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“I walk to think and not to think. When walking I remember things that are important to me. I walk to forget. I have yet to set out on a walk in low spirits and return feeling worse than I did when I left the door. A change occurs between the fate and the porch, walking lifts the weight off the heart. Or as the writer Jim Harrison says, “When you’re out of sorts, walk a hundred miles.” – Susan Minot

Love, Scented Memoirs.

Miami/Florida

Ways to be a Woman

Laugh

There’s nothing more attractive to than a women with a great sense of humor. Even if you’ve already found Mr. (or Mrs.) Right or aren’t looking, the benefits of laughter are many. Laughter has been shown to reduce stress hormones, lower blood pressure, increase muscle flexion, and boost immunity, not to mention that it’s a killer workout for your abs. As the external stressors on women increase, whether from trying to juggle a career and family or just trying to balance life in general, there has never been a time when it’s been more important for women to laugh. Most importantly, laughing reminds us, and teaches our daughters, not to take life, or ourselves, too seriously. What better gift could we pass on to the next generation of women?

Live

Who says men should be the only ones with a “bucket list?” Just because you might have domestic or career responsibilities shouldn’t stop you from taking time out to fulfill your wildest dreams. After all, men who have climbed Mount Everest are a dime a dozen. Women who have reached the\summit are much more rare and interesting. So take that scuba diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef, jump out of an airplane, take part in that community theater play, or even work on that book of short stories you’ve been meaning to start. Take chances that you would regret not taking later. Remember that you only get one chance to show everyone how fabulous you really are.

Be Soft

In case you missed the memo, we’re women, not men. As an increasingly stressful external environment, that’s sometimes hard to remember. Some women have climbed the corporate ladder by being tough as nails at work. Others have found themselves taking on the role of both mother AND father as single mothers. Still others have spent lifetimes full of pain and have learned toughness as a form of emotional self-defense. But in refusing to acknowledge the softer, more feminine sides of our psyches, we deny that part of ourselves that makes us different from men. No one would suggest that women turn themselves into doormats and allow the world to walk all over them. But there is nothing wrong with, when circumstances permit, being gentle, nurturing, or feminine.

Get Zen

Whether it’s the usual struggles at work, running the daily carpool, or the constant ups and downs of dating and managing a relationship, one thing women can agree on is that we all have far too much stress in their lives. Besides making you feel run down and anxious, stress affects a woman’s body physically, and has been linked to heart disease, obesity, and a decreased immune system. Taking time out to do something you enjoy, be it exercise, reading, yoga, or even writing in a journal, can help you unwind and beat the daily stressors that wear you down.

Women need to be Strong

As biologists know, the most dangerous sex in many species of animals is the female. Particularly when protecting her young, females can often be deadly. While women probably have less reason to be deadly than the females of other species, women have an incredible strength that we should not hesitate to draw on when necessary. When it comes to defending yourself, your loved ones, your friends, or simply what it yours, there’s nothing more feminine than drawing yourself up and standing your ground. Whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological strength, that helps you attain your goals, being strong is a huge part of who women are.

Learn to Cook

No, it’s not about having dinner on the table at 5:00 like June Cleaver. Nor is it about being able to get (or keep) a husband with your culinary skills. It’s about getting off the fast food merry-go-round and learning to make nutritious meals that will a) save you loads of money and b) give you enough energy to deal with the daily challenges of being a woman. Whether you’re a true epicurean taking cooking lessons or someone who just has a favorite show on the Food Network, learning quick and easy ways to get nutrients essential for women into you system is one way to ensure that you’ll live a long and healthy life.

Love Yourself

Here’s a newsflash: no matter how much you diet, no matter how many hours you spend in spinning class, no matter how many things you have waxed, spray-tanned, and buffed, you are never, NEVER going to look like the woman on the cover of Cosmopolitan. Why? Because the woman on the cover of Cosmopolitan doesn’t even look like that. In a world where women are constantly bombarded with the media’s idea of what is beautiful, photo-shopping, airbrushing, and computer magic have conspired to create images of women so thin, long, lean, and perfect that not even the model herself can live up to the photograph she posed for. Beauty comes in all different shapes, sizes and skin tones. And, women know only too well, true beauty shines from the inside out. Rather than spending all out time primping, plucking, and fasting, women need to focus on letting the inner beauty that comes from loving yourself, body and soul, shine through. There’s not a makeover in the world that can compete with that.

Love, Scented Memoirs.

Because he loves me.

01.27.15

#love roses peach

Elegance is usually confused with superficiality, fashion, lack of depth. This is a serious mistake: human beings need to have elegance in their actions and in their posture because this word is synonymous with good taste, amiability, equilibrium and harmony.

- Paulo Coelho

The New Year is the time of unfolding horizons and the realization of dreams, may you rediscover new strength and garner faith with you, and be able to rejoice in the simple pleasures that life has to offer and put a brave front for all the challenges that may come your way. Wishing you a lovely New Year from Tennessee, NC !

Love, A flash of Love.

#Newyear #Aflashoflove

Norman W. Brooks, “Let Every Day Be Christmas”

Hope you all have a beautiful day and week ahead!

#peace #Love #Aflashoflove #Christmas

My husband puts the warmth into the holiday season. The greatest gift I have been given this year is the presence of you. - Thanks for being you -

#aflashoflove #December Christmas

Our Christmas Tree

During the Christmas season it's wonderful to pass houses with majestic trees in the living room window all decked out in lights, garlands, and ornaments. Putting decorations on a Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition for many households, although Christmas tree decorating as we know it now didn't gain popularity in America until the late 19th century. Early decorations were mostly homemade ornaments and brightly dyed popcorn garlands, but today's decorations include everything from souvenir ornaments to vinyl records and -- of course -- lots of twinkling lights.

Step 1: Hang Christmas Tree Lights

The first step in how to decorate a Christmas tree is adding the lights. Tree lights typically come on green or white wire strands; choose the strand color that matches your tree so the wire will be hidden. Illuminating your Christmas tree from the inside out will give it the most dynamic look. Start at the base of the trunk and work your way up, wrapping lights around every major branch, moving from the trunk to the tip and back.

Here are four popular types of lights to choose from when decorating your Christmas tree.

Traditional incandescent lights: These Christmas tree lights, which come in a variety of sizes and colors, are the most popular type of tree lights. They warm up the branches of a real tree, which will release the scent of pine into the room.

LED lights: These Christmas tree lights are newer than the traditional incandescent lights and don't produce heat. They're typically more expensive, but they are flameproof, fireproof, and completely safe to put on your tree.

Globe lights: These Christmas tree lights are round and come in many sizes. They look like balls of color on the tree, and while they have a softer glow than mini lights, the light they produce covers a larger area on the tree.

Bubble lights: These retro lights stand straight up on the limbs of your Christmas tree. When the liquid tube on top of the light warms up, bubbles float up and down inside the tube, resembling lava lamps.

Experiment with different lighting schemes until you find one you like -- it's OK to mix and match lights. For example, a background of white or clear lights can be highlighted with strands of colored lights that wrap the outer areas of the tree.

Editor's tip: Don't skimp on lights -- for every vertical foot of tree, you should use a strand of 100 lights.

Step 2: Add Christmas Tree Garlands

There are no firm rules when draping garlands on your Christmas tree. To avoid the "sausage effect" (branches bulging between tightly cinched garlands), start at the top of the tree and slowly increase the amount of garland between each wave as you work your way down the branches. Plan to use about two strands of garland for every vertical foot of tree.

To avoid a busy look on your tree, use a variety of garlands from plain to fancy. Thin, beaded garlands look best hung from branch to branch; thicker paper, ribbon, or foil garlands look best wrapped loosely around the entire tree.

entire tree.

Step 3: Hang Christmas Tree Ornaments

The next step in Christmas tree decorating is to hang your Christmas tree ornaments. To showcase your favorites, place them in prime positions on the tree first. Next, hang your larger ornaments, spacing them evenly around the tree. Fill in around those ornaments with medium- and small-size ornaments. Be sure to hang some ornaments closer to the trunk to create depth and interest. Finish dressing the tree by adding specialty items, such as clip-on ornaments or icicles.

It feels like there’s something magical about this time of year… listening to Christmas music, snuggling and keeping warm by the fireplace, and sipping on hot cocoa in a room with a tree filled with twinkling lights and delicate glass trinkets.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

#Decemberishere #Christmastree

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they’ll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”

― Marilyn Monroe

Hope you’re all having a beautiful start to your week….

Love, Katya Velazco.

#aflashoflove #peonieseason #whitepeonies #miami #beauty #nature #perfection #photography #photographers #quoteoftheday #tuesday #november #almosttahnksgiving

I’ve learned that..

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

Love, Katya Velazco.

11.24.14

Miami - Florida

#aflashoflove #miami #life #learningeveryday #makingalife

“ Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow”

– Imogen Cunningham

11.24.14

#aflashoflove #quotesaboutphotography #photographers

The Library voice

Photography books and many cups of Coffee.

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”

― Ansel Adams

11.24.14

#aflashoflove #photography #mondayoff #perfectplan #books #library #photographers

Classic Christmas Hits

It's that magical time of the year. The decorations are set and the toddies are spiced, but a Christmas party isn't complete without a classy soundtrack. Listen to the lush arrangements and sonorous voices of the iconic post- warm crooners who set the standard for holiday music.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! – Frank Sinatra

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

O Holy Night - Celine Dion

Jingle Bells- Frank Sinatra

Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson

The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole

This Christmas – Christina Aguilera

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi

O Holy Night – Josh Groban

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – NSYNC

Winter Wonderland- Frank Sinatra

Christmas Dreaming (A Little Early This Year) - Frank Sinatra