My Birthday Month

          A few friends on Facebook celebrated Birthday Months and thought 'awesome idea'  ...
                                                so when mine came around -
                          I spent my month working at Retail and with Family.

       
               Sister took me to a paint your own picture place called the Purple Easel. My Daughter
    came in from the Beach to spend the day with me. It was a fun day. We painted, drank
    some wine, we visited my nephew, then back at home we played some games and drank
    more wine.                                                     
                                                                                           Sister knew to have sweet wine

           My Sunshine came to visit a few days before moving to the Beach with her Aunt.
   I missed her early in the month when I went to the Big City Valley - she was still at school when I had to leave (don't care for night driving) to see the Grands.

                                                                                     spoiling the Grand - coloring hair, movies,
                                                                                                     & Badlands BBQ lunch

       

                  And because of the Old phone I didn't get pictures - insert sad face here.
    
            It also made for not much enthusiasm for Tabletop Tuesday photo shoots or any
     other photo shoot ideas that I had last month. So when I got my New phone I needed to
    learn all the features.

                                                                                             had lots of ideas too, on the table,
                                                                                                  some cooking, and  thoughts

              First picture - Sister fixing dinner, homemade Mac 'n' Cheese YUM. The lighting
    was perfect in this picture.... happy happy happy. I still have a few things to learn about
    the camera and have been on YouTube for tutorials.

                                                                               plus looking at inspirational videos...
          

             Did my first mini photo shoot the other day - I had no cake for my day (the 8th) and to
     fix that I bought a cupcake and added a candle to celebrate; taking pictures to mark the the
     month I became 53.

                                                                        we will talk about that cupcake later...

       

                  
                                     That is the month of January, how was your month?



                 until next time,
                                  Mia

Cozy Drinks

              During the Fall and Winter it is time to drink all those favorite hot drinks.

               And I finally tried Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. For the longest I would not get Starbucks from Fall till after Thanksgiving, when the Creme Brulee was available. I tried it, it was good but then I saw they offered Pumpkin Spice Chi Latte..... OhMyGosh!!!!! awesome,

   
                                   The Pumpkin Spice with the Chi Spice - perfect blend

                       So when I saw this, Twinings Chai Pumpkin Spice for the Keurig I had to
          get.... thoughts of a cozy cup, save a few pennies...

             well not really, I used this cup, 12oz; using 2 pods with Almond Milk and

                                  it tasted watery - not a whole lot of Spice.

                                So, I went and got.....

   
                   still need to tweak it for the right flavor because you lose the Pumpkin flavor.

                   
                   This tea is a tradition with me...  when my kids where young we would have
         Celestral Cinnamon Apple Spice and Christmas cookies Tea Party. With the kids
       grown now and have there own place it is been a tradition that hasn't made it to the Grown-up
      Life.

             
                      Cookies to go is how it has been now for several, several years now. As I write this
              I'm remembering all the Christmas fun with my kids and can't wait for the next Family Fun.

               
                       Relaxing with a nice cup of  Green Tea after the whirl of Family celebrating
                                                                               His
                                                           birthday and waiting for mine.

                   

                        And we can't forget one of the most favored winter drinks.....

                                
                                                                Hot Chocolate
                                          Perfect for a Thursday night Planning

                My Kids Abuelita made this Hot Chocolate when I first came to the Family,

      

       
              Now they have made it powdered; Abulita G made it with a chocolate brick, melting
     it over a low flame in milk, serving it with a Colombia treat-  Arepas or Bunuelos.  Perfect
   now I can have it without all the fuse ...  YAY.

                                      
    

 
                                                       And my every morning coffee.

                            What is your favorite cozy drink....

             until next time,
                                  Mia

Table Tuesday Review of 2017

                 I would like to share with you the Tabletop Tuesday's of 2017, the most
           popular of the year.

                                                            Simply White in February

                                           
                                                      Mother's Day Spring in May

                                           Fall Tabletop with Butternut Bowl in September

                                                     A Thankful Table in November

                                                  the Wrapping Table in December


                        What didn't make the list of popular - I was not sharing on
                    other media sites at the time which is why views are low, are these:

                                 
                                                     Getting Patriotic Around Here in May

                                                              Beach Table in June

       

                       Check out other Tabletop Tuesday post and pick your favorite.

                  until next table,

                            Mia

Photography & Phones

      hello everyone...

          here is the skinny,... my phone had decide to say 'adios' last week, the reason I say this is because my phone is what I use for pictures taking. I do have a Kodak Easy Share but I look at some of the pictures and don't think they are as good as the ones (focus) taken with Phone.  Photography Creativity has not been very enthusiast at the moment.

                                                  
                                                           Kodak taken pictures

      This is the table this week; see not - 'working'. I have this idea for a photo shoot, but I have just not wanted to use my Kodak. To help I've searched for some YouTube tutorials on Photography; I knew I need some help with lighting. It is still a process of finding videos to help because of the camera thing.

                                                     image from Google of my Kodak
                                                 
    Most of the tutorials are of theses professional cameras you know the kind - moving lens, adjustable shutter speed, and all that. I would like to have a camera like that and know how to use it but at the moment it just the Kodak. (waiting for a new Phone, ordering online)

                                                              Phone camera
         History of this Photo: in Big Bear Fall 2017, was walking around enjoying the Fall colors, so I took this picture with my Phone of the leaf ; I held up the phone took the picture only I didn't see what I took notice the leaf in the foreground is a bit  blurry, but I still love the shot. The colors are still there, the blurry leaf is still recognizable over all it still works as a good shot.
                       

               The other thing I did on the Phone was edit Photos. I know that I can do the same with a Photo Shop program you install your computer, just you need to spend time learning how to use it, hehe having it may mean I would learn how to use.
   
                                 

                     This year I will be working on Lighting with both Phone camera and Kodak. I will also be working into my budget getting a fancy dancy camera.

       until next time,
                           Mia

Lifestyle Changes not Resolutions

                   With the end of 2017 fast approaching, I'm reminded of my Lifestyle Changes; I have learned with the New Years Resolution's - they quite often fall to the wayside. which is a problem.

          the problem with Resolutions - is that are things - habits and are a daily part of us, smoking- losing weight, saving money requires a daily a firm decision to do and then the action of solving how to get it done. My past Resolution was to wear make-up everyday and to change my diet. How I solved this ... hahaha, I didn't but I stopped calling them Resolutions.Then began thinking every day, every week, every month are New and I'm able & willing to work on those     
                                                          Lifestyle Changes.


                      "... not setting Resolutions but setting Goals and sticking to them."
                                     Catherine of Dainty Diaries at YouTube

         
                   being tech challenged, I'm not Linked learned or else I would link her video
                                                                         &
                                             I would not be using my own photos

         She is a wonderful young lady who has her Goals and is not afraid to get them. When I was young I never really thought of what I wanted in life was something I can make happen; that they are just dreams and dreams aren't reality. It wasn't till the last few years that I decide that I can and will make them my reality.

            

            To achieve it I have also seeing what I need to do - one is my Blog.
                                  1. Double my viewership (avg. 12 per post to date)
                                  2.  Social Media - Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest
                                  3. Photography - lighting and file/storage digital - classes
                                  4. IT - classes to improve my computer knowledge
                                  5. Ad's paying - get $5 a month (would not turn away more LOL)
                                             as some of my viewership knows clicking an Ad pays me

          I have a desire/dream to have this Blog be the extra that will get the Creative Dream done.


         My Blog has been a very best way for me to be creative:
                                       sharing a tiny part of my decorating sense 
                                       photography even with crap lighting haha
                                      my writing -  just a 1 editing before publish - no over thinking it

                                                   (this is that Not over thinking part)
                                          

              My other Lifestyle Changes again is my diet & exercise, and wear Make-up. Make-up will never leave the List it is just a part of the tradition. The Dreams that I want are to Travel. I have a few friends and a lot of family in other parts of the country that I wish to see again.

                                                    Christmas tea  on Christmas night

         One Lifestyle Change I aim to make is to make Me Time. Me Time being to have a nice cup of tea and read a book or draw something or journal. Or even if I have to do something, like sort through my Fast growing digital pictures or Bullet Journal, do it in a ritual that is relaxing.

  
                 what Lifestyle Changes do you want to make?
   
                                            Happy New Year

               until next thought,
                                   Mia