New year, new gadgets ..oh...and new camera!!!

This year baby Jesus brought me a  brand new camera and I am SO excited that I have been taking pictures everyday, every hour, shooting at everything!!!

It was the perfect distraction I needed to keep my mind away from sad homesick feelings :(

My first shoots were in North Lake Tahoe where we spent Christmas and I realized I need some classes to take advantage of this baby!!

The Lake

Marco...thanks baby!

The cabin we stayed in!

Lifting cars.

Our skis with our initials!

Cute tree covered with snow!

Snow Flakes!

Icicles

Happy Christmas 09!

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I heart cupcakes :)

This past weekend I had another cupcake adventure. It was one of my new friend's birthday and I was more than happy to design cute cupcakes for her. I usually work with my friend Melissa. She bakes and I decorate. She makes the most delicious cakes, cupcakes and bread. But she is out of town visiting her folks. So I was all by myself. I adventured and I baked pineapple coconut cupcakes. They came out a little bit dry, but oh well ..I'm learning. The best part for me is the decoration. The birthday girl loves turquoise, so I definitely put those colors in the cupcakes......and this was the end result:

I made the roses using milk chocolate..

and put some polka dot ribbon around the cupcakes..

and vanilla icing!

I love decorating....

(El fin de semana fue el cumpleanos de mi nueva amiga y para ese dia le hize panquesitos de coco y pina. Me salieron medio secos pero estoy aprendiendo. Usualmente mi amiga Melissa es la que los hace y yo los decorot por que es mi parte favorita, pero ella se fue de viaje. Use color turquesa para la decoration. Las rosas son de chocolate y les puse una cinta alrededor.)

Christmas Decor!

This is the first year that I will not go home for Christmas :(
I was sad because I wont see my family in this especial day....but as my mom always says, family will be always in my heart!
We are going to spend the holidays here in the US and I decided to cheer up and just let the Christmas spirit take over!
One of the first things in my to do list for Christmas was to host a holiday party with all my friends. I have to say it was one of the most fun things I did this year! I had so much fun organizing the event and I enjoyed decorating my apartment for the special day!
I do not like Christmas colors that much (red and green) so I decided to go with a light green and gold theme and I was glad how it all came out!
Here are some pics and ideas for decoration!

Green Theme!

Ornaments on top of wine glasses!

And I made the napkin holders using gold ribbon.

Gold colored candle (very cheap at Michael's)

Candle holder from Ikea. I have them since my weeding!

Snow flakes made using paper!

and I couldn't resist decorating a cake. Snowman made using fondant and candy.

Don't ask how my cake tasted because I'm not a good baker!

Posing with my little snowman!

and my christmas tree!

I am already thinking of hosting another Holiday Party next year :)

Thank you to all that came and share this especial moment with me!!

Last Fall Pictures!

More pics to add to my already grown collection.
These are the last pictures I took with my iPhone during this fall! I love the colors of fall......:)

At Michel's Park!

At Landels Elementary School

More from the school I work. I am always inspired every time I arrive because I see these landscapes!

And my fave, a scene from Greer Park!

bye bye fall, until next year!!!

I am so excited for the Holidays!! I am on my way to buy a xmass tree and cant wait to decorate it!! Ill share pics later!!

(Estas son unas fotos que tome con mi celular. Son parques y uno es de la escuela donde trabajo. Hoy compraremos nuestro arbol de navidad y ya quiero decorarlo! pondre foticos despues!)

Fun at Petroglyph!

Taking a deserving break from school and work last week I went to Petroglyph with some of my friends to paint some pottery and it was really fun. I'm in love with this store so far. They have hug selection of pieces to chose from. I chose to paint a cake stand because I realize I don't have one :(
I was in heaven in the store. I did not mind the lovely price of things there, I was just having fun! I think my friends think I am coo coo because I was like a kid in a candy store!

Girls concentrated in their projects.

Karla's finished product.

Mel's cake stand.

My cake stand.

Alaina's mug.

My friend Martha painted a pretty mug with a frog in it, unfortunately the pic I took didn't came out clear :(

I will definitely be back there to paint more.

(La semana pasada nos fuimos con unas amigas a pintar ceramicas. Yo estaba en mi mundo como un nino en una tienda de dulces. Pinte un plato para poner pasteles y  le dibuje un buo. La proxima ves quiero pintar un plato para mi perrita!)

One of my babies gone!

Moochy Bunny

I am so happy! I just sold one of my dolls yay yay and yay!
It is just nice to know that someone out there likes my dolls and wants to buy one.
My collection is called Moochy and I sell them on Etsy. The name is a long story that I'll share later.
I decided to make more of these dolls during the Christmas break, especially more like the one I sold because she seems to be popular!
I cant wait to start sewing....oh and maybe a new sawing machine?? yes?

Bye bye baby!

(Acabo de vender uno de mis conejitos de mi collection llamada Moochy. Me da alegria saber que hay gente que le gusta lo que hago y que quiere comprar uno. Decidi hacer mas de estos durante mi vacacion y quiza hasta me compre una maquina de coser de verdad :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I first moved here from Bolivia, 6 years ago, Thanksgiving was not important to me because we don't celebrate it in Bolivia. However, as time passed I saw my friends and people around me getting excited in this day. Families get together, they have huge dinners, they play games, or they just sit, talk and catch up on things. Thanksgiving is not just any day as I thought, it is a day to remember those who we love and make us smile, to be grateful to life for being alive, to thank those who make our life exciting, and worthwhile everyday and for all of that I am thankful!

(Click the pic to enlarge)

What are you thankful for??

My muse!

This is a digital drawing using Corel Painter. I'm in love with the program, but I still need to learn a lot. I used charcoal and  my precious pup Cinnamon served as model!
Isn't she precious???

p.s.. If you want a portrait of your pup send me a pic you like and I'll try my best to capture their cuteness :)

(Un dibujo que hize de mi perrita. Ella siempre me inspira a crear! Acaso no se ve preciosa?)

Discovering more iPhone apps!

My iPhone is being bombarded with different applications every day. Another drawing app that I found and love is called TypeDrawing. With this app you can make interesting drawing using words. It is really neat if you have the patience and love drawing.

Little birdie.

Sugar Therapy!

Last month, my lovely friend Melissa and I started a small baking business called Sugar Therapy. We joined our love for baking and decorating to create delicious and good looking cakes, cupcakes and cookies. More details about this new passion can be found here. 
The name comes from our practice as a psychotherapists and because cooking itself is very therapeutic!
Today I had the opportunity to test our concept with the kids I am seeing in counseling. I brought already made carrot mini-cakes for the children to decorate and they loved it!


Activity: 
I gave them two mini cupcakes and asked them to focus on two feelings. Then, I had them decorate the cupcakes according to the feelings they thought. One of the kids chose sad and happy. When she was done decorating, I asked her when was the last time she was sad or excited. Lastly, I told her to pick the cupcake with the feeling she wanted to keep. She chose the happy one and ate it. 
This activity, which I am going to call "Sugar Therapy" from now on, came out to be very helpful if you want children talk about their feelings and do not mention that kids love cupcakes and can do anything for them!

Some of the cupcakes they decorated!

Sad and Happy ones!

A "loved" one!

(Espanol; el mes pasado mi amiga y yo abrimos un pequeno negocio de pasteles llamdo Sugar Therapy, que significa Therapy del Azucar. El nombre viene de la passion de Melissa por cocinar y mi passion por la decoration y nuestras profesiones como psicologas. Hoy puse en practica nuestro concepto en una de mis sessiones con lo ninos. Traje mini pasteles para que ellos lo decoren y les gusto mucho. Asi pudimos hablar de sus emociones por que es muy dificil hacer que un nino hable de eso, pero con un poco de azucar uno consigue mucho de un pequenin.)

Some Bolivian Art!

"El Diablo" The Devil in oil pastels.

One of my favorite Bolivian artist had an art exhibition in the Bay Area this past weekend and I could not have missed it for anything in the world!
His name is Roberto Mamani Mamani and is from the same city was born, La Paz, Bolivia. I was very excited to meet him and tell him I am his number one fan. As I expected he is very humble, friendly and very inspiring.
He comes from an indigenous family and is very proud of his culture. He gets his inspiration from the richness of the Ayamara culture which is known for the use of vivid and striking colors in their clothes.

He was very welcoming when I approach him. When I asked him if he could sign my book, he took my book and said: "I am going to make you a portrait instead," He drew a sketch of me and signed it. It was a breathtaking experience! 

He is going around the world to show his art work and his next destination will be Europe. As a fellow proud Bolivian, I wish him the best!

Mamani-Mamani Art Work

(Now in Espanol: El muy reconocido artista Boliviano Roberto Mamani Mamani estuvo en San Francisco el pasado fin de semana. Como no era de esperar fuimos a ver su exposision y a conocerlo en persona. Nos atendio muy bien. Es muy amigable y sobre todo humilde. Le pedi su autografo y el ademas de eso hizo un dibujo mio que apenas se ve en la foto. Me inspiro mucho conocerlo y me dio aun mas ganas de pintar y dibujar. Mamani estara de gira por Europa y como buena Boliviana le deseo lo mejor!)

Knitted Accessories!

On of my favorite hobbies is to knit and crochet. It is very relaxing and a good way to clear my mind! I just learned how to make flowers and I love it. I think they are cute accessories for scarfs and knitted hats. I also knitted my own scarf and I am satisfied how it all came out.

Yellow flower!

A hot pink flower on a knitted hat!

(Now en espanol; estas flores las hice con crochet y las aprendi mediante un video de youtube! ahora las hago de differentes colores y como se ve en la foto, sirven como adorno para cualquier chalina o gorrita de lana.)

Art Therapy for Kids!

It is hard to believe I started my practicum two months ago, time flies! I was a little scared to start my internship this year because it was going to be a new experience as a therapist.

However, I am so fortunate to say that I LOVE it!

First, I am working with children, which is the population I am interested in working once I graduate. Second, the staff at the agency I am, CHAC, is very supportive and they are willing to teach you as if you were a five year-old-kid. Third, my supervisors are licensed Art Therapist and I am learning so much from them. And lastly, I have the opportunity to do art therapy with the children! What else can I ask for? I am practicing what I studied for, working with young children and doing what I love the most ART! :)

Some of the Rocks we (the interns) painted at the orientation day!

One of the Kid's project.

Jewelry box from a 9yo girl!

Gifts for mom. From a 9yo boy!