Creative Musings with Mya

Paradise Found and it's Paid For

2009-01-13T08:40:00.004-05:00

How would you like to get paid to walk the beach, snorkel the barrier reef, take pictures, and keep a daily blog about your activities? Did I mention that a modest pay of $150,000 comes with this fabulous job? No I'm not suffering from cabin fever or indulging in one of my winter fantasies. I assure you this is real ! So real that I am jumping up and down while gazing out my window that is blanketed in a thick layer of snow which promises to continue amidst the dipping temperatures that will be in the single digits by dinner time. This would be my fantasy job. I love, love the beach and everything about the sea. I'm all over it. Want to take a peek for yourself? Check it out right here. Yes, Yes, I'm there !!! Where do I sign up, you say. Your next statement will probably be...help the employment link doesn't work.
Can you say system overload?

Get in the long line of crazy, blog addicted, sun starved, unemployed individuals just itching for the chance to be island caretaker to Hamilton Island's Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This list includes yours truly. Although I haven't applied yet, I have been dreaming about what it would be like.
Why you ask would the Queensland state government offer such a position. It's a way to promote tourism for the beautiful land of Oz. Not too shabby for a temp job. This fab position does end after a one year contract and yes that means you must vacate the island of your dreams. This past year proved to be a tough year of disappointment for many. Maybe this is a sign of what's to come in 2009...who knows. These are crazy times we live in.

XO-Mya

I may Ramble Just a Bit-Just Bear With me

2009-01-05T08:21:00.004-05:00

I am in a day-dreamy kind of mood, so my rambles may not make a lot of sense today but please hang in there it is bound to get better- I promise. I started the undecorating process this weekend. I love decorating for the holidays but really hate the opposing process. Where do I put all of my decorations, what was in that place before and oh yuk, I think I need new stuff. The one bright spot in dismantling my house was the rearrangement of my office. It is decluttered and much more functional. Will this lead to a more productive me? One can only hope!

Now back to the day dreaming. I am dreaming of warm sun and sand and yep you guessed it the gulf of Mexico is calling my name. I made reservations for an awesome place on Captiva island. It is a very chic looking cottage on Laika Lane, just a two minute walk to the beach. It looks so perfect- they may have to take me out kicking and screaming. April can't get here soon enough!

In the mean time I have so many things to accomplish. Not only do I need to firm up my writing but my body needs a complete tune-up. The thought of me on a beach in a swim suit makes me gag. It will be done. My motivation is the ugly snow and ice outside my window. Winter be-gone and springtime commence. There is so much more that I could share but I will spare you the time. If I ramble on too much longer nothing will get done. The girl and the mission are still alive and kicking so let me at it.
XO-Mya

New Year-New Day

2008-12-30T08:20:00.005-05:00

Put away your Christmas duds and slip into something really special to celebrate the coming of 2009.
Can you believe that the new Year is upon us? Wow, 2008 was an amazing year in so, so many ways-good or bad, it packed quite a punch. The history that was made, the struggles that were won and lost and the important part- we all survived. One hell of a year no matter how you sum it up!

Do you believe in New Year's resolutions? If so- what are they? I haven't come up with mine just yet, but I have been mulling a few things over. The funny thing is, I have never kept my resolutions in the past-all broken. Yep- no surprise there. The last few years I swore off them, but this year I got to thinking; Even if you don't actually keep them, even if you break them into a million pieces before the bubbly is flat, at least you thought about improving your life. You made a plan and hopefully a conscious effort to be better. That has to be worth something, right? Here I go Ms. Justification in full swing.
What do you think and how will you celebrate? Will you be stepping out in a slinky black dress to a fancy party, or perhaps you'll have a romantic dinner with that special someone, maybe you will just stay in the comfort of your home wearing your new jammies- eat way too much,watch the ball drop and tip toe off to your cozy little bed-ready to meet the New Year without a hang-over. However you chose to celebrate-make it special and take some time to reflect on the incredible year we are leaving behind.

Happy New Year!!!!

xo-mya

Merry Christmas in Blogland

2008-12-23T09:51:00.008-05:00

My little Christmas angel

I wanted to wish all of my family and friends in blogland a very Merry Christmas. Bless each and every one of you for sharing your time with me here in blog land. This is a wonderful time of year for some while difficult for others. I hope that all of you find something to feel good about this Holiday Season.

I love this time of year, but if I had one wish from Santa, it would be a trip to a tropical beach with my whole family. Clam bakes and fresh lobster enjoyed on the beach, sand between my toes and the sun on my face, while I watch my family play in the surf. I guess I must have been a bad girl this year because instead of coal in my stocking I got 12 inches of snow outside my door and you know how I feel about winter weather. *#.*x. #!!!!

Take care and enjoy this blissful time of year.

Happy Holidays from Mya

This is me stuck inside during a snow storm.

Me, coming in from the cold. I look scary when I'm unhappy don't I.

XO-Mya

Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-19T08:22:00.006-05:00

This question always comes to mind as I ponder over my Christmas list every year. Naughty or nice? Well, I have to admit, I think I have been a little of both. So on to the list....

Dear Santa,

#1 I would love a refill on my Jo Malone Lime Basil, Mandarin body creme.
(seriously girls this is too die for and on Oprah list of fav things)

#2 World peace (I'm so original)

#3 No more snow this year. Actually I would love an unusual tropical heat wave for the rest of the winter. (I go for the big stuff)

#4 My family to have the best Christmas ever. (all-day smiles, enjoy true meaning of Christmas, etc.)

#5 World peace (oh, I said that already)

#6 That all the fat cats on wall street, in the banking industry give their bonuses and buy-outs to someone less fortunate.

#7 The beautiful three foot tall pink orchid that I saw at the Orchid farm's greenhouse yesterday. (ya, ya, I know I would kill it just as quickly as I killed the one foot tall orchid from last year)

#8 A trip to the beach for a couple of weeks with my whole family.

#9 A week of positive and uplifting reports from the media (no more doom and gloom, please)

#10 A really sweet book deal with an awesome publisher

#11 My over-forty spread, stops spreading

#12 That all of my friends at home and in blog land, have a very special holiday surrounded by their loved ones and filled with all of their favorite things.

* I know, as always, I've asked for way too much but I did try to be good this year and I think my intentions should count for something. Come-on Santa

XO-Mya

Don't Be Shy

2008-12-13T16:09:00.006-05:00

Hi my name is Crazy Girl what's yours? Don't be shy as you can see I'm not.

I love getting dressed up and having my picture taken. Look mom I have my first tooth. I'm soooo cute!

I wuv my bunny. He's so soft. Have a nice day!

Xo-Grammy Mya

Don't Skip Christmas

2008-12-08T17:06:00.004-05:00

Budgets are tight this year and the quest for the perfect gift is on. Don't sweat it readers, Mya is here to give you 3 thoughtful and even inexpensive ideas.

#1 The intimate dinner option: This is really fun when done with a group like your siblings for instance. Plan a meal and divide the entrees among the individuals contributing. Each person shops for and makes a different portion of the meal and serves it to the lucky recipient. This group can also provide the entertainment, music, after dinner foot rub, or whatever. This is what I put on my Christmas list for my poor college students, new home owner, and new parent. I can't wait to see what my children come up with and they have to clean up the kitchen afterwards. I love that part!

#2 The twelve days of Christmas lotto tree. This idea provides a little hopeful surprise or gambling to be done once a day for the twelve days before Christmas. Take one tiny tree and paper clip 12 $1:00 lotto tickets to it's branches. Wala you have 12 days of fun and somebody might actually win big!

#3 The I love you Advent Calendar. Take one 3d advent calendar and stuff each hole with a little message for the day. You could use inspirational messages, I love you because, or thinking of you type stuff. Stuff a little sweet, like chocolate in with the message and really put a smile on some one's face!

There you have it, three inexpensive ways to say I love you at Christmas. Let me know if any of you decide to use them and how they work out.

XO-Mya

Update on the Girl and The Mission

2008-12-05T10:59:00.002-05:00

Mya-Girl get out there and shovel the side walks. The cold won't kill you I promise! That is your big mission for today.
If I post it- it will be done. xo-Mya

I might Get Arrested

2008-12-05T09:06:00.002-05:00

I wasn’t born yesterday, far from it, but why do I feel so tempted to do something so stupid and very illegal? I was approached a few days ago about joining a Woman’s Gifting Circle. The invitation came from an old friend for a girls night of food and sharing. She said it was a gifting club for woman where they get together and talk while exchanging gifts. Okay here’s how that conversation went:
This is me: “Okay, sounds like fun, what sort of gift should bring?” Friend: Well it’s kind of hard to explain but we give each other money.” Me: “Money, how much money?” Friend:“Most groups give 5k each. (yeah thats right 5 thousand) and our 8 names form a heart. The woman at the point or bottom of the heart gets the 40k. Then she drops out and everyone moves down a spot.” Me: “What 5k are you crazy?”
Well you can imagine how the rest of that conversation went. I just couldn’t get over the fact that she wanted me to bring 5k in cash and hand it over, all in hopes that I would eventually receive 40k, if we get enough suckers, I mean woman, to join.
I asked around a bit and did a little google search but I still wasn’t satisfied with what I heard or found. The net said pyramid scheme and very illegal. People I know said,” oh yeah I heard so and so did it and made 40k or did it twice and made 80k.”
My brain says; what a scam and Mya girl you would have to be one crazy bitch to get involved with that. I can just see it now, after the money is exchanged the swat team will bust through the windows, swinging on ropes, put me in handcuffs and then hall me away to share my new digs with my new roomy, Big Bonnie.
Ohhh, Did I forget to tell you about my vivid imagination. Yeah it’s pretty bad. Throw in a little anxiety and a lot of caffeine and you have the rambling version of musing mya. But seriously readers, what should I do? I am sooo curious and who wouldn’t want to make a quick and painless 40k? Yes Janet, I am well aware of the old add-age; if it sounds to good to be true it probably is, but, but I just want to go to see what kind of women are involved. Should I go and leave my check book at home or should I just stay away, all together, because I know how easily suckered I am?… And of course there is the illegal part. But I am so tempting by the easy money thing.

Have I ever done anything illegal before, you ask? Well that’s an entirely different post :)

XO-Mya

Twilight and Vampire Loving; are you kidding me?

2008-12-03T11:41:00.007-05:00

Have you seen the movie Twilight or read the book?

Okay, I definitely have a vivid imagination and I love a hot steamy romance but I just don't know if I could get into the whole vampire love thing. I am quite sure the moment things were heating up and he bent over to sink his fangs into my neck, it would be all over- period. True I have not seen the movie or read any of the books but still I have to wonder- am I so different from most. I just can't see the allure of having a lover that drinks blood. Can you? I tried to watch Interview with a Vampire with Mr. Dreamy Brad Pitt but I couldn't handle it and I turned it before it was half over. Can you believe I turned away from Sexy Brad?

I realize this movie is based on a YA novel and there is probably no sex, just a love affair between normal teens and ones that sport long fangs and drink blood. I admit I am curious about the movie and you can be sure that the moment it hits pay-per-view I will be all over it, but until then I really need some enlightenment on the whole vampire lover thing. What am I missing people tell me!

Snow is a Four Letter Word

2008-12-02T07:54:00.006-05:00

S-slushy
N-nasty
O-over-the-top
W-wet

Is anyone with me out there? Okay, it is beautiful and makes the world soft and quiet. Yes, there is something magical about walking in a woods that has been silenced by deep snow. But it is also very wet, very, very cold, dangerous on the roads and did I say it's cold? It's not really the snow that I despise. Its the whole cold thing. Winter is not my scene. I have southern roots and can't understand for the life of me why my relatives would have chosen, yes CHOSEN, to move to a cold climate. I was born here-had no choice.

There are certain things that I do enjoy about winter and here are a few of them:

Crackling fire

Hot cocoa

The sound of snow under my tires

Tree branches frosted with snow

Cute snowmen with very fashionable accessories

Did any of you brave black Friday? I was one of those very silly woman that started at 4:00 am. You heard me right I got up and went shopping at 4:00 am. It was my nieces fault. She insisted that we start early enough to get a free Victoria Secret bag. I said do you really think they Will be out by the respectable time of 9:00 am?

To my surprise the store was packed at 4:00 am along with several other stores. We passed a few large department stores with lines circling around the buildings and no parking spaces to be had. This is in Michigan, the unemployment capital of the USA. Maybe the media has it all wrong. I heard that sales were up everywhere but somehow the media failed to make a big deal of that.

It was fun and I did survive without a nap, just lots of caffeine.

Have yourself a beautiful snow covered day or sun shiny day depending on where you live.

XO-Mya

Fairytale Dreams and Birthday Wishes

2008-11-30T15:09:00.020-05:00

Babygirl turned one and celebrated a fairytale party with family, fairies and cake.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This party is fit for a fairy princess, said Tinkerbell.

Very loudly, I might add.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah baby, bring on the cake and the bikinis.

Doesn't everyone eat cake in a bikini?

Yum! Yum!

The fairies worked very hard to make this party a success, and when it was all said and done, one little fairy was in desperate need of a long nap.

Shhhhh!

This little fairy went back to her place on the Christmas Tree to relax after a very satisfying day of partying.

:) :) :)

Happy Birthday Baby!

XO- Grammy Mya

Give Thanks for Food and Family

2008-11-26T07:21:00.005-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving my friends. I hope you find the time to enjoy your friends and family and have the opportunity to eat some really good food. I found 2 tempting salad recipes right Here. I can't wait to try them. One is made with toasted pecans, cooked in a sugar glaze and topped off with cranberries and Gorgonzola cheese. YUM! The other is made with toasted almonds, strawberries and feta cheese. They both take a homemade dressing and romaine lettuce. Pass the wine please.
So yesterday was a success with a couple great new salad recipes and fabulous hair. Thanks Tyler and Madison you girls always know just how to whip my hair into shape.
Have a beautiful holiday but don't eat so much that you're too slow for the bargains on Friday. Meet me at the mall :)

XO-Mya

The Girl, The Mission, The Secret

2008-11-25T10:57:00.008-05:00

Are those my shapely legs and firm behind?
What do you think?

I'm back after a long weekend. I have accomplished very little since we last spoke but I'm alright with that. On the very top of my mission list today is to find a really awesome recipe for a salad that I haven't made before and shop for the ingredients before my hair appointment this afternoon. I always end up with salad duty for family holidays. Not really sure why that is? Oh yeah it's probably because I'm really not that good at cooking.
Well I did promise a secret didn't I. Yes well here it is: I am really kind of liking this whole unemployed thing and I'm not really searching all that hard for a job. Shhhhh!
Not that I could find one in Michigan right now anyway. You remember in years past that around the holidays most retail stores had help wanted or now hiring signs in their front windows? Well not this year. Nope, notta, at least not in Michigan that is. I told myself if I saw one of those signs asking for temporary help-I would apply. Well I can't say that I am too disappointed. True I am a little bored but I have my writing projects to keep me busy. Oh yeah, my latest novel is off to a kind of slow start but I'm working at it.
I'll let you know if I find any really killer salad recipes and how my hair turns out.
By the way I am on the prowl for any fun Christmas Day activities or themes for this year. if you have any great ideas please share. In the past we have had ornament or white elephant auctions with the money being donated to charity. It is fun and giving at the same time but I am looking for something new. What does your creative mind have to say about this?

Wanted to share my fave You Tube video and song Yeal Naim

XO-Mya

The Girl, The Mission, Road Trip, & A Sexy Sofa

2008-11-21T08:04:00.008-05:00

Survived the dentist and the drugs yahhhhhh! My mission for today is a road trip. So not much getting done around here, but that's okay. I am sure you are wondering what the heck does a road trip have to do with that sexy little sofa above. The velvet lady is the muse for my current novel and she has a secret. Oh I just love secrets, don't you? Well more on that in a later post.
Have a wonderful weekend. I may fall a little short on my promise of a daily post over the weekend and yes I know you don't want to hear my excuses. I do have a couple good ones. I know, know I am falling short of my mission already, but I have my reasons. I know you don't want to hear them but I just saying....

Question of the day and this should prove that I am not so self-involved that I don't know what's going on in the world around me. Does too much money make you dumb and blind? I ask this because I don't understand how the Auto execs thought they could appeal to congress for a bail out by arriving into town on their lavish private jets and think no one would notice or care. I just don't get it- are they mindless idiots or does all that money really impair your judgement? There I feel better. Don't you?

XO-Mya

The Girl The Mission The Dentist, eeehhhh

2008-11-20T08:42:00.005-05:00

Okay folks I am going a little easy on my self today. I have to go to the dentist and you know what that means for me. Well maybe you don't but here goes. I have to finish a crown (not the queen kind) and have another root canal. All of this means heavy medication for me. Remember I don't even like to have my teeth cleaned and I hate pain. My dental phobia is starting to kick in about now. In order to get me in the dental chair and start poking and drilling (ohh I can hear that drill now) I have to be medicated. Did anyone say wimp? Right here... do you see me waving my hand?

The really good thing about the meds are that I feel relaxed and can't remember a thing including the pain and sound of the drill. The bad thing is that I can't remember a thing. So I have to have a driver and a babysitter. I have been known to buy things I don't need and find them the next day only to wonder how I got them and then worry that I have become a shoplifter. Or put things away and never find them. Say things fifty times or forget to do what the dentist told me because I wasn't in my right mind when they told me. Yes, its bad, but totally worth it because it gets the job done painlessly and without several days of anxiety.

Okay so my mission for today is get a few pages of my manuscript done, pick up the house, and survive the dentist. Then I will veg out and try to stay out of trouble.

Can she do it? Yes she can!

Yesterday's mission impossible was pretty much a success. Most of the decorating is done and I completed 5 pages of my story. I will let you know how my dental adventures go.

XO-Mya

My Mission Day Two

2008-11-19T17:07:00.012-05:00

Day one of my mission of completing the tasks I set out to do each and every day. Including posting on my progress daily. To understand my nonsense see day Zero/ previous post.
Today's mission was to finish my Christmas decorating and yes I am a bit early this year but upcoming family festivities warrant that this is done before Thanksgiving. Blah, blah, blah and having said all of that here is a snip it of what I accomplished. My theme this year is a little girl's fairy tale tree. Everything on the tree is either part of a story book fairy tale or a girl-like fantasy.

Christmas Tree up and decorated-check.
Okay I cheated a little there because I put it up and did most of the trimming this weekend but I am still counting it!

Wreaths completed and hung. Check- Check Both wreaths were existing pieces that I made years ago but they were in dire need of sprucing and adding a few new bedazzles here and there. The little elf above was part of my Christmas as a child. He sat on a little ladder going up the tree. He has a couple friends hiding on the other side of the wreath. Hopefully my sister doesn't see this or she will be ticked that I ended up with them. At least I hope so. I love it when I win the sibling rivalry thing.

The fairy door is decked out for the Holiday's with a tiny wreath and gifts on the door step. Check No I don't really believe in fairies, well at least not until I see one slip through the tiny door on my porch. I just want to keep the neighbors guessing and scare away the door to door solicitors.

My two feet tall bugling angel is in place, she is gracing my granite counter top. Check
I just love her. Picked her up at Home Goods- gotta love that store! She is gorgeous but hard to photograph- she is more beautiful in real life.
Doesn't sound like much but I did a lot more than I mentioned here honost, plus I had to chase the princess around.

Okay as for yesterday- Day Zero's task. How did I do? Well I didn't get 10 pages typed but I did manage 7. I now I have 10 typed pages. Slow progress but it is coming and sounds Damn good if I do say so myself :)

Til' tomorrow when The Girl- The Mission- and Day Two begins.

XO-Mya

My Mission and Day Zero

2008-11-18T16:12:00.005-05:00

The girl, the mission, the task, the impossible and day zero.

Okay blogging buddies that is if you are still out there. I have gotten terribly distracted and need a new mission to carry me through my daily blog posts. So new plan. Are you ready. I will (try to) post daily on one task that I need to or will (may) accomplish for that day. Notice that I am a realist and say things like: try to, need to, or may accomplish.

Well aside from all that, this is my new mission and it starts with today; day zero. I will keep you updated on my progress of completing the task. Remember I am very easily side-tracked. I may need your help to keep me focused, decisive, and completely on task.

Okay the task or mission impossible for today is to take my newly outlined manuscript from an outline to at least ten typed pages. It won't be much, probably 7 thousand words by page 10 but it is a start.

Ready Go..........

The Presidential Pup

2008-11-13T19:13:00.005-05:00

this little guy is one of the contenders for first dog.

A face that... well, I'm not sure anyone could love.
So the search is on for the next White House dog. It must be outgoing and as hypoallergenic as possible but shouldn't it be photogenic as well? Let's face it- as trivial as it seems the White House pets are sometimes remembered and photographed more often than the actual first family.

No dog is completely allergy free but this hairless dude above may come close.
I have shared my life with dogs from the day I was born, but discovered only a few years ago, during allergy testing, that I was allergic to them. I don't know what it would be like to be without or allergy free so I have kept my pooches and suffered a few sinus ills here and there.

Whatever pooch they choose, I hope it will give the Obama girls many years of companionship. Below is a list of the most popular names picked for the new presidential pup. Let me know your top pick. I like Lady Liberty or Economy.

Thanks for dropping by. Sorry I've been AWOL lately but a family emergency took me away for a few days.

XO-Mya

Here are the most popular names written in by poll respondents:
Hope
Lucky
Change
Sarah
George
Maverick
Snoopy
Buddy
Champ
Dog
Freedom
King
Liberty
Lincoln
Martin
Saul
Yes We Can
Other, less popular suggestions:
Abrahound Lincoln
Audacity
Big Reg
Donut
Duffy
Duke
Economy
Entropy
Howard (Dean)
Lady Liberty
Liberty ‘Libby’
Momentum
Nomad
Nova or Jade
Oprah
Promise
Rosa
Rufus
Secretary of State
Tina Fey

Every Voice Matters

2008-11-04T07:16:00.006-05:00

This is it the big election day. Can you believe what a long road this has been? My little lady bug says get out and vote today. Make sure you are heard loud and clear. Every voice matters so make yours count!

XO-Mya

Movie Talk

2008-11-02T17:39:00.004-05:00

I thought we could share a little movie talk between friends. My lastest movie adventure was The Secret Life of Bees this weekend. It really is a must see. The acting is great and the story is moving. Most of the theater audience shed at least one tear or maybe two. The book is even better so if nothing else read the book!

My previous movie trip was to see Nights in Rodanthe. Excellent romantic date night movie. I have to say I liked the movie a little better than the book. Another old favorite of mine that I happened to catch on Encor this weekend is Prelude to a Kiss. Of course, I love almost every Meg Ryan movie.

What movies have you seen lately?

XO-Mya

Haunted Houses and Happy Halloween

2008-10-29T11:09:00.008-04:00

Happy Halloween my friends. I am back from my trip just in time to wish you all a spooky but safe tricker treat.

Are there goblins outside your window or a monster at your door?

Do ghosts haunt your bedroom and send you hurling on the floor?

(What would you do if you saw this coming at you?)

(Run? Good choice!)

Would you like to pay a visit to a place where ghosts and goblins hide?

Would you need your protector to stand strong and fearless at your side?

(This is a little cottage we visited in Captiva some time ago)

(looks haunted to me)

Take a long and treacherous walk up my stare,

you can enter my doorway if you dare.

(I wouldn't it looks far too creepy for me)

Old but not forgotten to the spirits that live inside,

What a lovely fortress for the zombies that must hide.

( I would love to take a tour of old abandoned or haunted houses on Halloween night but not alone! How about you?)

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Xo-Mya

Pink Saturday in Chicago

2008-10-24T09:19:00.008-04:00

It is Pink Saturday once again and I will be spending it with my girlfriends in Chicago. Despite the weather forecast and the fact that I am the only one who doesn't snore (I'll need earplugs) I can't wait to get there.

We are going to see Tina and Tony's Wedding which I've heard is quite a hoot. The rest of our agenda involves shopping, laughing and maybe a drink or two.

This is the latest Flamingo exhibit. Can you pick me out? I'm the one in the lead, headed for the posh store in the next picture.

What a glamorous looking store! I am sure I won't be able to afford even a scarf in this shop but what a fun place to browse. I could live with a closet that looked like that. How about you?

Don't forget to stop by our friend Beverly's at How Sweet the Sound for a tour of Pink Saturday.

XO-Mya

Happy Fall

2008-10-21T08:09:00.004-04:00

baby-girl's first leaf pile

Remember those fall days when you were young and couldn't wait to dive into a fresh pile of leaves? Falling leaves, bright orange pumpkins with Jack-o Lantern faces, and the excitement of Halloween just around the corner- the simple pleasures of our youth. Take a moment this week to jump into a fresh pile of leaves, roll around, throw them in the air, and then quickly duck into the house before the neighbor starts the phone chain to let everyone know that you finally lost your mind.

Happy Fall. Pumpkins dreams and goblin wishes to you all.

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday and Sunday Scribblings (Ruby Moon)

2008-10-17T21:02:00.023-04:00

Photo credit: Flickr/ enchantres

I always wanted to open a little shop of upscale bath and body products and call it Ruby Moon. Since that was not to be, I created an imaginary Ruby Moon. It was imagined by me as described below. (Just my style)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ruby Moon was full of the enchanting allure of mysterious concoctions, all very purposeful but dangerous to the wallet. These mixtures were represented in bottles and tins of all shapes and sizes. The slender bottles gracing the window ledges reflected colorful light that bounced off the mirrors throughout the shop. They consisted of thick wavy glass that resembled old vessels washed up on the shore. Wavy glass bent the light into prisms that danced across the floor. There were endless shelves of glass, deep mahagony floors, and a hint of apple green covered what was left. Amber bottles wore labels with vintage appeal that was reminiscent of old France and begged to be touched.

It took only a quick glance in the window or a whiff of the lingering aroma to draw the customers in. The regulars were women who had little to do and more money than they knew what to do with. Many a traveler happened upon the shop with only fumes in their wallets but somehow they found a way to possess a special tonic that would change their lives. Some potions pledged to get you in the mood while other tonics promised to fix any flaw. Tucked in the back corner of Ruby Moon were thick cushy robes and fluffy white slippers that felt like heaven and begged to be worn. Moody blues played in the background as the customers filled their arms with French milled soaps, musk scented candles, and sexy bath beads.

The magic started the moment you entered the shop; a feeling of serenity swept you up; intoxicating smells whisked you away to exotic places with a mind-set far from home. An essence of vanilla with just a hint of something spicy always lingered over head. Each product held a promise to bless your home, make you unforgettable or cause a barren woman to become fertile.

This shop was bathed in a mystic atmosphere and every scent played a part in the allure of Ruby Moon. They all had an implicit purpose and place in the store. The customers were oblivious to the power that Miss Ruby held over them. All it took was a whiff of her potions to render them helpless. The aroma would seep out through the vents in spite of a few, well placed, droplets in the air ducts which permeated the air and tempted them in from the street. These poor souls didn’t comprehend why they had come to Ruby Moon but a voice in their head told them to possess this fragrance before they left the store.

Today’s fragrance is Velvet Crush which is a passionate combination of opium and sweet vanilla.

Want Some???

Thank you for stopping by Ruby Moon on a Pink Saturday.

For more tempting posts visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

XO-Mya

Fairy Doors and Magic Skies

2008-10-14T12:16:00.004-04:00

Just wanted to share with you a couple of notes about my recent birthday. Just as you might have guessed I was 25 again.
The image above was my view of the sky on the eve of my birthday. I couldn't decide if it was beautiful or bewitching. At the very least it was magical and I just had to share it with you.

I couldn't wait to show you the gift from my daughter. It is of course a tiny fairy door. It looks sweet gracing my front porch. I am still waiting for the little fairies to come in and spread a little magic fairy dust about. You can get one for yourself at http://www.enchantedfairydoors.com/

Happy Birthday to all my fellow Libras out there.

XO-Mya

Little Help Please-Your Opinion Matters to Me

2008-10-12T10:40:00.011-04:00

I am looking for a little feedback on the opening pages of my first novel "A Sea of Whispers"

Please give me your honest opinion on how it makes you feel and if you would continue to read the book. It is so important that the opening pages draw the reader in. Your opinion matters to me, so tell me what you think. Is there something I should add, delete or change. Don't be afraid to say what you really think- I need honesty.

A sea of Whispers

Beyond the sunken gate, tucked within the garden wall, lies a secret. This secret waits in silence for those who seek answers to the mystery within. It is protected by vines that never sleep and flowers that spew a luring bouquet. The salty air blows past the secret garden and whispers truths to a past filled with lies.

Chapter I

The space between sleep and consciousness is a little uneasy for Tally. She never knows if within those moments she will open her eyes to the comforts of her cottage or the terror of the day that she lost her innocence. Her nightmares are so vivid that the scent lingers inside her nose for several minutes after she wakes. Sight is the strongest of our five senses but scent evokes memories like nothing else can.

She licked her lips, no blood, it was just another dream. Her chest rose and fell hard as she drew in a deep breath and let it out again. Still struggling for a reason to open her eyes, Tally exposed the windows and looked out across the rainy skies. It was the kind of day that she would rather close the shades and just sleep. This wasn’t possible today, it was important that she made an effort, especially today. She dressed in her favorite white blouse and charcoal grey pants that buttoned down the side and rested at her ankles with a two inch cuff. Not her best look but she would make it work. The pants were trendy back when she bought them several years ago but now that was debatable. One peek in her closet was telling; it was obvious that it had been far too long since she paid attention to the way she dressed. There was a time when looking stylish and attractive wouldn’t have been an issue or even a thought in her mind. She’d been blessed with something special; her charisma came naturally and without effort. But times had changed as the years passed. As Tally looked in the mirror she couldn’t help but notice the dark circles below her eyes and subtle hints of grey hair that seemed to have crept up over night. After she fell madly in love with the man of her dreams she stopped paying attention to the way she looked. It never occurred to her that it mattered anymore or that David would notice and fall out of love with her. As an ocean breeze blew through the open window and graced her cheek; she glanced down at her worn out shoes on the cold floor. The soles were tattered and the leather, worn with age, had lost most of its color. She wished she had something better, but she was alone now for the first time in her life and new shoes were not an option. Tally hoped that she could pull it off and no one would notice that her clothing revealed a woman who had lost herself years ago. She felt relieved as she stepped through the door and noticed that the rain had stopped. A break in the weather meant that she could leave the old car stationary and cruise down the road on her vintage bicycle. The breeze on her face and wind sailing through her hair was her favorite way to launch the day. She felt good as a wall of steam rose from the sandy soil and wrapped her body in a comforting way. Off in the distance her eyes met the most beautiful rainbow, stretched across the sky. It was spectacular but then so was everything else outside her quaint little cottage on the edge of the sea.

Tally looked at the tremble in her hands; she was nervous. It had been a long time since she started a new job. She couldn’t remember what it felt like to be the new girl fumbling her way through a task while hoping that no one would notice. Desperate to live up to her dreams, her mind longed for the day that she would be free from the daily nightmares. But these dreams were always there no matter how far she ran to escape them. Life was going change now that she found a place where she could lose herself, far away from her past. The landscape was different, people were different, even the air smelled different in this stretch along the beach. Tally vowed to leave her past in West Virginia, no addictions, no secrets, no more lies. This wasn’t a good time to be thinking about her past but she couldn’t keep the memories at bay. As she jumped on her bicycle and headed up the trail, the memories flooded her mind like a river that had found its way around the dam.

I appreciate your comments.

XO-Mya

Extreme Makeover Home Addition in Michigan

2008-10-07T09:43:00.012-04:00

A star is born- well almost.
More on that later.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Michigan last week and they built a fabulous house.

This deserving family lost their father and husband to the dreadful Hep-C virus. He unfortunately contracted it while working as a nurse at a local hospital.

My husband's company was one of the contractors on the job and to my daughter's surprise he set it up so she could help build the interior stone wall. Imagine her excitement as she did her hair and picked just the right outfit for her debut. Dani sue had visions of meeting the man- Ty Pennington. Well he was no where to be seen on that day- off on another assignment.

She decided that it was okay that she didn't see Ty when Micheal asked her to be his assistant for the unveiling of the T.V. He told her to hide behind a half wall and pop up when he said the T.V. will appear out of nowhere. She quickly jumped behind the wall and fixed her hair but at the last minute the producer gave her a piece of cardboard to push up instead of her face. She didn't find it very funny as they all laughed at her question-How are they going to see me?

Micheal was sweet and signed her shirt. Then he called her his little T.V. bitch (in an endearing way) and told her to put on her resume that she was his assistant.

Although she didn't become a star or get to meet Ty, she had a good time and it was a very worthy cause.

Sorry Dani Sue but I had to share this- it was just too good to keep to myself :)

XO-Mya (mom)

Pink Saturday; Posh Pets

2008-10-04T07:50:00.002-04:00

How pampered is your pet. I found a sight for Posh pet parties. Check it out. Yes, I know what am I thinking; in these economic times isn't this s bit ridiculous? Well maybe but it would be a lot of fun. My dogs don't have their own doggie sofa. Why? Because they don't know they're dogs. They would snub their noises and jump right up on the human sofa, anyway.

It would make a cute conversation piece though.

Happy Pink Saturday to you and your furry friends. Visit our wonderful hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more pink fun.

XO-Mya

Hopeful Friday

2008-10-03T11:02:00.004-04:00

My princess Grace

Today I am joining The House in the Roses for Hopeful Friday. What could be more hopeful than the face of a child in the sunlight not to mention a little girl with wings. As we grow older we sometimes lose our ability to fly. Life has a way of interfearing in our pursuit of the dream by clipping our wings. Don't give up- wings have the ability to grow back.
Believe in yourself and follow your bliss all the way to the dream.

Thank you Cielo for being our gracious hostess.

XO-Mya

Dream a little dream for me

2008-10-01T13:12:00.009-04:00

Life is funny; it seems that everyone is jumping on the band wagon of doom and gloom right now. It makes good headlines and gets good ratings for the news. But what does it do to you and me?

It makes me want to just zone out and dream...

If you could control your dreams- what would they be?

Would you dream in full color or black and white, beautiful forests or sandy beaches?

Now that summer has come to a close and fall is in full swing

here in Michigan we need something hopeful- before the cold

north winds of winter come blowing our way.

Leave me some good news, tell me whats new or right with the

world in your neck of the woods.

Up lift me with your positive spirit.

Go on I dare you!

BE POSITIVE it may be contagious :)

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday; Can you hear me now?

2008-09-26T20:17:00.005-04:00

PINK

Pink is a softer, less violent red. Pink is the sweet side of red. It's cotton candy and bubble gum and babies, especially little girls.

Do you remember when phones were big and immoble like this? You had to sit in the room with everyone else, maybe crouch behind a chair, to make a call. Not a lot of privacy but then we didn't spend nearly as much time on the phone as we do today. Remember the feeling of sweeping your finger around the dial? Would our kids even know how yo use one of these?

Well, here we are in modern times when everyone has one of these hanging on the side of their face at all times. I am just as quilty. What did we do before the days of instant gradification and the feeling of being connected at all times? Could we ever return to the days of a 5 pound stationary phone? I think not!

Join Beverly and the gang for more Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.
Have a great weekend.
XO-Mya

Looking Through the Garden Gate

2008-09-25T07:45:00.014-04:00

There is something about a garden gate that compels you to look. You must, at least, take a peek at what lies beyond the garden gate.

Even the plants know the secret and are willing to help protect it by obscuring your view. It must be a secret so special that you are willing to risk it and sneak past the entrance.

Some secrets are rare or just too good to keep. All gardens are beautiful in their own way but a gate makes them more alluring in your minds eye.

Temptation lies in the mind of us all and we can't help but take a peek at the secrets that lie beyond the gate.

I love a good garden gate it peeks my interest and adds an old world charm to my view. Everything looks much better and much more intriguing when seen through sturdy wrought iron.

The details and design of the gate speak volumes about the place that it protects. The guardian of our lives make the world a more beautiful place and keep the secret alive.

While taking a walk past this hefty gate would you dare to peek at the secrets that hide behind it? Would you bend down and peek through the windows or would you be strong enough to pass by without a look?

This post begs the question; what secrets lie behind your garden gate?

Just a little playful eye candy for a routine Thursday.

Have a great day.

XO-Mya

If Wishes had Wings

2008-09-22T20:08:00.008-04:00

If wishes had wings and dreams were like fairies.

my little princess

If wishes had wings and could reach their destination, what would you wish for? Would your dreams be so profound as world peace or as selfish as a new car?

princess of the pumpkin patch

If dreams were like pumpkins, would you dream big and round like a million dollars? Or small and simple like a sun-shiny day?

my little princess

If wishes were like fairies with a little magic to move them along, where would you be? Would you live in a mansion down by the sea? Or would you wish for a long life of health and happiness too?

my fairy princess

If wishes had wings and dreams were like fairies, my wish would be for you: to follow your bliss and never look back, to make everyday special and cherish your loved ones, to smile at your friends and be kind to strangers, to laugh at the small stuff and sweat only when necessary, but most of all to be yourself and know you are loved!

All my love.

-Mya

Pink Saturday meets The Women

2008-09-19T21:27:00.012-04:00

Happy Pink Saturday.
Girls Night, We saw the new movie; THE WOMEN

It was witty, fun and oh yes, Meg Ryan still looks fabulous!
This movie has met with mixed reviews; I would give it a 6.5 out of 10. Based on the girly humor and fun. My girlfriends said it was okay. I found a link to The Vault Blog with movie clips and relationship advice.

Unlike Sex in the City there was no sex or outrageous outfits. Just relationship troubles and true girl bounding. A definite chic flick to save for girls night.

Your hubby may want to see the movie just for the spritzer girl :(

Not the kind of chic you want helping your man with his Christmas shopping.

Bet Midler was as fun as usual in her short appearance. She played a ganja smoking wacky talent agent.

Four fabulous friends; what else could a girl ask for?
Girlfriends always keep each other in the vault!

Don't forget to visit our Dear Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for links to the the blogs in the pink today.

What good movies have you seen lately?

This post is dedicated to all my girlfriends out there. Friendships are special cherish them!
-Mya

Crazy Weekend of Nonsence and Rain

2008-09-16T13:33:00.021-04:00

How are you surviving mother nature? It seems she has calmed down a bit for us. We tried to make the most of the 7 inches of rain that fell upon us over the past weekend. Here are just a few of the crazy things we did.

My Daughter let loose a few rubber duckies into the little brook that became a big stream running through our yard. We watched from the windows as they floated by in the rain. It was quite a comical way to combat cabin fever.

Did a little shopping at Target and picked myself up a trendy little corduroy trench coat in turquoise. I just love everything about this jacket, the weight, the color, the style.

I just had to have this little black dress. I don't have a specific event to wear it to, but I love it. You can never have too many black dresses, Right?

Girls night, Yipeee! We went to dinner but never made it to the movie "The Women" because it was on at 9:30 and everyone had an early start to the next day. Party Poopers.
I still can't wait to see it.

We had a few nightly visitors during the storm. This group consisted of 2 momma deer, one with twins and the other with a single fawn. Very Sweet!

Caught Ya

My little grand- princess is being sneaky; trying to steal the remote again. Isn't she precious!

This little creature came out just as the storm ended to bask in the moonlight. He was bigger than a mouse and a bit creepy looking. (no more mice in my car....so far)

This sounded like a good idea at the time but it got a little out of hand. Brit needed to take some pics for her photography class. We dressed up the dogs for a tea party on the porch (it was still raining) She started snapping away when all of a sudden a squirrel decided to get in on the action. You can imagine how they dogs felt- No squirrels allowed! So they took off across the lawn and down the path to the field and pond. So much for getting dressed up for tea.

Franchesca ruined a perfectly good party dress on her squirrel hunt which cancelled the photo shoot. The squirrel got away and later climbed up into the tree to peak in the windows and taunt the poor mutts.

My little gypsy girl remained on the porch. No squirrel is worth the pain of getting your feet wet. She doesn't do mud or snow either. Just another Diva in the house of Musing Mya.

Thank you, my wonderful blogging friends. Have a great week. Hope the weather has calmed down for you all.

By the way I made it through the dentist today but have to go back to finish up in 3 weeks. Yeah!

-Mya

Pink Saturday; Critter Alley

2008-09-12T18:31:00.010-04:00

found these little cuties on this blog

I thought I would use this Pink Saturday to give you an update on my critter infestation. Our lovely hostess Beverly has links to the whole Pink Saturday cast; so pay her a visit.

It all started in my previous post when I explained about the mice who have made my Lexus into their castle. I found one in my back seat while cruising down the highway. Through him out but I just knew their were more. The smell of fried mice coming from my vents was a telltail sign that this mouse wasn't alone.
So today I took my car into the dealership and explained my situation. I let them know that my car is the only one they love. Do they bother either of my sons cars that have left over food and dirty dishes in them? NO.
Do they bother my husbands truck that had a bag of bird seed in the back seat? NO.
They prefer the clean car with the leather seats that are heated no less.
Well it took those boys 2 hours to tear things apart, find the remains of the dead mice and tear out the huge nest. This in turn sent little field mice running rampant through my car and out into the dealership. The kind gentleman told me they got them and I was safe to go home but when I stepped into my car, what do you think I found. A little mouse sitting on the passenger side grooming himself. Did he mind that I was riding along? NO.
I called the boys over and they chased him out into the showroom. LOL
Needless to say I am sure that I'm not free of mice yet.
Because I stopped at Target and found the cutest black dress when all of a sudden I heard screams coming from the front of the store. Come to find out there was a mouse running through the aisles. Well you bet I checked my purse thinking they hitched a ride.
(This is all true I swear, I couldn't write this stuff)

flickr photo

Now I am really starting to get paranoid because when I was dressing in the bathroom today, a couple of little voyeurs were stuck to the window peeking in at me. (tree frogs)

flicker photo

And a giant praying mantis was sitting on one of the cars in our driveway after dark. He was as big as a mouse and startled me as I walked by.

I have always had stray animals show up at my door or my car but never mice. I have a reputation and people call me when their animals are missing because they usually cross my path. Several years ago I met a new friend and she told me her dog was missing. The very next day I was visiting another friend and the dog showed up there. A couple years later I found a friend's missing dog while walking on my lunch hour during work; he just ran up to me. So on and so forth. You get the picture. Animals always seam to find me or I find them.

FYI; The car dealer told me to put dryer sheets in my car to repel the mice. But first I have to catch the ones still living in my dash board.

Sorry so long winded but I needed to share.

Have a great mouse-free weekend.

-Mya

City Girl Overrun by Country Critters

2008-09-10T19:28:00.010-04:00

This city girl needs help from some of you country folk. Ok I grew up as a country girl but I have been living in the city for over 20 years now. When I say city I mean; within the city limits but just barely. A few feet outside my yard is country; a hard wood forest, a meadow and a pond. Having clarified all of that; here is my problem.
The critters love our place we are visited by deer, skunks, coons, wild turkeys, snakes, etc. With the exception of the snakes I don't mind. Every since I bought my most recent car I have had a huge problem with field mice. They love my car. Not my hubby's truck or either of my son's vehicles, just mine.
They climb into the engine, cooling system, heating vents or where ever they can. They don't just visit they nest and reproduce. You can imagine what my car smells like after the fan belt chops them to bits leaving pieces of flesh to fry on the engine.
Sorry to be so graphic but I am really ticked off because now they have grown tired of their hiding spots under the hood.
They have moved inside to warmer and more comforting quarters.

Brace yourself for this next story. It will make your skin crawl.

I need one of these

I was driving my 15 mile jaunt this morning to pick up the princess when I heard an unusual sound. It was a chirping sound. I thought perhaps the speakers to my car were going out. Then I thought maybe a bird had gotten locked inside. Just then I saw something fall from the ceiling behind me. Two seconds later I noticed little black droppings on my dash. I quickly pulled over and jumped out of my car. Opened all of the doors and started looking for the little *#^*#!
I found a baby field mouse (with his eyes still unopened) on my back seat. I grabbed him by the tail and tossed him out. I just know there are more but can't find the *^*#* little darlings.
Help me or I will have to get one of these (below) to live in my Lexus.

Maybe I should get one of these

Not sure which would be worse the mess of an owl in my car or the smell of dead mice in my heating unit. Not to mention the filthy droppings on the seats and the fear that a mouse is going to drop on my head (while I am driving) at any given moment.

Come on country girls ...

Help out a city girl.

What should I do?

- City Girl Mya

Enchanted Window Party

2008-09-08T06:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Monday and welcome to The Enchanted Window Party sponsored by Cielo from The House in the Roses.

Thank you Cielo; what a lovely idea for a party.

my window at sunrise

Windows are the soul of a house because, just like our eyes, they capture the light that surrounds us. I love the way the light of day changes our view of everything. From sunrise to sunset the light can change a scene or our mood in an instant.

my window in mid-morning

A beautiful window, wavy glass, and the color of light is all I need to inspire my mood. It is difficult to capture the light just right, but when you do, it's pure magic.

my window at sunset

Sunset is a special time of night that bathes everything in a peaceful glow. It's amazing how the view through one window can change drastically with a little time and light.

The light in my window is dramatically beautiful but it is what lies beyond the window that most inspires me.

I love this little pink cottage and the cute little windows that are enveloped in Bougainvillea vines. Just perfect in a very quaint sort of way! I wish it was mine!

My very favorite thing about summer is the way the breeze of an open window blows the curtains across the floor and breathes life into a room. Sometimes it seems as though the room is living and breathing right along with us. Again the light filtering through this window is magical.

Thank you for visiting me. Hope you can visit the window parties in Blog Land today.

I will be thinking of all of the beautiful windows while I whimper in the dentist chair today.

-Mya

Pink Saturday; My Little Princess

2008-09-05T20:52:00.007-04:00

She began modeling for Studio Pink
at one week old.

Yes, It is Pink Saturday and today I am featuring pics of my little Pink Princess. We knew she was a princess right from the start :) She is definitely her Grammy's princess.
Please stop by Beverly's How Sweet the Sound for a list of everybody who is in the Pink today.

The little Princess in her new red convertible. What are Grammy's for? No Grampy you can't take credit for this, it was Grammy's treat. She is modeling a new mermaid crown for Studio Pink.
The car was a perk.

She's sweet even without a crown. Baby Grace is nine months old and she is crawling, almost walking, her favorite word is hi and she loves to talk on the phone. I think we might be in trouble with this little social butterfly.
No, she is not spoiled just lucky!

Monday will be a beautiful window party sponsored by The House in the Roses

The Crying Room

2008-09-02T12:01:00.009-04:00

This post is my contribution to this week's Sunday Scribblings. The topic is somewhere. Well after the week I had my somewhere has ended in a crying room taking pity on myself.

I decided to leave a whiny or cry baby post today, not to ask you to feel sorry for me but to just let you know what kind of week I had. First, let me start by saying that there are people far worse off than me but I do want to vent about everything that went painfully wrong last week.

Let the whining begin. It all started on Monday when I was cooking a fabulous dinner for my girls friends for our inspiration board night. Well at about 5:00 pm I managed to sustain 2nd degree burns on my abdomen by spilling a pot of boiling water on myself. The night went on and I survived. All was okay and my burns had become ugly blisters until Tuesday afternoon when my precious little granddaughter jumped on my stomach and ripped the blisters open. Well I guess you know that if I ever had any dreams of becoming a bikini model, I can just forget about it now. Ha Ha!
Things were getting better until Saturday when my tooth started hurting and by nightfall I was in excruciating pain. Sunday morning I made my way to The Ready Care and got a script for an antibiotic. Well it is now Tuesday and the pain is still there so we are trying a stronger med just as soon as I get done whining and make my way to the pharmacy.
It wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that I have a horrific fear of the dentist (probably why I have a bad tooth) and avoid them like the plague. I can't help it. I would rather have my appendix ripped out. At least I would be sleeping while they tortured me.
I know the tooth thing will most likely end in a dentist chair with me crying while having a root canal :(

Yes, you are right I am a big baby and professional drama queen. You might as well just deal with it... I have.

Thank you for letting me vent.

I do feel a little better.

If anyone would like to use my crying room feel free.

I will listen.

Just remember I am the queen of drama in this crying room. LOL

Here is to hoping we all have a better week!

Take Care,

-Mya

Pink Saturday; Paint Mine Pink

2008-08-29T20:48:00.007-04:00

Here we are together once again to hail to all things Pink. For the complete list of Pink ladies visit Beverly at How Sweet Sound The Sound.

Have you ever seen a Pink Freud? I wonder what he would have to say about his painting done in Pink.

It is a very sensual shade.

Did you know that Pink isn't on the color wheel? It's not considered a color at all only a shade of red.

I love all of the Madonna and Child paintings. I really like the beautiful colors in this painting by Rapheal.

I know this isn't a painting just a picture I have of a sweet little lamp from Amsterdam's in Saugatuck Michigan. But I love it and couldn't resist!

I have always admired this print by John Audubon. He has so many wonderful pieces of art but this has to be my favorite.

So glad you dropped by today :)

I have been a bit lax with my blogging this month.

I love summer and don't want to miss a moment before it has past me by.

So stay with me I will be back when the weather starts to turn.

XO-Mya

Unexpected Gifts

2008-08-27T07:26:00.009-04:00

This butterfly was an unexpected visitor that dropped by and took a seat on the foot of Miss Brittany. He stayed for 20 mintues or so and seemed perfectly content to just stretch his wings while taking a little rest. A woman passing by commented that it was a blessing that we were witnessing. Whatever you call it it was an unexpected gift for the day.

Just like the next two gifts from a couple of fellow bloggers.

The first gift is a blog award from fellow blogger Chriss Rollins. Thank you Chriss. I love your blog too!

What a cute award.

The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you’ve nominated...

I will be back to hand this sweet little award out later this week.

This little beauty was given to me by Diane from A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words.
Thank you Diane you are so sweet!

The recipient of this award is supposed to tell 6 things that make them happy and pass the award on.

I will list my favorite things and pass this one on later this week as well.

Thank you to my wonderful blogging friends for these wonderful unexpected gifts!

Take care :)
-Mya

Pink Saturday: My Pink Point of View

2008-08-22T19:58:00.004-04:00

Happy Pink Saturday.
I just had to share the view from my window a couple of mornings ago. It was absolutely breathtaking! What a beautiful Pink morning. The steam was rising off the pond and the sky was the perfect shade of Pink. Michigan mornings don't get much better than this.
Stop by the Queen of Pink herself Beverly from How Sweet The Sound and take the Pink Saturday tour.

I am so glad you stopped by for a visit.
Have a wonderful weekend.

XO-Mya

Mirror, Mirror

2008-08-19T14:21:00.003-04:00

Just had to share with you the latest photo of my little princess. She loves to look at her reflection in the mirror and say hi, her first word. In this pic she was actually watching me take her picture. I thought it was an incredible shot. Aren't babies fun? Especially Grand Babies!

Thanks for stopping by

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday;Electrofied

2008-08-15T16:01:00.007-04:00

Welcome to Pink Saturday. We have quite a gang in the Pink Saturday clan now. To tour the girls in the Pink today visit our hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

I thought about doing a nice little post with flowers but then I thought, no... been there done that. So I decided to talk about something a little more controversial.

This, my friends, is a little pink Tazer. I find it quite shocking that Tazer parties are becoming popular these days.

They are sold in several styles and colors. Notice how they are really pushing the marketing toward women. What other weapon do you know of that you can buy in passionate pink or animal print?

Yes this cute and harmless looking little object is a Tazer. It is amazing to me that there are people running around out there with tiny weapons that look like this. At about $350.00 a pop how many people do you think are buying these?

Are you motivated to arm yourself with a little Pink stun gun? The thought of a bunch of woman running around armed with little Tazers Pink or otherwise kind of scares me. Beware don't tick off the lady next door. You never know what she has in her purse.

XO-Mya

Inspiration Boards and Girls Night

2008-08-12T08:13:00.013-04:00

Okay, so I am hosting girls night next Monday and I had to come up with a theme. I like to do the theme thing, even though we are perfectly alright to just sit with a glass of wine in hand and a plate of goodies on our lap, while we just chit-chat.

But no, I never let them off that easy. I always make them take on some sort of project and work for the food. Not that my food is all that good or worth working for. All that said. Here is the project. Inspiration Boards.
They are basically poster-sized collages of pictures and/or words that feature your goals and aspirations or anything in life that you really want to have or achieve. It could just be images that inspire you on to better living.

I made the board above but I will be making another one on girls night. I have stacks of magazines and several pairs of scissors just waiting for them to dive in and make their dreams a reality. Okay maybe I am getting a little carried away but at the very least it will be fun.
Below I have a few pics that might just make it on my board. But then again maybe not. I will give you all a full report on how the night transpires sometime next week.

This interior is so yummy. I love the elegance and rich pink colors off set by the creamy white. Gorgeous!

This is a little bit closer to the kind of decor I have. Little more simplified and modern. I do love the elegance of the previous room and may someday make a change in that direction. I love the bold colors in this room above; so cheery and stimulating.

This room is so me. I could go for this in a heart beat. The rich pinks and the romantic red. Love the paintings and the couch. Awesome. I would ditch the pillows for something a little less contemporary. Rich colors are so romantic. Love it!

Now we get to the location section of the board. I would love to be on the beach, feet planted firmly in the sand, gazing out at the oceans surf crashing in on the shore. Care to take a dip?

Here we come to the dreamy part of my board. Since in this dream I live in an ocean front home; I have decided to move my beautiful bed out to the beach for the night and listen to the surf while I sleep.

Here is a sweet little cottage that I could live with. I love the happy yellow color and the intricate details that you just don't see in modern day homes. This would due for my little retreat on the beach. Join me for a goblet of wine or glass of ice tea on the porch and we will watch the sun melt into the sea :)

Thanks for dreaming with me today. Now back to your regularly scheduled life.

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday;Going In Style

2008-08-09T06:35:00.010-04:00

Welcome to Pink Saturday. Visit our beautiful hostess Beverly from How sweet the Sound and travel through a blissful world of Pink posts.

When I rise on a Pink Saturday morning I like to pull back my beautiful Pink curtains and peek out my lovely window. To get a look at the Wonderful Pink day that awaits me.

After a little primping and finding just the right outfit, I open my sweet little pink door to find my awesome Pink bike waiting for me.

Of course I fill my bike basket with gorgeous Pink flowers from my little cottage garden. Then I take off on my Pink bike for an adventure through the city.

Before long I come across a fabulous Pink Cadillac. Well you know the temptation is killing me so I must pull out my enormous wade of cash and purchase it right on the spot. I throw my sweet Pink bike into the trunk and I am off for a much bigger adventure.

Alright STOP right here. Are you not drooling over this window? You know you want to go inside. Who cares if it is too early for Christmas. Good thing I picked up the Cady so we have plenty of room for all of our packages :)

Just another lovely Pink Saturday! Thanks Beverly...

Let me know what you bought....

XO-Mya

Friday Flea market Ephemera

2008-08-07T17:43:00.007-04:00

Here we are meeting for another Friday Flea Market. Thank you Miss Polly from Counting Your Blessings for being our lovely hostess. For a shopping list of flea markets visit our FFM link.

Venus and Cupid

Today I am featuring a package of ephemera that I put together from vintage art books and other bits and pieces.

I have 25 pieces of book plates, advertisement pieces, antique primer book pages and wall paper samples. It is available at Studio Pink. For $15.00

The print of the little girls in the beauty shop has never been used, it's matted and still covered in plastic.

The book plates are vintage and really quite beautiful. The plate with the roses is very old and tattered on the edges. There are several pages from a Children's Primer book that are antique. Lots of goodies to use in your altered art or scrap booking projects.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends.

XO-Mya

In search of this old house

2008-08-05T08:54:00.006-04:00

This is a sad sight all too common these days. So many homes have been abandoned, taken away or foreclosed on. So many families robbed of their security and sense of belonging.

In the past couple of months, I have been helping my son look for a house. He is a young boy wanting to buy an inexpensive house to fix up, live in for a while and then eventually sell when he is ready to move up to the next level.

It has been an exciting time for him but also very sad. Many of the houses that he has toured have been foreclosures. I know someone is eventually going to buy them but it still seems sad to buy into someone else's misery. I am amazed at just how many repos are out there. It is a common sight in Michigan with the Auto industry in dire straights and the unemployment rate so high.

I guess I would like to look at it from a positive perspective. Maybe we have all learned that we can do with less and that it is family that really matters. I guess it is kind of like starting over for the family that lost their house and also for the new tenants that will make it their home.
Tell me, what do you think?

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday; Little Pink Houses

2008-08-02T07:25:00.010-04:00

Welcome to Pink Saturday. We are living and breathing Pink today.

Cruise on over to How Sweet The Sound and meet our wonderful hostess Beverly. Then take a trip to see all of the Pink ladies out there.

You just gotta love Betsy Johnson for her style and bold personality. I love the sea of Pink in her penthouse. I think I could live there.

Love this little Mediterranean style cottage. The rich pop of Pink and the beautiful bougainvillea vines; fabulous! This house would be a wonderful wake up call every morning and a great refresher in the evening. Who needs coffee?

I think this quaint little cottage is calling my name. Can you hear it? When I was younger I don't know if I would have had the guts or the confidence to live in a Pink house. But today...You betcha!

I decided to take a look around my area for Pink houses. Turns out there really aren't any. I guess this isn't really a Pink kind of town. This little cottage cutie is grey with a Pink top. Very Sweet!

This is a little cottage in the woods, down by the river. It is a Pinky red and about the closest I could get to an all Pink house around here. The porch looked very relaxing as I took this picture on a day it was 90 with very high humidity.

Thanks for playing the Pink game with me today.

It usaully takes me a couple of days to make my rounds but leave me a message and I will pop in to say hello as soon as I can :)

XO-Mya

Small Joys

2008-07-30T10:08:00.017-04:00

The sky is grey and the clouds are swirling over head trying to come to some sort of agreement over the weather. But I don't care about the weather. It won't get me down. today I am thankful for some of the little things in my life.

This is a necklace I have made from my small treasures of the sea. I love the tiny little shells and fossils that I have slipped into my pocket while walking the beach. I haven't decided whether to keep this one or list it on Etsy. It is near and dear to my heart but I really don't need another necklace. Or do I?

I am thankful for my flower garden and the tasty herbs that Mr. Gnome is guarding. he does a wonderful job on his post except for keeping the deer at bay. He must have fallen asleep on the job a time or two.

Most of all, yep you got it, I am thankful for my little princess even though at 8 months she has developed quite a tude. An attitude is easy to get away with when you you are just so doggone cute. Today there is a major Tude Alert. I will have to be on my toes. Maybe her new nickname should be Tudy ;)

Hope you take the time to treasure the small joys in your life today.

xo-mya

Sunday Scribblings; Solace

2008-07-26T21:00:00.001-04:00

Today's post is my second contribution to Sunday Scribbligs. Take the link and to find out where other bloggers find their Solace.

If my solace was a place, it would be where I could sink my feet in the sand, feel the wind in my hair, and taste the salty sea on my lips. But I think solace should be a place from within. A place where I am free to be me.

Sometimes I sit and wonder what it would be like if I did whatever I felt like doing; no matter what others might think. The freedom to say what is really on my mind. The right to wear whatever feels good. The luxury of not doing anything at all if that is what I choose. But instead I must plaster a Mcdonalds smile on my face and say, "have a nice day," to the people that I would least like to see have a nice day. I must dress for success and always be age appropriate. Every day I drag myself out of bed to get ready for a job that I hate and does not really reflect who I am inside. I kiss up to the boss in hopes of a fat raise or an early promotion. I pretend to be interested when my friends tell me how great that little Bobby is for the twelfth time this week. I come home every day only to put in another full days work by making dinner, spiffing up the house, running the kids to soccer, helping them with their homework and then reading them a lovely story before bed.
What would happen if I suddenly became true to myself?
What if I did what I was truly meant to do?
No more wondering if my neighbor really likes my dog or my girlfriend loves the way that I dress. No worries about whether my husband finds me funny or my guests love my decorating sense.
I would speak my mind at all times.
What if we all had this luxury?
What would the world be like?
Could we handle such candor?
Do you know your true self?
Do you have an inner muse?
Who is she? Can she speak for herself/or for you?
Would our world suddenly become an unbearable place?
If everyone ate what they wanted and said what they thought.
We might end up a bunch of extra, extra large bullies with bed hair, wrinkled clothing and really bad breath.
Or maybe the world would turn as it should without stress, envy, greed and pompous act. Maybe we would cut down on the rate of disease or self inflicted ailments.
I wonder could we live in this kind of place?
If we did, who would we be?
Who would you be?
What is the first thing that you would do or change about your life?
Take a moment and let me know what you think without the sugar coating or pompous act please; just the real you.
Can you do it?

Thank you for joining me today. Please leave a message.
XO-Mya

Pink Saturday gets a Little Fishy

2008-07-25T12:16:00.011-04:00

Love Pink Saturday

Welcome to Pink Saturday hosted by the wonderful and lovely Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.
Stop by her beautiful blog home and take a tour of the other posts in the Pink today.

I took at look at my feet today and boy do I need a pedicure. These poor dogs of mine are rough with peeling pink polish and oops I think a little lint between the toes. I may have said too much! Now that I let you all in on that little secret; how about pulling out the secret weapon to clean up my poor ugly feet.

Yep, you guessed it a little fishy pedicure. I'm game, are you? It looks a bit tickely but I guess these little flesh eating gurus really do the job. They are called Doctor Fish. This practice started in Turkey and has spread to many Asian countries. Lucky for us it has now come to the U.S.
I am afraid that they just might get full after only one of my feet. Yes, they are that bad! I am a barefoot in the garden kind of girl. Dirty gardens and pretty feet don't mix.
Check out the video of these little guys in action on MSNBC
Who wouldn't enjoy a little tickle between the toes?

Have a Pink kind of Day.

XO-Mya

Daily Observations

2008-07-24T08:11:00.006-04:00

thank you flickr msoteris

Every morning while making the drive through the city to pick up the princess, I pass a pawn shop not yet open for business. It is a large well kept building that I have never entered. I had never given much thought to this business or any other pawn shop before now. But I can't help but wonder the stories that this place could tell. The parking lot is almost empty except for one or two customers standing along the side of the building or in front of the door. There have been many times that I have noticed the look of desperation and despair in their faces. I have to wonder if this is a way or life for them. Are they trying to pay for their next meal or support their life of crime. Why do they stand and wait for the doors to open? Are they hungry and need to make a pawn to pay for breakfast or is it the itch of a vice needing to be scratched? What ever the reason it does raise my curiosity.

Not long ago I passed the liqueur store just two doors down from this place and saw a woman close to my age retreating from the store with a brown bag in hand. She was in such a hurry to make it across the street that she walked out in front of my car. I don't think noticed or cared that she could have been mowed down if I hadn't been paying attention. She looked like she could have been any one's mother or wife. She was typical like me or you except for that look of desperation to make it to a safe haven where she could enjoy the contents of the paper bag that was so tightly clenched between her fingers.

Do you ever watch and wonder what makes one fall into the depths of despair and others rise to the top or at least tread the waters? It is both interesting and sad to observe the human condition and wonder.

I wanted to share what was on my mind with you today. maybe you have a similar story to tell.

Enjoy your day!

XO-Mya

A Taste of Summer

2008-07-22T09:00:00.012-04:00

Summer is my favorite time of the year. The earth is warm, the birds are singing, my garden is growing, and the aroma of hot off the grill is every where. There isn't much about summer that I don't like and my likes far out way my dislikes. This salmon dish above looks fabulous!

There is nothing better than sand between your toes and the sound of the surf in your ear. I enjoy the sun on my back and the wash at my feet. This picture is a mini vacation for my mind. Go ahead journey through your mind; its free!

Now I would bet that this is the taste of summer that most of you are thinking about. What a perfect treat; a little chocolate, a little strawberry, a waffle cone, and a handful of berries to finish it off. Beautiful eye candy for the palate. Yum!

A little shot of my grand-princess enjoying her baby pool on the 4th of July. Notice she is appropriately dressed in a red, white, and blue bikini. What else would a princess wear on Independence Day?

Love, Love these little Lillys in my garden. They open in the morning light and then close back up at dusk. The petals are so interesting with lines and spots in colors that work so well together. So delicate, but yet they present such a grand splash of color. Perfect!

I wanted to leave you with one of my favorite summer sights; rambling rose vines that cling to a fence with a mind of there own. I came across this sight in front of a house that was a complete disaster with junk thrown about every where. These climbing roses need no help, they take hold and flourish despite their surroundings.

Sunday Scribblings; Ghosts

2008-07-20T10:32:00.006-04:00

I am participating in Sunday Scibblings this week.
Below is my first contribution to this weekly challenge.

She runs through the wooded lot like a horse in the wind. Her pale skin reflects the moonlight with a glow of blond hair flowing freely behind. All is quiet; no snap of sticks, no rustle of leaves. She never makes a sound. Little Elisabeth moves through the night air until she reaches her resting place. So soft is her touch to the cold stone. Her image thins and the air thickens as her misty molecules transcend into the ground. All that is left is the cold worn out stone that reads;

Elisabeth Grant
1923-1926
Our little lamb

I have joined Sunday Scribblings this week. Our assignment;ghosts. The above essay is a piece of a fictional story that I am writing. Visit Sunday Scribblings and take the links to read some very inspiring essays. Enjoy!

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday; Mr. Knome

2008-07-19T07:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Pink Saturday. If you love Pink and I know you do, pop over to see our lovely hostess Beverly for a tour of blogs in the Pink today.

I would like to introduce you to my garden helper and friend, Mr. Gnome. He loves to tend the flowers and herbs in my garden and his favorite color is, you got it, PINK!

Thank you flickr friends; lovely door

Here is his tiny pink door; hidden in my pink rose garden. He sneaks off, when no one is looking, (well, almost no one)through the pretty pink petals every night to his happy little pink house.

Thank you flickr friends; what a doll house

Here is his tiny pink room of his tiny pink house. So neat and tidy and oh so pink. He must have help with his household chores; don't you think?

Ahhh, there she is, his lovely room mate. Meet Melrose, Mr. Gnome's fairy friend. She loves pink too. Isn't she sweet in her little pink dress with fairy crown and fairy wand; sitting on a lovely pink wreath. I wonder where she shops?

Well, at StudioPink of course! Where did you think such a lovely fairy would shop for all of her pretty pink things?

Have a wonderfully PINK Saturday. Come back and visit me anytime. Leave a message if you have a moment.

Think Pink!

XO-Mya

Friday Flea Market in the Zen Garden

2008-07-18T07:00:00.004-04:00

Take a deep breath; slip on your flip flops and your wide brimmed hat. We are headed to the flea markets for a little shopping zen. Pop over here to visit all the markets set up today. Miss Polly is our lovely hostess.

Absolutely gorgeous. I'm there; well in my mind anyway.

Doesn't look much like shopping but it should get you in the mood for my newby's at studiopink

"zen gardening by the sea" and my "zen garden kit."

I love to create seascapes of all kinds, but these zen gardens are so special. This piece starts with a Japanese dish and is filled with wonderful fossils from the sea. I included a little vial of beach sand to add after shipping.

The fossilized tree makes the perfect topper to this garden. To sea more pics and a detailed description visit StudioPink. You can purchase this piece there for $14.00

The dish is filled with wonderful treasures that I have collected along the gulf of Mexico. Including antique pottery shards and starfish. $14.00 at Studiopink

Now we are on to the do-it-yourself gardening part of our market.

After enjoying my lovely dip in the water and a stroll on the beach I returned with a pocket full of treasures. Fossilized trees, shells, coral and pottery shards.

Just perfect for a little project. I have put together kits for you to be the creator of your own seascape or zen garden by the sea. So perfect for a meditational moment and beautiful summer display.

The kit includes shells, fossils, and sand that I have collected on my sea side excursions. I included a vintage jar/bottle with lid.
My sea side kits and creations can be found at StudioPink for $12.00

This is an example of what you may end up with. They are stunning in the wavy morning light. You may even hear the surf and smell the salty air as you create your beautiful garden by the sea.

Thank to my flickr friend for this wonderful image

Thought I would leave you with this inspiring image. I hope your weekend is filled with beauty and zenful peace.

Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a message.

XO-Mya

A beautiful Day; gifts in the mail and awards for my blog

2008-07-17T08:52:00.030-04:00

I wish you all a beautiful day filled with light that glows like magic and a gentle breeze to kiss your face. My mind is at the beach but my heart is here with you.

*Be sure to pick up your crumb at the end of this post*

Look at the beautiful artwork that was hiding in my mailbox. They are ATC's from the very talented multi media artist Suze Perrott of PinkCrayonStudio. Her work is so rich with color in softly painted hues. Love it. Stop by and pay her a visit.

What a lucky girl I am today. Two very sweet and talented artists awarded me a weblog award. I am so honored and grateful.

Thank you Heidi Ann of FoxglovesFabricAndFolly
(love your blog and wonderful stories)

and Chriss of TheArtistTradingClub (love your beautiful artwork and ideas) .

Stop by their beautiful blogs and visit these very special ladies.

Now I get to pass on this wonderful award to 8 very deserving ladies. Are you ready? Drum roll please...

Suze of PinkCrayonStudio Very talented artist and wonderful blog

Gina of InHerShoes Inspiring lady with a beautiful new blog of hope and faith

Jeannene of InHerShoes and LoveConqueresAll Beautiful lady of faith with a lot to share

Nita from RedTinHeart Inspiring writer with a heart of gold

Karen from A-Scrapbook-Of-Inspiration Very talented lady with a beautiful blog

Diane of A-Picture'sWorthA-ThousandWords Beautiful lady with a wonderful blog

Marina of OnlyCuteThings Sweet lady and beautiful painter

Kathy of JustBeingCrafty Lovely lady and wonderful dolly dress maker

Congrats, you girls deserve it!
Love you all!
Enjoy :)

And here are the rules ladies.....*Put the logo on your blog...*Add a link to the person who awarded you* Nominate at least 7 other blogs* Add links to those blogs on yours* Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

*Let me leave you with this crumb of the day...*

Lay a path of solid foundation so that others may follow,
leave crumbs of wisdom and words to encourage,
follow your bliss through beautiful gardens,
don't be afraid to take a different path if the one you are on
becomes twisted or filled with sorrow.

-Mya

Sole Sisters are Good for the Soul

2008-07-13T19:15:00.012-04:00

Photo credit to flickr cul9

I am calling out to all of my soul sister bloggers out there. Do you find yourself looking for support or searching for answers to your questions? Do you blog because you find solace and acceptance in your sister bloggers?

Well, you are not alone. So many of us in blog land have found what we need; a captive audience, lasting friendships or maybe just a listening ear, from our blogs or those of our fellow bloggers.

I have met so many wonderful people with kind hearts and beautiful souls. I would like to introduce you to a couple of my wonderful Sole (soul) sisters and friends. These beautiful ladies have devoted themselves and an entire blog to inspire and encourage all of you. They are women of deep faith and commitment and their wonderful sight reflects this.

photo credit to flickr cul9

Take a moment and visit Jeannene and Gina at their new inspirational home; InHerShoes . Some of you may already be familiar with Jeannene from her original beautiful blog LoveConquersAll and maybe you have visited her at InHerShoes .

For those of you who have not, take a moment to stop by for a chat or just to be uplifted by their faith, I think you will be glad you did.

Here is a quote off their original post for In her Shoes;

What woman doesn’t love shoes? My closet is full of shoes, different styles and colors. I love shoes! I saw a pillow once that quoted Cinderella saying “The right shoe can change your life.” I believe in God’s economy, this is true……wearing the right shoes can change your life. The question is, what shoes are you wearing?

It makes my heart sing when people follow their bliss and pursue their passions. Bless you girls for sharing your passion and faithful spirit with all of us.

Have a wonderful week ahead. I feel blessed to have all of you as my blogging friends.

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday; Everything a Girl Needs

2008-07-12T06:45:00.004-04:00

Get in the PINK!

Let's say today was a special day, like Pink Saturday. What would you need to be decked out and delivered in perfect style?

Thank you to my flickr friends for these great pics

Let's start with some really cool pink hair, and of course you will need these awesomely pink Wellie boots, don't forget the beautiful pink Gerbera Daisy for our hostess Beverly, and a cute pink car to take you to the party.

I think that will about do it. Now go visit the award winning beautiful Beverly at HowSweetTheSound for a pink overload.

I Hope your weekend is Pink and Perfect.
XO-Mya

Friday Flea Market by the Sea

2008-07-10T08:06:00.019-04:00

What could be better than going to a flea market on a beautiful summer's day?

Thank you to my flickr friend Photog63

How about a flea market by the sea. Yes, I think today we shall set up our wares on this beautiful stretch of sand. We shall shop to the sounds of the waves crashing in and the terns calling over head.

Our lovely hostess Polly, says shop til you drop and stop by the market to catch up with the other fleas.

I will walk by the sea and dream of mermaids splashing about. I have captured these dreams on a canvas of Mermaid Tails. This 16 by 20 canvas is boldly splashed with color, shells and ephemera. It is available in the Studio for $15.00

This fair maiden is longing for the chance to grow a tail and live under the sea. This gypsy girl would even give up her fancy belt for a chance to become a lovely mermaid.

Here is Muriel queen of the mermaid clan. Isn't she lovely with her golden brown locks and shiny crown.

This little mermaid on the half shell looks suburb as a dream catcher. She is hiding from the queen Muriel at the bottom of the sea. My personal favorite can be picked up for $13.00 in the Studio.

Here she is hanging around the wine bottles. Her 5"shell is filled with beads, shells and sea tree. A little piece of sea glass dangles below. Beachy dreams to you!

Oh, how I love the sea. Nothing could bring the beauty of the ocean, to my decor, more than this lovely little seascape. I would swear it was something straight out of the Horchow catalog if I hadn't made it myself.

Update this item was featured by the Etsy staff in Etsy finds and just sold.

I will try to pick up more vintage saucers and mini cloches to make more.

For other seascapes and fabulous ocean finds go to the Studio.

I will take special orders.

All you have to do is ask.

Visit me at StudioPink

Thank you for shopping my beach side market.

Leave your footprints (comments) in the sand.

XO-Mya

Connecting to the people of the world on Independence Day

2008-07-08T09:03:00.030-04:00

Embrace your country for its wonderful diversity and beautiful culture. We have brought together people from all over the world to share in our freedom and prosperity.

I would like to share with you what was special to me about my Independence Day of 2008.

Where else can you walk to the

cottage next door and find that the

new owners are from a far off country

steeped in mystery and rich culture?

We are so lucky to have such

opportunities here in the USA.

I was blessed to have the opportunity

on our very own Independence Day to

have met a Tibetan family selling

some of their treasures brought back

from their native country.

Imagine my excitement when the girls

in the family set out for an after

dinner walk, only to see that the

neighbors had a table set out full of

interesting things for sale.

Well you know me; I just had to pop in

to see if they had any treasures that I

needed.

The treasures I found far exceeded anything that I could have imagined. The above picture is a prayer wheel used on a daily bases by Tibetan people. Inside the tiny wheel is a scroll of Tibetan prayers.
You are to spin the wheel three times as you say your prayers. It is worn and a little dented on the handle where it has been gripped tightly in hopes of prayers being answered.

I so covet things that have been owned and treasured by others. Especially something from such a mysterious and magical place.

This Buddha is made from a very heavy resin-like material. He holds a presence that radiates peace throughout the room. I can feel my breath slow and my mind quiet. I collect religious artifacts and statues of all kinds.

There is so much intricate detailing on this beautiful piece. It has a wonderful feel about it, that is so difficult to explain.
I will try to explain it like this; when you hold it in your hand you feel a sense of sturdiness with a perfect balance and rich texture, quite similar to the way I would describe the Tibetan people.

The family had formerly resided in Nepal which borders Tibet and India. They were so proud and eager to share their wonderful treasures with me. I was so inspired by the gleam in their eyes when telling me about their items. Each member of the family had something to share.
I later told Mr. Mya that I think as Americans we too often lose that pride and sense of place.

Tibet is such a beautiful country still so unexplored. They have such deep religious faith and traditions.
Unfortunately The Tibetan people are in danger of losing much of their culture to the take over of the western world. The western influences are so strong throughout the world that it threatens the diversity that separates our lives.

The Tibetans have lived a difficult life of high altitudes, persecution, and rough terrain. They are beautiful people with a belief system like no other. I wish I could be there to touch their hands and share their smiles.

Can you imagine the feeling that must

reside within these Monastery walls?

I would have to guess that it might be

somewhat close to the magnitude I

felt while visiting the sight of the Twin

Towers the year after 9/11.

The lovely face of these Tibetan

children gives me the feeling of

oneness throughout the world.

We are all God's children so alike but

yet so very unique.

The sight of these old shrines is breathtaking. It makes me want to travel the world, document the images and bring back her wisdom.

This picture is so powerful it brought a tear to my eye. I can only imagine what this women has seen and the wisdom she holds.

I wanted you leave you with my very own little piece of Tibet. My old Meme girl is a Tibetan Spaniel. These dogs were once kept by the Buddhist Monks to turn the prayer wheels and watch over the grounds from a perch high upon the monastery walls.

Thank you for sharing a very special Independence Day with me. I think that it was so fitting to make a connection with the world on the day we celebrate our freedom.

XO-Mya

I would like to thank my friends on Flickr for some of the beautiful images of Tibet and her people.

My Vision For You

2008-07-06T08:44:00.018-04:00

Feeling inspired lately? What makes your heart beat quickly, or fosters your mood to create? Do you have a special place you go, a person you call, or do the images in your mind push your magic button?

Share with us the tools you use to bring out your inner muse. Who is she? Maybe she is lurking inside but trapped behind a stone gate. Open that gate and let her creative juices flow.

How about an inspiration or vision board? It is very easy to put together and if you are like me you have stacks of magazines that you just can't bare to throw out.
Put them to good use and search for images that inspire you. It can be a table that you would love to add to your dining room or a place that you have been just dying to visit.
What ever sets off that spark within your mind.

I use words and quotes to mix in with the images on my board. I glue images that I want to remain permanent and tack on those that I may want to change. If you don't have a handy magazine supply you can just as easily google or flickr for your muse.

I recently found a flickr group for inspiration boards. Check it out here. If you decide to use flickr then you can go here for a handy tool to paste in the url and make a Mosaic board of your inspirational images. Just paste and print, now what could be easier than that?

Sometimes inspiration comes from the muses all around us. Slow down, take a deep breath, open your mind, then open your eyes and really see!

Life imitates art (or vice versa) and sometimes your muse is no father than your own back yard.

Drop me a line and share with me your inspirations. Tell me about your favorite photos or an inspiration board that you would like to share.

Inspire me!

Thanks for your visit.
I hope you feel inspired enough to bring your inner muse out to play.

Follow your bliss!

XO-Mya

Pink Saturday; You scream, I scream, We all scream for Pink!

2008-07-05T08:00:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Pink Saturday :)

Yo Baby!

What can I say, this picture says it all!

To see other blogs in the Pink today, visit my friend Beverly of HowSweetTheSound

Thank's for stopping by to say hello.

XO-Mya

Project of the week; Sand, Paint, Beg

2008-07-03T08:22:00.026-04:00

This post is for all of you in the chippy paint fan club. Boy did I need you this past weekend. I picked up some fabulous finds at garage sales last week. Well, I thought they were fabulous but my family had other words to describe them. Below are some pics of my adventures with chippy paint, sand paper and Mr Mya.

Do you not think that this is so beautiful? Raise your hand if you love the worn texture and muted colors of this chair.
It reminds me of the ocean and leaves me with a feeling of serenity and bliss. I rescued her from a garage sale for $2 bucks. They were waiting for some time to paint her. The horror of that alone made me whip out my money and load her up immediately.

Just a little light sanding and she was perfect!
The detail in this chair is so beautiful.

I don't know how old but she is built like a brick house, very sturdy. The perfect chair for a shabby cottage look.

This chair wasn't a bargain but very solid oak and I had a plan for him. All it took was a little light sanding and he was ready for a coat of paint.

I went for Casablanca White in an oil base. Oil paint is harder to work with and so expensive but the finished product is worth it.

After two coats I sanded in a few areas to give him that vintage look. I love things that have a past life. They just seem to have a certain romance about them.

Here he is in all of his glory.

I added a little seat cushion so he

could be used as my new desk chair.

Don't tell Mr. Mya but the old desk is

next in line for a Casablanca make

over.

Okay, now this was the big one. The fabulous find that got me so excited. Matter a fact I was so excited that I forgot to take before pics. In the middle of dismantling the little cottage dresser, I remembered.

Now first off I have to thank Mr. Mya for helping me with this project. He stepped right up and well kind of took over. Now this is where the begging comes in. I told you my family does not share my love for the whole chippy paint romance thing. Mr. Mya was so good at fixing the loose legs and drawers and a little too good at sanding. I wanted to leave some of that cottage blue, sanded lightly of course, on the legs and drawers. I loved the way the different layers of paint from underneath came through. It was magical too me. Mr. Mya didn't agree. It looked like junk to him.

Isn't this just gorgeous as is. Raise your hand if you think so.
Now don't be too sad for me he got tired as the day went on and I did get to keep one fabulous drawer lightly sanded. I also just sanded the handles and little embellishment, love it!

This is the finished piece. Don't you just love it? It is so cottage chic or cottage shabby, however you want to look at it.

It is funny to think that what one may find beautiful another thinks it is old and junky looking. So far I am the only one who loves this piece. Well at least in this house. But that is okay she is all mine and I keep her in my studio.
Thank you Mr.Mya for all your help but don't be too upset if someday I take a little sand paper to those legs that you so carefully made Casablanca White. Just lightly sanded ;)

Thank you all for stopping by

and be sure to let me know what you think of

my projects.

I would like to let Mr. Mya know that I

am not the only member of the chippy

paint club.

Have a very happy and safe holiday

weekend!!!

XO-Mya

Arte Y Pico Award

2008-07-01T08:13:00.009-04:00

You can imagine how excited and honored I was to have won an Arte Y Pico award from Kathy of JustBeingCrafty
Thank you so much Kathy you made my week!

Here are the rules:1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.4. The award winner and one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.Now comes the hard part. Choosing the five that inspire me.

1. Karen of Cider Antiques
2. Polly of Counting Your Blessings
3. Sabina of Barefoot in the Orchard
4. Beverly of How Sweet The Sound
5. Kelley of Teacups and Ponies

Enjoy, you girls deserve it!

I just love all of you sweet blogging friends out there in cyber space.
Who parties more than our blogging community, even if it is only virtual.

Thanks again Kathy you are almost as sweet as my little princess.

Thanks to all who commented on my Mad Tea party. I will catch up to you very soon, I promise. I tried a little furniture refinishing this weekend. I'll post pics this week to see what you think of my finished products.

Take Care
XO-Mya

Mad Tea Party and Pink Saturday

2008-06-27T21:00:00.012-04:00

Welcome to my Mad Tea Party. Our hostess for today is the lovely and talented Miss Vanessa from AFancifulTwist .
Take the link to A Fanciful Twist and visit the fabulous Tea parties from all over blogland.
Congrats Vanessa on your 200th post! Thank you for hosting

In honor of Pink Saturday I have made everything Pink. Well almost eveything. To visit other Pink Saturday posts go see Beverly from HowSweetTheSound.
Thank you beverly

I have a little cafe' table all set for you with yummy pinks and greens. We will have Delicious cakes and sweet tea.

The Mad Hatter will be joining us today and she is mad about you, simply mad. Come on in and join us because things are getting curiouser and curiouser.
.

I hope you brought your party hat.
Or perhaps you can borrow this one.
It is available because
the mad Hatter is sporting a new hat.

Here is the key to a secret garden that is filled with wonderful tea and treats. I have set a place at a table in the garden just for you.

Step through the magic door and you will find the enchanted garden. Hurry and Take a seat there are a few special guests that are waiting there for you.

Here is our colorful table in the enchanted garden.
The pink chair is just for you.
Pass the tea, please.

Alice will be joining us. I have crowned her as the tea party princess. Looks like Alice and the Queen of Hearts have been shopping at StudioPink again. Poor Alice is still looking for the white rabbit.

Be very careful because her Imperial Highness, the Queen of Hearts, has just arrived. You know when she is around sometimes heads will roll. She is feeling quite magestic in her crown from StudioPink
Of course this queen of hearts is far too sweet for that.

I think we found the white rabbit at his very own special table.
It looks like either Twiddle Dee or Tweedle Dum has joined him. Be cautious of the magic mushrooms.

Here is Alice telling her friends that if she had a world of her own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be as it is because everything would be what it wasn't.

I wouldn't! You remember what happened to Alice

Here are some special cups for you to choose from.
You can never have enough china,
you know .

Perhaps you would prefer this one?

Be sure to get a yummy pink cupcake before you leave. Chocolate, chocolate, with pink frosting and happy stars.

The Mad Hatter would like to wish a very Merry Unbirthday to you.

Thank you all for sharing this Alice in Wonderland kind of day with me.

XO-Mya

Friday Flea Market

2008-06-27T08:00:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday and welcome to my flea market. To shop the other markets today go to FridayFleaMarket Our beautiful hostess is Polly from CountingYourBlessings
Now lets shop...

Today I am featuring only one item. "Smelly Cat" This little guy must be featured alone. I am sure you understand why. He is a whimsical original painting by my lovely daughter and mother to the Grand Princess.

Smelly Cat was painted on a 16 by 20 canvas. He is spritzed with a little Polo Cologne, you may wonder if there is a mysterious man lurking about. I love the deep rich colors and quirky little wire whiskers.
For a more in depth description and additional pictures or to purchase this funky cat go to StudioPink.

Thank you for shopping with me today.

Stop back tomorrow for a fabulous tea party.

It is going to be mad!

XO-Mya

Dream Vacation

2008-06-24T08:56:00.030-04:00

It is always so exciting to venture off on a trip, let alone a beautiful dream vacation. I am so glad you are traveling with me on a fabulous summer sojourn.
Our travel agents for this trip are the lovely Holly from MommyHolly and
Heidi from Foxglove,Fabric&Folly
Take the links to their traveling agency and you will be transported all over the world.

But first...

I sure hope that you are packed and ready to go. We will be headed for several destinations today. I hope you packed your sun screen and sun glasses for our first stop.

The perfect spot to get relaxed and start our vacation is by the sea. This painting is so inspirational to me. I wanna be in this painting lounging in that chair gazing off to the ocean.

This is our little beach bungalow for the night. Isn't she a gem. Let's call her Ruby Moon Cottage and we can just chill on the porch with a cool drink. Just gorgeous and what a view.

Ruby Moon is just as quaint on the inside as she is on the outside. Light and airy with just the right pop of color. This is where we will share our daily catch of lobster. Let's throw in a big salad, glass of white wine and a sumptuous strawberry pie. Is your mouth watering yet?

Then we will retire to the bedrooms for the evening with the salty breeze from the ocean flowing through the open window. This is truly one of my favorite things about summer. Open window, summer breeze and the curtains blowing across the floor. It makes you feel as though the room is alive and breathing right along with you.

Come morning we can take a stroll out to the potting shed and into the cottage garden to drink our first cup of joe. I can smell the blossoms mingling with the salty air and taste the coffee, made just the way I like it.

After breakfast lets head down to the beach and collect a few mementos of our trip. This big conch will do just fine. Maybe we can take a dip before we head to our next destination.

Take a deep breath this flight will be a long one. Don't worry our little Tuscan Villa will make the trip all worth while. She looks so majestic standing on the ridge of a beautiful vineyard. In the evening we can take a stroll down the stone path to the village for dinner out.

Of course we can't miss a chance to visit the French Riviera. Our view is from this hillside over looking the ocean, beautiful. The sun so bright and the water so blue.

This is our lovely bedroom for the night. The bed looks so dreamy. Satin sheets and a gorgeous sunset. Don't forget about the fragrant ocean breezes and the sound of the surf while you sleep. What could be better than this?

The next morning we will paddle our canoe to The Bay of Fundy in Canada. Now I know this can't be done but remember this is a dream vacation, so anything is possible ;)

Here is a map to give you a better idea of where we are headed. I have actually been here and it is an unbelievable place to visit. If you are inspired or in awe by the powers of the sea then you need to go. It will amaze you.

This is Hope Well Rocks in New Bruinswick. The bay of Fundy is home to the highest tides in the world. Here we are walking on the ocean floor during low tide. During high tide the water level comes up to the tree line at the top of these rocks. It is absolutely incredible, don't you think? Go ahead take a walk around just remember that when the big clock chimes the tide is coming in.

It is fascinating to see and touch the underside of these weathered fishing boats when the tide is out. The lives of the people in the villages around the bay are very much entwined with the sea. Almost every person makes their living from it. They live at her mercy. It is really quite beautiful to see.

Lets take a boat ride 25 miles out into the sea to Seal Machais Island to watch the puffins. There is a bird rookery on the island along with a lighthouse. You can watch them feed their young and hop busily in and out of the rocks along the water. The funniest thing about our trip to this island was getting out of the boat and walking to our viewing spot while carrying a big stick to keep from getting attacked by birds. Maybe this is where Alfred Hitchcock got his idea for the movie.

I think we should end this trip lounging on the beach while watching for pirate ships. Take your time you can stay here as long as you like.

Don't forget to sign the travel log.
I am so glad that we took this dream vacation together.
I couldn't have picked a nicer group to share my dreams with.

XO-Mya

You are so Sweet Award

2008-06-24T06:59:00.005-04:00

I am so greatful for the wonderful friends I have met here in blog land. Today I would like to give out a
"You are so sweet award" to my friend Karen from
ColoursForYou and CiderAntiques

Karen went out of her way to help me with my blog background. It was a boring brown and now it is a fabulous pink.

Don't you just love it?

I really appreciate all the time she took with me.

Karen you are a Sweet Heart and you deserve this award.

I chose a picture of my little angel because nothing could be sweeter than that.

Visit Karen at the two links above. She has beautiful free wallpaper backgrounds and instructions on how to add them to your blog.

You will also find a link to CountingYourBlessings and her fabulous free blog banners. Polly is a sweet heart too. There is nothing better than free except for the wonderful guidance of a blog friend when you are not a computer geek.

Thank you so much Karen. I love being in the Pink!

XO-Mya