Merry Christmas!
Welcome to Take Me Back Thursday. Today’s post comes courtesy of Mr. Alexander and the wonderful surprise he gave me a couple of years ago.
If you want to read the original blog post (because I couldn’t figure out how to re-post the danged thing!), please click here.
And have a wonderful Christmas!
Hugs,
Melia
Welcome to Food and Wine Wednesday!
I love the fact that life at The Male Observation Lab includes some fun downtime at the end of the year. To me, it’s the little touches that make this party so special.
Our party favors at this year’s celebration was a pair of mini cupcakes. Dusted with gold. Seriously. 24-carat edible gold flown in from New York!
I’m kinda thinking topping this one’s gonna be kind of hard next year. Then again, there have been all sorts of wonderful surprises through the years. Like the magician. But that’s another story…. 😀
What wonderful touches have you seen at holiday celebrations?
Happy holiday eating,
Melia
Welcome to Travel Bug Tuesday!
One of the bestest parts of the holidays is visiting with friends and family. 
Especially when you actually like them! So it was when I trekked over hill and dale and through mud and sleet in bare feet…Well, okay…So I really packed a bag and shoved it into the car trunk before heading up the freeway, but still…
Anyhoo, I got to spend some wonderful quality time with my lovely writer pal Fiola Faelan! We talked writerly stuff and life stuff, and I was reminded yet again how incredibly lucky I am to have amazing people in my life. And that includes you all!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for leaving a message or two. As I continue on this publishing journey, your presence here means more to me than I could ever express!
Happy travels,
Melia
Welcome to Mash-Up Monday!
Because life is so hectic for me these days (and I’m too darned tired to think of anything clever), I’m gonna let you all decide what this pic is about. 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
~Melia
In a world of absolutes, I prefer to view my life as a “mostly.” As in, I’ve been mostly eating well versus not. Or, I’ve been mostly helping out around the house. Or, I’ve been mostly exercising instead of sitting at the keyboard eating chocolate and drinking red wine. Okay, maybe that whole red wine/chocolate thing’s true, but still….
The point is, this time of year, we all know the drill. Santa only brings you a present if you’ve been good. And while I’ve been sometimes bad, I think I’ve been mostly good. See how that works? I figure Santa’s got a direct line on this whole good/bad thing, and would likely find out that I’ve not always been good, so why lie about it, right? Truth should get me extra points. *Nods head sagely* Doesn’t that make sense?
Anyhoo, my whole reason for being good centers around these babies:
Aren’t they pretty? I figure that since I’ve been mostly good, and didn’t lie about it, then maybe, just maybe, Santa will realize I deserve all three this year. Wish me luck! 🙂
Have a great weekend,
Melia
Having spent the past three days with family has made me realize how quickly time passes. One minute my nieces and nephews are in diapers, and the next, they’re these independent creatures with critical thinking skills that scare me. Seriously.
Look at how innocent they were just a few years ago.
Cute, huh?
Well, not so, when you consider they wouldn’t let me try out their new snow saucers. Yeah, I’m totally okay with it, even after all these years….*insert huge pout*
Happy Almost-Friday,
Melia
Those of you with December birthdays can attest to how hard it can be to keep the whole holiday thing out of your special day. So when I was invited to my nephew’s 8th birthday party, I definitely kept this in mind. Apparently, so did he. His menu choice for the evening? Pizza! Natch.
What I loved best about the whole thing was how truly chill it was. Let’s face it: there’s enough holiday craziness that some down time is more than welcomed. There was no formal dinner setting, no place cards, no menus at the table.
Instead, there was pizza out of the cardboard boxes, and eaten off of paper plates and napkins. We all sat around the dinner table and toasted the Birthday Boy. Candles were blown. Presents were opened. And the casual atmosphere only added to the evening. I loved every second of it!
Do you have a December birthday? How do you celebrate?
Happy eating,
Melia
I’m fortunate to have extended family within driving distance. And while I don’t get to visit as often as I like, it’s a real treat when I do make the two-hour trek to see them. Recently (just last night, in fact), my nephew practiced a speech he was to give to his class. 
The topic was Christmas and some of the cultural differences between his Philippine heritage as compared to that in the United States. It was adorable (because he is, after all, seven!), and it reminded me so much the traditions I’d grown up with. For instance, the typical Barong (which he was kind enough to model for me – isn’t he cute?) is worn by males during special occasions. There are also different games played, and definitely different food that graces a traditional Filipino table during the holidays (a roasted pig, for instance, complete with an apple in its mouth). Yum!
There were even visual aids used, like the FILIPINO FRIENDS book he brought with him (displayed here by his sister). And the part I’m most proud about? This little guy was thoroughly comfortable standing in front of a room full of people and giving his speech! How many adults can say that?
Even as a seven-year-old, he reminded me about the wide range of experiences (a.k.a. back story) that we all carry with us as we travel on this road called “life.” It’s these same experiences that guide us as we make choices and deal with what comes our way. It’s through testing our experiences that we grow. At least, I think so!
And as I plot my next book, remembering his speech helped emphasize the importance of my characters’ back stories. Apple, anyone?
Happy Travel Bug Tuesday,
Melia
Welcome to Mash-Up Monday!
I shot this photo from the back steps of The Male Observation Lab (construction company day job) on a recent, chilly afternoon in the Pacific Northwest.
The setting sun struck me as an amazing display of oranges and yellows and reds, especially with some of our company equipment in the foreground. I stood there, lost in the moment, lost in the wonder of our world, contemplating the beauty of life….Then a dump truck came screaming into the yard. *Le sigh*
Ah, well. It was great while it lasted!
Have an awesome week,
Melia
