Wednesday, June 16, 2010



I've been experimenting and it feels beautiful. I love my pinhole camera and I'm having fun creating things and really expanding myself to try things that might fail, and might go terribly wrong. But I think when you take risks, that is when the most surprising things come into existence. I love you my camera, me and you are going to take on the world...

Monday, June 14, 2010

It's been a while...


It's been such a long time since I've written and for good reason. I've been working like crazy on my photography business and beautiful things are coming to fruition. While I've been working on printing and framing and the day to day things, I've been feeling a deep need to experiment with new photographic techniques. Then came my husband to save the day... for my birthday he surprised me with amazing new lenses for my camera and I am in heaven! With all new new options to explore, I feel like I'm finding my "voice" all over again. I really am at the beginning experimental stages and I can't wait to see what develops. I don't want to force, I'm just letting inspiration settle in naturally.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Disney!



My husband had friday off from work so we drove up to Orlando to visit his family.  Rio started walking since the last time they saw her so they were so excited to see her running around, my little Miss Independent.  Saturday, my mom and step dad drove up from Miami too and we all went to Disney!  It was hot and there were so many people but we had a good time.  We went on a few rides, we saw a street parade and Rio and I danced with the characters, and Rio really enjoyed her first turkey leg ; )  We got to run around and be big kids for the day.
And let me tell you, Roberto's mom cooked some amazing paella for us on Sunday.  Great way to finish up the weekend before driving back home.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens



Todays adventure was up in West Palm Beach at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens.  It was a lovely house with almost two acres of gardens and let me tell you, Ann was an amazing sculptor.  She was very passionate about her art and her grand sculptures were throughout the property.  Some of them must have been more then twenty feet high, such amazing work from such a tiny woman.  My mom, Rio and I had the place to ourselves and it was peaceful and full of eye candy for us to take in.  There was also an exhibit inside the main house of found pieces made into sculptures or mixed media artwork, nice, but nothing compared to seeing Ann's studio with dozens of finished and unfinished work, miniature sculptures that would later turn to her large pieces and all of her tools that she used to create.  It was quite inspiring walking into her studio.  She accomplished so much in her life and THAT is something to look up to and aspire to.

Monday, May 10, 2010

MIA


Today, it was time for a little adventure.  I was on a mission to find the perfect spot to photograph the airplane landings at Miami International Airport- and we succeeded.  I did have a little help from my step dad, but that's okay.  It was amazing watching them coming in one at a time... a tiny spot on the horizon and then the lights come on for the landing.  My grandma lives right next to the airport so when I was a little girl I would always hear the planes while I was trying to fall asleep at night.  I love how they sound and I especially love the places they have taken me.

Happy Mother Day


A big special "Thank You" and "I Love You"  to that special woman in my life.  Mom, thank you for your patience and your guidance.  Thank you for teaching me wisdom and how to bypass what others have to say and follow my heart.  Most importantly, thank you for all the beautiful lessons you have passed on to me, for now I can pass them onto my daughter.  That to me, is the most precious gift of all.
To love, to life, to happiness and to never stop pursuing the biggest of dreams!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Fruit and Spice



Today my mom finally flew into town for a visit.  Finally!  So after I picked her up we went to the Fruit and Spice Park all the way down in Homestead about as far south west as you can go in Miami.  What a beautiful afternoon we had.  We walked around a little bit on our own and then we hopped on this trolley for a tour and our tour guide was fantastic.  She was constantly stopping and picking fresh fruit for us to taste.  Some fruit I've never even heard of from all different parts of the world.  Rio was absolutely loving it, she was devouring everything we gave her.  She was in heaven, one thing my little girl loves is her fruit.  My mom was loving it too because when she moves back down here she's planning on adding fruit trees to the back yard.  There's this one tree I love from Brazil, the berries actually grow on the bark of the tree.  It looks amazing and the berry is so sweet and turns a bit sour towards the center. 
I love days like this when I feel like I've really learned something about the world while spending time with the people I love.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

I love...


Things I love...
1.  Seeing my daughters little face when she first wakes up
2.  Having lunch outside on an overcast day
3.  Apples.  Any color, I just looove them
4.  The color green
5.  My husband's calves : )
6.  That first glimpse of the ocean
7.  The smell of vanilla and coconut
8.  Taking a really really hot shower
9.  Sunflowers!
10.  Turkish apple tea
11.  Having a good cry during the sad (or happy) part of a movie
12.  Drawing with my pastels
13.  Funny cards... I never buy anything else
14.  When my daughter calls me baby
15.  flip flops... I live in them
16.  A good glass of red wine
17.  How I feel after a good run
18.  Trying something new that I've never done before
19.  Listening to The Beatles
20.  The feeling you get when you finish a painting

Friday, April 30, 2010

Bonnet House


Today, Rio and I drove up to Ft. Lauderdale to explore The Bonnet House Museum and gardens.  I decided to just pay to stroll around the grounds because it was such a gorgeous day and skip the house.  What a lovely place... So much lush foliage and there's a lagoon with a little hut.  I was in heaven taking pictures and Rio was a little angel (thanks to that apple I gave her).  She even took a little nap in her stroller at the moment I discovered two beautiful swans in the lagoon.  What gorgeous creatures they are.  We walked around for quite a while and I decided to stop in this shady area so she could walk around and explore.  There was this awesome older lady there who started talking to me and she was just amazed and so happy to hear that I'm always taking my daughter on little adventures.  She said, "Most parents are so busy and don't have time to enjoy their children.  Good for you for staying home with her."  She even asked to shake my hand.  Well, she turned out to be a volunteer tour guide and she told me to follow her.  She snuck me into the house and gave me a private tour and told me the whole history of who had lived there.  Fredric Clay Bartlett a famous artist from Chicago lived there for many years with his third wife and it's so cool how whimsical the house is.  There's an open courtyard in the middle that all the rooms lead out to with carousel animals from the 1800's lining the wall outside.  He painted murals on the walls and ceilings and his art studio was amazing.  I was so happy to meet this lovely lady, she was so sweet to take us around because I would have never gone inside the house if it wasn't for her.  I love it when special people enter my life for just a brief moment.  I will definitely never forget her.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tomorrow's the Big Day!




Tomorrow is my handsome hubby's Birthday!!  So I got him a few little presents, but I think he's really going to like these sweet little pics I took for him.  
This is for you Papa... We love you too much  XOXO

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The New Park



There's a new photographer I've been working with recently who has a studio five minutes south of me and every time I've gone there, I noticed a park right next to the building.  So today I took Rio there to walk around.  The park is right on the bay so there are beautiful view of Miami and there was a good mix of people.  I saw two other Mama's there with their babies walking around and then I saw some sketchy people as well.  At one point an ice cream truck drove by and stopped and I saw these two young guys run out of the bushes to buy something and then they walked by me very slowly while I was taking some pictures.  I just gave them a "Don't mess with me"  look.  After a while I saw those same guys again, riding on a red bike with two big wheels in back and they kept whistling but I wouldn't even look at them.  Little punks.  
I wasn't too impressed with this place anyways.  Now I'm on a mission to find a cool new spot for me and Rio to go...

Monday, April 26, 2010

Drum Roll Please...



I've been working my little tushy off on my photography and last night I finally finished my Etsy shop and I started posting photographs to sell.  I know it's the first step on a long road but I'm willing and excited to make the journey.  I built up my makeup career from scratch and it took time and patience.  Everything worth having takes hard work so all I can do is accomplish small goals every day.  Life has changed and the most important thing in my life is my family, therefore I knew I had to find something that would make it possible for me to be a very present Mama and wife as well as be creative and fulfill that aspect of my life as well.  Wish me luck on my new path!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Spanish Monastery





For the past few weeks I've been wanting to go to the Spanish Monastery where my husband and I got married.  It's such a beautiful place with so much history and I wanted to take Rio to the place where Mama and Papa became husband and wife.  It was hilarious when I got there because as soon as I walked through the entrance way, I looked up and saw 30 nuns and an entire film crew.  The two actors looked over at me and it's kind of hard to make yourself invisible when you have a baby with a stroller.  I had to roll over these huge cables and the wheels kept getting stuck.  So I finally made my way past the craziness and into the cloisters where we had our wedding party.  I got a little emotional, it was just as beautiful as the day we were married.  And I was there with our little girl which was pretty amazing in itself.  The lighting was fabulous and I was just walking around taking pictures and remembering what a perfect night that was... Maybe a ten year anniversary party there?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Water Baby


She loves water.  There is this look of excitement and pure joy on her face when she's kicking her way around the pool and I couldn't let it end just because class was over.  So we made our way to the beach at sun down right before the rain came and it was just the cherry on top for her.

Monday, April 19, 2010

The House


Last year my husband and I, with our newborn baby, drove around for months in our neighborhood looking at the houses for sale and wishing we could find the perfect one.  We looked at this one house about four blocks from us that was in foreclosure.  It has over 2000 square feet and it looked like it needed a little TLC.  When we finally saw the inside of it, oh my god, my jaw dropped to the floor.  It looked like the inside of a fetish club.  The walls were all painted black and there were no doors anywhere, to the rooms or bathrooms.  The kitchen was like the kitchen to a restaurant and the master bedroom was on the second floor with these very narrow steep stairs you had to climb up... I was such a baby when I had to climb down, I thought I was going to fall off because there was no railing.  
Thank god we found our house.  
So Rio and I were walking around our neighborhood today and there it was.  The house.  Somebody bought it but it still looks like a wreck and on top of that the house next to it and the house across the street are empty.  The whole street is overgrown with palm leaves and branches covering the sidewalk and street... but it looks eerily beautiful.  
Poor house, I hope whoever bought it puts some love into it.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

I heart Miami




I love Miami.  I really do, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.  It rained for most of the day today but close to sundown it stopped raining just long enough for us to make it over to South Point Park and walk over to the beach.  You could see in the distance black skies and clouds but there was a beautiful light right over us and I took some photographs of a Miami that usually doesn't get captured.  
My Miami.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Questions Answered


I love looking up galleries and artists online to not only see their work but to read their artists statements.  A brilliant artists statement really gives you an opportunity to really "see" a person and understand their process.  I've never sat down with a pen and paper to write one for myself but I sometimes try to write it in my mind and I can never get past the second or third sentence.  How am I supposed to write about myself?  I don't want to speak highly of myself, because that comes off as being conceited.  Is humble but passionate the way to go?  I stumbled upon a blog of a woman quite similar to me...  she does photography and makes pendents with her photography.  She also happens to be a stay at home mom.  So she wrote a list of questions: Does your artwork have a theme to it?  What does creating art mean to you?  What goals do you have for yourself as an artist?  Is there a special technique or process you have to make your work unique?  
Maybe it's time to break out the tape recorder and just talk.  Somethings got to come out of that... right?

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Patience is a Virtue


It would make my life so much easier if I was computer savvy.  I'm sitting here trying to open up my online store to sell my photography (Yeah!) but I need to make a banner to go on my home page.  So I find a website that does them for free but the image I want to use is to large and I don't know how to shrink it!  I know, in about two years Rio will be running circles around me on the computer.  I really should know so much more than I do but what can I do... Hmmm, take a class maybe?  Maybe I will, a computer class and a business class.  Then maybe I'll be a little less clumsy, just a little.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Angels



So I finally opened a flicker account and posted some photos today.  To see them go to www.flicker.com/photos/malindaballesteros    
Step by step I'm getting my photography out into the world.  I love creating art and I love coming up with a concept and seeing the path it takes and what it ultimately becomes.  I always have thought of artwork as having a life of its own.  Once the steps are taken to bring it into form, that is when we have to release our notions of what a "right" outcome is and welcome all the perfect imperfections that are made.  Just like magic...

Monday, April 12, 2010

Rain


This is what happens on a rainy day...  We play dress up...  We play with toys and play with toys some more until she falls asleep... on top of them.  
Love her!

Friday, April 9, 2010

Inspiration


I found this great blog  blogs.photopreneur.com and am feeling very inspired.  He created a list "60 Sources of Inspiration for Photography" including everything from shooting at a different time of day, giving yourself a theme, revisiting your past, or even using yourself as the subject.  Writing a blog was on his list as well and I do have to say that I completely agree.  It feels good to see my photos posted somewhere even if it's in my own blog and it keeps me motivated because I want an image or two to share for the day.  Photography is an artistic medium that works perfectly into my life at the moment because I can create while I'm with my little girl and I don't feel like I'm neglecting her.  Actually most of the time I incorporate her.  She really has become my inspiration and it's funny, when I shoot her the images have such a lovely child like quality in comparison to my other work.  She has made me see the world in a different way and opened my eyes therefore I am experimenting and I'm excited with the outcome most of the time.  At the moment, I feel as if a door has opened and there is this constant flow of inspiration and it's exhilarating really.  It makes me excited to see what tomorrow brings and what can be created...

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

day trip to vizcaya



Today I wanted to have a little time with my grandma so I surprised her and took her and Rio to Vizcaya.  I've been there a couple of times because of work but I never got the chance to wander around and really take it all in.  It really is such a magical place, the gardens have shrubs formed into mazes.  There are statues everywhere and the stairs and walls are made of coral.  It's like walking into a little fantasy land and I was there with my lovely ladies.  xoxo

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

first day


Drum roll.......  Today was Rio's first day of swim classes!  She's like a little fish in the water.  The teacher came by every few minutes and gave me a exercise to do with her.  She was kicking her legs and splashing in the water, she was loving it!  I was having so much fun with her, I enjoy everything so much more just by seeing how excited she gets experiencing the world.  At one point while she was holding onto the side of the pool there were three guys (in their late teens at most) standing next to the life guard stand.  When she saw them she actually picked herself halfway out of the water and lifted up her arm and WAVED to them.  My 14 month old baby is already crazy over the boys.  I am in so much trouble...

Monday, April 5, 2010

Words


All the magical words my daughter says:  bye-bye, Papa, Mama, baby, hi, oh-oh, Mini (for Mini Mouse), dog, smiling, turtle, nose, bird, bear, pretty, caca, pee-pee, bread, cooking, Dora (the explorer), tiger, ball, teta (and of course she has to point to my boobs in public and proudly tell the world) and the "sh" part of shoes.  

Oh and of course she knows cookie now too!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Weekend




Lately my husband, daughter and I have been "living for the weekend" to spend time together as a family.  So when I heard three day weekend because of good friday, I almost did a cartwheel!  On friday, we drove up to Orlando to see family and right after Rio went to sleep we took advantage of having some help and went out on the town.  We ended up getting sushi and then we went dancing.  We are parents and we love every moment with our little girl, but it feels so go to go out every once in a while to enjoy each other and stay out late.  How important it is for a husband and wife to go and steal moments to remind each other how much love there is between them.  And equally important to have adventures as a couple to keep things exciting!
On Saturday we stole another night for ourselves... we saw fireworks in downtown (now that was a surprise) but really good fourth of July grade fireworks that lasted for at least 15 minutes.  
The Easter Egg Hunt was too cute, seeing Rio crawl all over going from one egg to the next, she looked like a little cherub with her short curly blonde hair and puffy dress.  And yes, she had to bite the head off of the chocolate bunnies she found and I had to dive in to get the chocolate and wrapper out of her mouth.  She was showered with so much love from everyone and I think that was the best part of this whole weekend.  To stand back and see how smart and funny she is and how she interacts with everyone.  I really am such a proud mom and Roberto and I would just look at each other and smile.  Watching as she makes everyone fall head over heels in love with her.  What more could a Mama ask for?

Friday, April 2, 2010

Watermelon!


I just wanted to have a watermelon with my little girl yesterday.  So when the sun wasn't so hot, we went out to the back yard and enjoyed a juicy watermelon together!
We're heading up to Orlando to visit my husband's family today for Easter weekend and I will have lots of photos to post on Monday.  
Happy Easter everyone!  Enjoy your families and eat lots of Candy!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Day Trip



It was such a gorgeous day yesterday I had my head set on taking a day trip somewhere.  So I decided on the Japanese Gardens about an hour north of me.  The last time I was there was last year for a festival but I didn't actually walk around the paths...  It's a mile through all the trees and little rivers, so beautiful and peaceful.  I was so surprised how well behaved Rio was.  She just sat in her stroller while we walked and I photographed for a good hour and a half.  People kept stopping and commenting on what a good girl she was.  I politely thanked them and thought to myself,  "Wow, this place really is magical because Rio is NEVER this patient."  
It really turned out to be an awesome day and anyone living or visiting South Florida I recommend a visit to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens   www.morikami.org

Wednesday, March 31, 2010


Yesterday it was long overdue to spend some time with my grandma so Rio and I went over there and played!  We played with toys, we played with the piano, we played in the magical backyard, we played with bubbles.  Rio started playing with some dirt but I had to put that to an end pretty quick.  Sorry honey...  you go a little crazy with the dirt.  
I love that little girl of mine...
P.S.  I just entered this image with two others in a photography competition on facebook... Wish me luck!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Rainy days



I had all these plans for my day yesterday.  I was going to go to a few different locations for a photo shoot and what happened?  I woke up to tornado warnings and constant rain until about 6pm.  That's one thing about Miami, when it rains, it RAINS!  But good news is when the skies finally parted, there was a beautiful filtered light and I did a little mini shoot with the flowers I had just bought.
Here's to a beautiful sunny day today and a toast to my delicious cup of coffee this morning!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Coral Gables


So this weekend my husband, daughter and I went driving around Coral Gables.  It is such a gorgeous city known for it's trees that line the street and create a canopy that covers everything.  We were driving during magic hour so the sun light was a golden color (my favorite time of day!) and every few minutes I would say "Pull over, pull over!"  and jump out of the car and take all these photographs trying the capture "the moment".  We drove around until the sun was almost gone and then went to our favorite Indian Restaurant for some dinner... heaven.

Sunday, March 28, 2010





Her name is Rio and she dances in the sand.
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land.
And when she shines she really shows you all she can
Oh Rio Rio dance across the Rio Grande.
So there she is playing where I played, exploring where I explored.  We spend our lives trying to find where we belong.  I traveled and lived in other countries, but here I am back where I grew up with a daughter of my own glimpsing at my own childhood through Rio.