Christmas 2018

A neighbor's lights

       This Christmas has been a bit hard ... I lost my Mom a few months ago, which brought on the feelings of previous loss. 9 years my Dad passed away and 26 years ago my children's Father. The sadness never really goes away of losing someone you love. Even though I smile and laugh my heart is sad. I didn't do much or I did just enough I keep 'happy'.

     Coffee has been a big help... big being the way to go here. I am also working on less sugary intake; carbs and sweets, so the coffee is just coffee. My Christmas mug did more than sit decorative on the Keurig this season.

     
      Cookies always make the everything better and my Church ladies group had a Cookie Exchange. I know I said less sugar but what is Christmas without cookies - not fun. I made Pecan Sandies, a big hit with both Church and work. Since making so many I shared also with my Retail co-workers.

  
       The tree for my room is a 3 footer sitting on the desk, I added some lights, a ribbon, wintery branch picks and a snowman. The tree and snowman belonged to Mom; at first it was just the lights & snowman, knowing that the tree wasn't done I found this ribbon at Hobby Lobby. When I went to add and see if my choice  would fit, it just stayed right where I put it. The branches where deconstructed to fit and make 2 branches work for one small tree. I hung a blanket to hide all my craft paraphernalia and the storage containers.

     I do have to say this made for a happy girl.... I made homemade marshmallows. oh My GOOOODNESSSS  YUM  I had even made a goof, there is a part when the sugar, water and gelatin are having a nice boil and it boils over (the goof) and it makes the whole kitchen smell as if I'm inside a roasted marshmallow.

        Life goes on, December welcomes my newest Grandson making the A Team a solid 4. My daughter has named my Grandbabies that start with the letter A. The A Team.

         And these Heroes will be adding to the ranks in the late Summer.

 
             Hoping for a Hero-ette, .... need more nieces.

   
           I got my 2019 planner and am in the process of setting goals, creating ideas to share with you, and keeping my self organized. A good thing since I applied for a job with the school district as a Noon Supervisor (yard person) and am in the process of the hiring so you can see why I really need organization of my time. Retail will be the main income (full time), Respite with my Hero Ryan, and now the School I will need to keep my time organized because I still plan on sharing here. I may not be getting paid YET from blogging, it's about enjoying the sharing of how I have decorated a little corner of my life and  hope (that my explanations are clear) that you will replicate how it was achieved.

             Here's a New Year and getting a step closer to getting to Mountain Living


               until next time,
                                        Mia

Autumn Bliss Table

             
                  My Favorite color is blue and this is the first year I've tried blue as an
       Autumn decor color. I love the traditional colors of the Season (Christmas too).
      Just every once in a while I like change things up at Christmas. Keeps the creative
     bug going and not so boring.

                      This is the inspiration for the table.  I wanted to do a table with my glasses
             and was waiting for the right time. Well, one day I wandered into my local a Pier 1
            store and saw these plates, knowing exactly how to style them on my table.
                                        

        
                 This year Pier 1 gave me the 'I can do'  Blue with these salad plates.
        I paired them blue Anchor Hocking plates. Only I didn't have any, so I went online
       and found some dinner plates for the setting.

              During the search I found these salt and pepper shakers, the caps are cracked so
 I will have to find new caps. What really matters is that I love them.

               The glasses I've had for ages - a White Elephant gift exchange that I
    was happy to have pick.

              Created a center piece with a light blue ceramic pumpkin, a couple of sunflowers,
    mini twig pumpkins, and Harvest Angel figures, all arranged on a piece of scrunched up burlap.

               Added a few other  necessary elements and voila a Blue table setting. I love it!!
    Thank you Pier 1 for a lovely table.

              Now I just need to get a few more Salad plates so I can have a full table. I just got
     the 2 plates for this Autumn table.
          


                              until next table,
                                            Mia
                           

a Fall Table

2nd photo shoot

           This is the Table. Only I still wondered what made it not
                        'me rushing to share'   -  it's the lighting. Let me show you....

1st photo shoot

          

2nd photo shoot

                This is the 'center stage' , I have seen this idea for several years on Pinterest; an
          awesome source to copy.. er... get inspiration.  I was just excited once I found these
          cute little pumpkins with a shiny glaze, I focused on the plates.

1st photo shoot

           2 photo shoots  later & the 1st had several looks:

               I bought the gold charger at a Dollar Tree store, white plates are Sis's, the Botanical
               Pumpkin is from last years design from Walmart, the pumpkin is from the 99cent Store
               also from Walmart are (an Everyday use) the white napkins & silverware, the ribbon was
               purchased last year.
                                                              then I notice....
   

           no glasses, I forgot to put them on the table and I was happily snapping away. I would
            have to start over. So here we are days later with glasses and a few changes....
         Sis bought some new white plates, more pumpkins, and the glasses.

                
                      These pumpkins are a part of an ever growing collection.

     
                I started with a white table clothe only it seem pretty basic, boring in fact.
      It made everything look a creamy white and pumpkin orange. The lighting wasn't helping it shadowed everything, giving it a 'blended' look.

     
               Here the green table clothe and the light makes the place
       settings stand out.

                    

                     
                      The new white plates. Prefect.


 This is where I have been lately...
 

      
         My Mother.... she's gone, passed away a few weeks ago; as I was editing this story.
   Please be patience with me for my next table. As always I want to bring good ideas of
   keeping an Artistic Home.



                       until next time,
                                    Mia

Waking up - Coffee Bar Station

                I wanted to share my Morning - Coffee is where I start knowing that I am to wake. This small counter space that houses the elements to make coffee & tea.

           

         This is the Coffee Bar Station's everyday for Fall . Couple weeks ago I had wanted to share this - a Coffee Bar Station. Only what was exciting about it ... what made it worthy of sharing here??? I looked through Pinterest, watched a couple of YouTube videos, then went to find a couple of  those elements I had seen. Came home with some, excited to put it all together in it's small already cramped counter space. Took some pictures, then they sat in my Gallery waiting to be shared. It still didn't work, it didn't make for 'this is my morning' and what I just did was ( in my thoughts) still not making it worthy.

        The 'staging' of the coffee spot - I upscale the small counter with some good Seattle's Best  coffee and Twinings Chai I already had from last year. This k-pod (Chai) drink - for me, needs to be tweeked and it is a process I haven't found the right formula.

        Having a cuppa o' joe every morning with these name brands are pricey, average $10 bucks for 18 k-pods; so I get Great Value from Walmart at half the price.

   
      Though, if we are talking the price of a cup of coffee, this is the way to go - these refillable k-pod cups work for less. Though sometimes the Keurig will say 'umm don't know this cup', so my half sleep brain just says use these Great Value k-pod. 

       I added these shakers with Cinnamon and Chocolate as part of the staging only I loved the idea of having these to add to my coffee whenever I want, they stayed.  I corralled them on a butter dish plate, the shakers are nothing fancy just a set of salt and pepper shakers.

            
                   Sister loves her Tea, sit here too for her morning drink.

          We are the opposite when it comes to these 2 drinks - Morning Coffee for me and Tea for her, afternoon Tea for me and Coffee for her.

           
          Kettle and a 2-cup coffee maker ... every so often Sister uses the 2-cupper.

         This is the only decor item - a canister of coffee beans. A couple years ago we had a need for coffee beans - forgot the reason but we had them and some had spilled on the floor. Not wanting them to go to waste since they are not going to be brewed, I knew this will be perfect for a decor/picture prop.

   
                    Here it sits adding beauty to the space and still be useful.              

       It is the beginning of my morning, it is home, it is comfortable. So all that 'stuff' I bought, the only thing that stayed after all the picture taking was the Cinnamon & Chocolate shakers and while I put off writing this a dish mat joined the look. So, now I write this - adding the right - new pictures because ----

 This is my morning coffee....

              This is what makes it worthy, that I drink my coffee while I listen to God.

                              until next time,
                                                    Mia
                                                             

Fall Past

                                                  This Years Front Door -  love it.

        As I browse my Fall Past ( like Charles Dickens here) pictures to gain inspiration from what I have done. Copy if it is something I liked or to go in a total opposite direction.  So the plan for this post is to just share with you the pictures and my thoughts of where I will go this year.

           Starting with the Front Door; Happy Harvest is from 2015, Scarecrow Wreath from 2016, Sunflower Hello Fall from 2017.  This years Door is gorgeous, I do like my planter stand with the Scarecrow; but I am working on something new this year with a curbside find.

        The one thing that hasn't changed is the Lights and Leaf Garland around the living room. Ownership of the Garland has; last year I had attached the pieces of garland to a string (or was it the year before). I had owned several 6 feet garlands that where different fall shades of orange, yellow, red, and brown cutting them into pieces so that they blended as they went around the room. Now that they are 'custom' fit to Sis's Living Room it seems fitting that they become hers.

               What has changed was my helper....

                 Levi Kitty has invaded the leaves & Blackjack is glad for the take over.

                 The Favorite Spot is the Table. It is where I began the idea of Table Tuesday. Once the Fall Season has begun the pumpkins come out and ideas began swarming around my head. The Table gets several looks before Thanksgiving.

                   One of the earliest Table vignettes.
                                                                   c.2015

             Thought this would be great for removing for when the Turkey will make it's appearance.
                                                                     c.2015

              Books, this was a not a 'focus' on Fall but a mix of 'relax with a book' & pumpkins as extra.
                                                                     c, 2015

          Making an impact with a few pumpkins, some candles and leaves .... simple.
                                                                   c. 2016

    Then add more and it becomes 'abundant', same table just add some turkeys & more White pottery.
                                                                        c.2016

        First table of the Season, Apple Harvest, this was also the first time using realistic faux fruit.
                                                                        c. 2017

             
                      This is my favorite, a mix of Fall decor pieces and a the trends used to display them.
                                                                        c.2017

         This DIY is perfect floral arrangement.... only the tablecloth is not the best background for 'Popping' the arrangement.
                                                                        c.2017

                        This was inspired by the Sunflowers.
                                          c. 2017

     I have done other rooms ....

             Kitchen

          Not a whole lot since it is a tiny and Sis needs her counter space for the Turkey Day.
             

              The Bathroom gets a pumpkin or 2.

       
                And my Room

        I don't take very many pictures of my Rooms decor because of the space and the amount of Stuff I have. My Room is where I relax, sleep, and create. I also keep my personal 'office' stuff. Basically the Room is my TV/relax room, Bedroom, and Home office/ Studio. Oh Closets too - linen & clothes.


                                well, really it is just a mess and never ready for pictures.

 
            Working on a Tray for the table this year, I have it sitting on top of a box with
 Fall Decor - see a mess, to the left is my desk with other projects on it and to the right is the door.

             Back to work on Fall Decor,
                      until next time,
                                  Mia