Year: 2014

taking time to think about relationships

Everything in life we do requires a reassessment to see what can be improved, changed, fixed. We do this with our health, with our children, a home remodel and even with our finances. So why not about a relationship? There are times in life we all experience hard days, especially in relationships we’ve invested in for decades and want to see through it. So taking time to ponder, outweighing the good and the bad, figuring out how to make the right changes, the positive ones and the best for the both of you is important. So today I declare TAKING TIME TO THING ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP day.

the damages of eating out

Several years ago, we ate out all the time. Not only did it hurt the pocket book. It also affected our health – gaining weight, high blood pressure and other unwanted ailments I choose not to list. So we stopped, deciding that it was important to grocery shop and making our own home-cooked meals. It worked. We lost the weight. The blood pressure went down, and we acquired a new and improved taste for food – using less salt and bringing about the flavors by choosing other spices and garnish. A little over a month ago, due to my hectic schedule in general and trying to fit in too much in a day, we reverted back to eating out at minimum 4 nights a week. Suddenly, I hated food, everything we ate had too much salt used for flavoring mostly or even to cover up some unpleasant tastes. I wondered if it were possible to ask for less salt when ordering my food, but never considered bothering the waiter. Then I went for a physical …

taking a day to remember 911

As I drove by Pepperdine University in Southern California yesterday on my way back home to San Francisco, I noticed flags, beautifully displayed on a field adjacent to Highway 1. At first glance I was in awe, amazed  mostly by the beautiful display. And just as I drove past the wonderful dedication, I realized it was there for remembering 911. I was deeply touched.

a treehouse: a writer’s paradise

For the past year or maybe less, I’ve been hooked on a television show called Treehouse Masters. At first I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to live in a tree house or escape to it. But the more I watched the more I realized this is really something I would do. Especially when I need to escape for hours to plot out my writings or simply just meditate. Well, as normal while I scrolled through the internet looking for articles to inspire me, I came across this one – about a uniquely beautiful treehouse and I had to share, simply having fallen in love with the set up and wishing I could build one of my own, with views of a lake or any water of some sort. {photo credit from here}

travel: venice canals in venice california

When I travel to anywhere, I am always looking for the unusual to see. Something that would mostly impress and inspire me to develop a storyline. So, as you can tell exploring the Venice Canals in Venice, California is a must. I’m not going to get into the story behind the story, you can click here to read about it. But I am going to say, that please don’t compare the canals to the ones in Venice Italy. Instead stroll along the area early morning hours, before the heat, and take in the peacefulness of the experience.  

where to buy novels written by m.l.kilian

I’ve been asked via email if the novels I’ve written are available in e-book, or paperback version and where they are sold. As you know brick and mortar bookstores are disappearing, and the ones remaining (at least in the states) are the indie bookstores – most too small to house all books in print. So, my novels – Piazza Navona and Nob Hill are both available to order online – in e-book format and paperback. However, if you love a good bookstore like I do, then by all means go in person, and order the books to pick up from the store or have it shipped to your home.  Either option you choose, you will love the story: In addition, you can also order the paperback version through my shop here at a deep discount. And, if you happen to have read one book and weren’t sure if there was a part I or part II (depending on which you chose to read first) – then consider following my blog (click banner) to always stay …

interior decor and design in whites and antique

You know when you buy an old house in San Francisco – Edwardian or a Victorian mostly – it is important to decorate the inside to bring out the true charm of the house. Modern seems to work here and there, but in old homes, the design and decor must compliment each room perfectly. Here’s what I would consider if I were lucky enough to overbid on such a property in one of the most expensive cities to live in.     {inspiration from here}

a ghastly story: the phantom of the opera

I love reading about the story behind the story. I do it for all films and write  about it of course here. So, it’s no wonder that I stumbled upon this story and had to share it. I think I became a fan of The Phantom of the Opera when I saw the performance on stage in San Francisco circa in the 90s. But what solidified my admiration of the musical was seeing it with Gerard Butler years later.  At least I admit it :).  The interesting part about it is that I’ve gone to Paris at least once a year, if not twice for decades, and never once considered setting foot inside the Garnier Opera House. I’ve made a trip to the area, and stood across the street from the monumental building admiring it from the outside, always feeling too eery to go inside. Then of course I found this story, reading it at some ungodly hour of the morning – to be exact at 3:00 a.m. when I couldn’t stay asleep anymore, my …

something’s going on

Every year around this time – always nearing September – I feel a little uninspired, and overly emotional. I think it’s the impending season change. I rectified this problem  in recent years with a two-week trip to Europe  – the first part of September. Which helped in the transition of changing seasons and all. This year however, I won’t be doing that. Instead I am going to stay local, and take a very short trip down to Los Angeles to unwind and reflect – planning how 2015 would pan out. Yes, one may believe it’s too early but not for me. I have way too much to do next year, and need to plan. In the meantime, I try to stay a little distracted, by writing, working on my third novel, and by finding photos online to help me escape. This photo, although not my decor style, for some reason put a smile on my face. Perhaps because it reminded me of my aunt’s house in South of France – whimsical, light, airy and very …