HAT!

Maia loved the ridiculous hat that my uncle bought for thanksgiving, I loved her in it!

WIN A CHILDRENS PHOTO SESSION FROM Lara Alcantara Photography!

LAST TWO DAYS!!!!

Hello all! Win a photo session with Lara Alcantara Photography. All you have to do is click on the follow icon, become a follower by Dec. 24th and you are automatically entered to win! I will put all the names in a hat and take out the name of one lucky winner. You will win a 30-40 minute session of a location of your choice in NYC, Caracas, or Miami and a CD with 30-40 high resolution images ready for print. This is a $375 value! check the website out to see photo galleries at laraalcantarachildren.com

Miami!

Sorry I haven't written in a while, we were on vacation in beautiful warm Miami. As an artist I find it important to go see the Art fairs that come to NYC like SCOPE, The Armory, Pinta, Art Asia etc etc. But there is nothing like Art Basel, unless you go to Basel and see the one there which we did once and it was amazing! This year we flew to Miami especially for the Art shows. The convention Center turns into a massive art exhibition, with 240 different galleries from all around the world that come to show us what is happening in the art world. We found out also that going to such a big art fair is not so easy with a child especially when she sees that everybody else in the area is walking and she's not. I wonder why children don't think it is actually very nice to get strolled around and not have to walk everywhere. What better than that? I guess for them walking.  Here are some pics I took with my Iphone of Maia playing with an interactive piece at Basel Miami, and my husband chilling.

Also we went to the opening party of the newest restaurant on N. Miami Avenue owned by my sister in Law who makes the best ceviche in the planet called ATELIER 88, the real opening is on the 16th. It will be a restaurant and catering business! She is a super chef. Good Luck!

THE PACIFIER RULE.

I have thought that sometimes adults need a pacifier too. I sometimes need to think before I speak my mind, so I decided to implement the pacifier rule. When someone you love has something to say that might start a discussion, you can do a shout out! " Pacifier!!!!!" that person is obliged to be quiet think and then react to what you did or what they want to say. I find it a very soothing thing to do. I can actually have the time to think and then act, or react. This avoids fights. Let me know how it goes!

A LITTLE SMILE FROM MY SOUL

Last night I banged my foot really hard on the bed, I was crying and as I cleaned my tears on my shirt this smily face was painted.  It even had dimples! I loved it, it was like a reasurance from my soul that I was going to be fine. It really hurt.!

THE CIRCUS!

Last night we took Maia to The Big Apple Circus, I have to say that the last time I went I was probably 10, and I have to say it looked a LOT smaller this time around . Maia really enjoyed the first hour of it, but I guess that for being a 2 1/2 year old more than that is just too long. We left after the horses came out. It was beautiful. I'm talking 10 white horses in a small ring, running around and turning. It was a great moement to leave. We went to Pj Clarkes to have a burger and came back home on the Subway. Maia loves the subway. Also she gets very car sick all the time, so we try to avoid crazy taxi drivers in the City, especially after a big meal. Here are some pics to share!

I love this image my husband took of her on my lap. The horses were in the ring at this moment.

ALEJANDRA ALEJANDRA!

Alejandra is the daughter of a friend called Fernanda. She is one of my favorites girls to shoot. Alejandra is afraid of nothing, is so curious and so insanely smart! I remember her being just a pea!!!! This is the secnd time I photograph her and her parents. This time I was blown away by how much she has grown and how composed she is for a two and a half year old girl. I had a blast shooting them for their christmas cards. We ran into the famous Pale Male, hunting for food. It was really a beauty to watch how still he was. I am so happy when I get to see the kids every year and see how much and how far they have gone since the last time I saw them. I had a blast guys!

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP!

I have to share this with you guys! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I spend 5 whole days at my Uncle's house in Guilford, Ct. We talked , and laughed and Maia played with her gobble gobble hat. We cooked and drank great wine and food all weekend. Maia played with trains that were owned by my cousin who is now 29. I have to say that Swiss trains are the best, they still worked after being in a box for at least 15 years. Amazing. She saw Cinderella in spanish twice and really had a blast with a house full of people. Every morning she would wake up and be curious to see who was already up to make her laugh. I made Butternut Squash soup. This recipe is really simple to make especially when you have the kiddies around playing and you need to also give them your attention.

Ingredients:

One whole Butternut Squash cut into one inch squares.

1/2 onion

1 cup of shredded carrots

2 cups of chicken broth

1 table spoon of honey with white truffles infusions, or  some truffle olive oil.

Roasted almonds from the store or if you want to roast those you are welcome to

1 teaspoon of Butter

1 tablespoon of olive oil ( if don't have the truffle honey you can use truffle olive oil instead)

Turn your oven on at 350, take your squash and drizzle some oil on them, with your hands make sure you mix the squash well into the olive oil. Salt and pepper them as you like. Throw them in the oven for 30 minutes or until you see them starting to roast. While this is happening, you can chop the onion and shred your carrots. Throw these into a pan with some butter and stir fry them together, when you see your onions starting to glaze, turn it off and wait. Now take your squash out of the oven and drizzle the honey with the truffles( if you didn't use truffle oil) on top of them and throw them back in the oven for another 10 minutes. Take the roasted beauties out and put them into the pan with the onions and carrots, put two cups of stock and let them simmer for 20 minutes or until you find them soft enough to blend. Blend, and serve with some roasted almonds on top.!!!! Est VOILA!!!!!! you have a delicious soup that you can keep for three days in you fridge and serve up when you feel chilly.

THE KENNEDY FAMILY

I photographed the Kennedy Family Two weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon. In Central Park, Lia was so playful and fun to hang out with. She picked up rocks, threw herself into a pool of leaves and never stopped smiling. Her parents were so amazingly sweet and went with everything Lia wanted to do. I have a small enfatuation with the shoes she was wearing at the time. I wish I could have them in my size. Her beautiful blue eyes were the perfect contrast with the yellow and orange leaves. I loved every minute of our shoot together. Thanks guys!