A series of unfortunate events

no not the latest lemony snicket book...but the chaos that is my life. My pc has crashed twice in last month of so but both times I was able to nurse it back to life. In Novemeber I purchased an external hard drive (250gb) so I did not lose ALL my files but I did lose quite a bit of important stuff...I am going to see if any of it can be recovered. I have already decided on the new drive

Western Digital WD2500SB 250GB UDMA/100 7200RPM 8MB IDE HDD

Now just gotta get hubby to buy it......

Wed 12/20 Blog Prompt

Fill in the blank and then tell us about it:

I enjoy CAR SHOWS now, but if anyone had told me that years ago, I would never have believed them.

I used to care less about cars, engines, etc. But my 8 yr dd Jay has gotten me hooked with his love of cars and especially "American Muscle". Camaro's, Shelby GT, Chargers....he can name and cite the specs on them from memory. And the more he gets into them, so do I! Here are some pictures from one of the many shows we have seen.

Tues 12/19 Blog Prompt

Tues 12/19 Blog Prompt

---

What sets you apart from the crowd?

I am different and don't mind being so! I am a total geek grrl and have been for years! I was cool with being a geek b4 it became cool. I love to read and my tastes range from Louis L'amour {Westerns} to Laurell Hamilton {Vampire fiction}. I definitely don't follow the crowd!

I'm so excited

why? I just LOVE, love this new website someone pointed me to (thanks Shea!). It's called Giveaway of the Day and can be found at www.giveawayoftheday.com You can get a different free commercial software every day. And this is GOOD stuff. Yesterday I grabbed an audio converter/ripper that I have been needing for some time. Today the program is

• "ASTRA32 - Advanced System Information Tool is an ideal solution for providing comprehensive information about the configuration of your system. Not only does ASTRA32 provide a detailed analysis of your system it also offers diagnostics and comes with some powerful unique features such as a Drivers Troubleshooter and a quick HDD Health Status checker"

How useful is that going to be? Also don't forget to check out

Game Giveaway of the Day - Astro Fury

Whose your favorite book character/family?

If you could visit any book, and live inside of it, meet the characters, etc.... what book would you want to visit?

I have ALWAYS had my fave book families & or people I wanna meet

1. Pevensies - Chronicles of Narnia
2. Jamie & Claire Fraser - Outlander Series
3. Meg, Sandy, Denys, Charles Wallace Murry - Wrinkle in Time series
4. Anita Blake - Laurell Hamilton's Vampire Hunter Series
5. Dr. Kay Scarpetta & Benton - Patricia Cornwell
6. Dr. Alex Cross, Nana Mama, Jannie, & Damon - James Patterson

I could go on...................

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I'm dressing up my text for the holiday...whatta ya think?


now if I can just get blogger to cooperate so I can change my header....

Be sure to check out my new kit, Most Wonderful Time of the Year...named after one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. This huge 68 piece kit is perfect for pictures taken during this most wonderful time of the year. Its full of textures and colors of reminiscent of holidays past. This kit is very flexible so can be used for things besides holiday pictures. It's can be purchased here or here for 5.99.

Here is a layout I created using it. I will be giving away a qp based on that layout. All you have to do is guess which milestone my 4 month old daughter just accomplished. Every correct answer will get the quick page and everyone who answers will get a 25% coupon on all my products. Here is a picture of my doll, Zaniyah.


She is growing up all too fast for me...today the first ________________...tomorrow she will be driving...lol...

Mon 11/27 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

What was your favorite childhood cartoon, comic, or TV show?

I know I haven't done one of these in FOREVER but I could not resist this. I am such retro cartoon freak! I love Boomerang and have hipped my kids to really good cartoons such as Super Friends (With or Without the Wonder twins!), Jem (truly outrageous...ooh ooh Jem is truly outrageous), Fat Albert, Land of the Lost, Captain Kangaroo, School House Rocks, Wonder Woman, You can't do that on television....I could literally continue this for days.

Coming soon to a theater----wait scratch that!

Coming soon to layout near you....the best thing since sliced bread---the hot potato...ok that was kind of lame and in my own defense, its after midnight and I am running out of steam! But I just had to preview my latest creation Brag Book sketch templates! These aren't your ordinary, plain jane (or even fancy nancy) 12x12 squares! They aren't even 8x11 rectangles that you oblong folk like!
These are super cute, totally original, 4x6 mini layout templates. Now you may be thinking WHY on earth would I want to create mini layouts in this size? Well you can take advantage of all those next to nothing 20 prints absolutely free offers that all the major photo sites, drug stores, and warehouse stores seem to be advertising. You can also purchase a brag book from your local dollar store (Dollar Tree is my favorite) fill it with said free or low cost printed layout and VOILA instant stocking stuffer for grandparents, godparents, anyone who loves that special kid or kids of yours! Here are two layouts I made!


Thats my darling MeMe who seems to be toddling away from babydom as fast as she can. She looked so grown up in her latest pic that I just had to contrast it to her newborn pic.

This is uses one of the sketch templates as well as my Candy Apple Cotton Candy kit. fonts are Kristen ITC and LD Delightful.

The second layout is also of MeMe....she is just so adorable with all her different expressions.

Journaling reads MeMe was all ready for our Fall Clean Up day! Her face was so serious I had to snap this picture! This is my Floral Dreams kit and another layout template. My MIL, GMIL, and various other assorted aunts and uncles will be getting Brag Books as stocking stuffers.
These will be in my store in next day or so....stop by and check them out....

>>>>Here they are<<<<

Who doesn't like free?

Check out my new freebie Spiced Latte Lite. It matches my Spiced Latte kit and allows you to "try before you buy" It's three touchable papers, 1 tag, 3 glass heart charms, 4 stitched circle frames and a bonus art deco element.

Stop by the store, snag it and let me see what you do with it!
Spiced Latte Lite






Make sure you check out the full kit while you are in the store! It has so much more in the same lovely color scheme.

Spiced Latte





You also see my new spring inspired kit, Floral Dreams, here
Here is a small preview of this 56 piece kit:


Are you missing spring? Still have Easter pictures to scrap? Or maybe its pictures of your garden in full bloom that are being neglected. Well now your problems are solved. This floral kit is perfect for any of these occasions as well as many others. The papers are soft and sweet. The elements are just plain old cute!

Toot Toot

Check out my recently published content on AC:
Digital Scrapbooking with Paint Shop Pro

RIP Gerald and other important news

"Gerald LeVert, one of R&B's most soulful voices of the last decade, died suddenly Friday at his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Levert, the son of Eddie Levert of the O'Jays, was 40 years old."

I have always been a huge fan of Gerald Levert. I guess you can say it is in my blood because both my mom and grandmother are huge O'Jays fans. I grew up listening to them so when Levert debuted back in the eighties, I was an instant fan. Through all the stages (new jack, adult contemporary) weight changes (big Gerald, slim Gerald, finally medium Gerald), I always loved his voice. My Forever Love is one of my all time favorite love songs.

I feel so bad for his family. I know the heartache of an unexpected death of someone that young and how devastating it is.

On to some good news....I have a SECRET!!!! Hopefully in a few days I will announce it. Stay tuned because freebies will be forthcoming to celebrate!

Freebies

This was my gift to participants in my sketch Challenge last month at SBP. And I am offering to anyone who wants to play. There is also my try at the Font Challenge for CSE yahoogroup. Feel free to grab it as well.



http://www.4shared.com/dir/959612/1f5e2caa/Freebies.html

New Layouts and other stuff

I have not really been scrapping mood. But I got picked for Neverland Scraps (thanks Wendy!) CT and had to fulfill my commitment. Well she has great Haunted Halloween kit that is perfect for scrapping pictures of dd cheer photos. I LOVE how they came out! I also used her Breast Cancer Charity kit to create these layouts of my dd Kailin and Zaniyah

What I am listening to

So here are the rules:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether or not they have words, or even if they're not any good, but the must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instrucitons in your LiveJournal/blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.

My seven songs:

1. Lets's Stay Together - Lyfe Jennings( Cant recommend this cd ENOUGH...I LOVE LOVE LOVE Lyfe!)


2. My Love - Justin Timberlake


3. My Life is His Hands - Kirk Franklin


4. Every Time Beat Drop - Monica


5. Kitty Kat - Beyonce


6. Finding Myself In You - Brian McNight


7. Entourage - Omarion...I can't HELP but like this song. I usually cant stand his voice but this is so danceable!!!

Girls Nite Out

My Best Friend won tickets to the Blue Man Group and is taking me with her!Its tonite at 8 in Pittsburgh which is about an hour away. So thats about 5 hours with NO kiddos and NO hubby....go me!

Please excuse the dust

I am in process of remodeling my blog! I signed up for the beta version of Blogger and it got rid of my three column template. AND it wont let me use it either....so I have to totally redo my template. Homeschooling is taking up so much of my time....wahhh I dont have time to scrap! Here are some of my latest layouts.

Thurs 8/31 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Thurs 8/31 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Okay, I know it's not officially the last day of summer, but (in the US) after this coming holiday weekend, all kids will be back in school. So, what did you get out of summer this year? Did you learn anything? Do anything new? Wrap it up for us!"

Well as all who frequent my blog even rarely should know, I got to finally meet the latest love of my life. Zaniyah is a darling baby and already three weeks old. Watching her grow is so bittersweet cause she is my last. So much of my life has been defined by my being pregnant or just having had a baby. But that chapter is over. I am still a mom but not ever going to be a new mom again. And even after nine times, it saddens me. I don't feel like less of a woman or any nonsense like that. Just a little glum that never again will I be able to feel my baby growing underneath my heart. On the other hand, I am ecstatic about having MY body back (not in the original condition but still works for the most part!). I look forward to being able to have the energy and stamina to enjoy doing things with my family instead of being tired and swollen and any of the other myriad of things that hurt, ache or just generally bother you when pregnant! I wanna ride amusement park rides, take the kids for walks in park, go grocery shopping without needing a break!

Thurs 8/24 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Thurs 8/24 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Thurs 8/24 Blog Prompt
What do you like best and least about where you live?"

I live in a community with a very diverse ethnic mix. We have a high concentration of Greek, Italian, Jewish, Puerto Rican, Polish and many other ethnic groups. And with this we have GREAT mom and pop resteraunts where you can get authentic cuisine...cooked the way it was in "the old country" =). (Why does it ALWAYS come back to food with me????)

"With the opening of the city's steel mills, Youngstown proved to be a popular destination for immigrants from Eastern Europe, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Ireland. In the early 20th century, the community also saw an influx of immigrants from non-European countries including Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, and Syria. Such ethnic diversity continues to be reflected in many of the community's neighborhoods, where a Hungarian Orthodox church may share the same street corner with an Italian restaurant." --- Quote from Wikipedia

Another wonderful benefit is the festivals and cultural exchanges that are yearly events here. We have very little racial polarity here and I love that about my town. It is the town I grew up in and cost of living here is GREAT ( live in a 4 bdrm, 1.5 bath 2000 sq ft house in suburb with great schools and my house is worth about 45k)

What I don't like about here is amount of violence. Our community has LOOOONG history of Mafia connections and corruption. Here is another quote from Wiki that NOT so positive

"Meanwhile, the city has attempted to come to terms with its troubling reputation for corruption. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Youngstown became identified in the public mind with Mafia-related murders (committed chiefly via car bombings). Consequently, the metropolis gained the nickname "Bomb City," and the phrase "Youngstown tune-up" became a slang term for car-bomb assassination. Today, however, the city has accelerated measures to limit the influence of organized crime upon all sectors of municipal life. For some observers, the climax of this ongoing effort was the arrest, trial, and 2002 conviction of former US Representative James A. Traficant Jr. on bribery and racketeering charges."

I have done several reports on our Mafia history and its fascinating in abstract or on paper but the effects on our lives can be devastating....

here are some nicknames for my town from the urbandictionary.com

1. The armpit of Ohio
   
2. Murdertown U.S.A in the 1950's & 1960's
3. Rundown Steel City halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh
4. Corruption

I am happy to say we seem to be ushering in a new era for my city and I hope it continues to grow into the great city it used to be.

Mon 8/21 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Mon 8/21 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Happy Monday all! Today's prompt is from Laura Lou!
From racecar driving to rock stars, Dodgers camp to tossing a football with Joe Montana or playing in the Super Bowl, fantasy camps for adults make dreams come true. If you could design your own fantasy camp, what would it be like?"


My fantasy camp all stars would be :

1. Paula Deen


2. Rachael Raye


3. G. Garvin


4. Ina Garten


5. Bobby and Jamie Deen

I made myself hungry just thinking about these people. I love to watch their shows and pick up tips. I have used quite a few of Paula's recipes since my dh is from Texas and loves that Southern style cooking!

Tues 8/15 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Tues 8/15 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Today, list 10 attainable goals for you and/or your family that can be accomplished within the next year.

10 attainable goals



1. Complete hours in timely manner for virtual school


2. Attend at least 3 home games to watch my daughter cheer


3. Complete my Field Experience for school


4. Visit dh family in Texas


5. Visit my family in Cincinnati


6. No tardies for the three kiddos in regular schools


7. Have a family portrait done


8. Have an anniversary portrait done of dh & me


9. Use our Y membership weekly


10. NOT BE PREGNANT next summer. After three summer pregnancies in three years, I can't survive that!

Mon 8/14 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Mon 8/14 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Today's prompt:

Start 10 sentences with the words 'I love...'

You can elaborate as much or as little as you like from there. Have fun!"

This is almost TOO easy for me as a married mom of 9...so I won't take the easy way out and name each of my kids and dh....

I love ....

1. Snapple Lemon Flavor Ice Tea - this is my drink of choice


2. Roller Coasters - preferably the ones at roller coaster capital of the world Cedar Point


3. West Branch Beach - Dating back to childhood up until present, I have had great memories of time spent there


4. Good Books-- nothing like finishing up a good book


5. Muscle Cars - my 8 year old car aficiando has gotten me hooked on them...we love to go to car shows and take pictures


6. Scrabble -- I play a MEAN game of scrabble.


7. My DigiCam -- 8MP..whats not to love??


8. Brachs Candy Corn -- one of my fave treats


9. Summer Time - I love everything about summer and miss it terribly when winter comes


10. and of Digiscrapping!!! -- this is a no brainer

drumroll............................

With much ado...I would like to introduce

Zaniyah Ylonne Kelis
born 08/09/06 1:22 pm
6 lbs 7 oz
20 inches long

Tues 8/8 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Tues 8/8 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.

Not accident prone? Someone else's illness/accident that significantly affected your life."

This would have to be in 2004 with the premature birth of my son. At 34 weeks, I was having contractions but they never established a rhythm. The er doc was concerned because although the heartbeat was fine, he was unable to get any fetal movement even after using a buzzer. They kept me in hospital for monitoring overnight and I saw high risk dr in the am. After a pelvic exam, he decided I was 5 cm dilated and he was going to give me pitocin to jumpstart my contractions. This was about 730 am. By 10:20 am, my darling Jorrell was born. He had a perfect apgar score and was doing great at first. However as the day progressed, they kept noticing that his tempature was dropping. during the night the nurse observed that he was having seizure. They transferred him to NICU where they gave him an EEG and discovered he had suffered a stroke before he was born. He was placed on phenobarbital to prevent further seizures and stayed 23 days in the NICU. His (almost) two years of life have been full of ups and downs, innumberable tests and doctors, weekly physical and occupational therapy and the love of my precious baby boy!

Mon 8/7 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Mon 8/7 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "I believe most of us have significant others in our lives, so:

How did you first meet your in-laws? Impressions?"


I first met the Wicked Witch of the South..I mean my MIL maybe a month after dating my dh. She was very friendly and charming to my FACE. However I soon found out that was an act. She is still nicey nice t o my face but has made terrible accusations about me (our oldest child together was born premature and suffered a stroke before he was born and spent 23 days in NICU, when my husband called to tell her he had been born, she insisted that he was NOT premature (and therefore not my husbands) because he weighed 5lbs and that I had convinced the doctors to lie to my husband about that). I can understand her not liking me but to say something like that during such a stressful time struck me as beyond vindictive. DH and I have been together three years and she STILL makes nasty remarks and even tells blatant lies about me to his other family members. I do not hate her but I do choose to keep my distance.

My husband's only sister is definitely her mother's child and too much like her mom for us to ever be friends. She is two faced and likes to cause trouble. DH and I had moved in together and she gave his ex girlfriend's mother our phone number, who then gave the number to her daughter. These are just a few of the incidents that have shown me the best way to handle both of them is with a long handled spoon so to speak.

The only other IL that I know well is my husband's maternal grandmother. How she ever raised my MIL, I do not know. She is sweet as can be. She has always been there for my husband and basically raised him when his mom decided she had other things she wanted to do. She has told me that she is happy that dh has me in his life and to pray for his mother but do not involve her too much in our lives. Her exact words were Wanda is miserable and would like nothing more than for you two to be miserable too.

Wed 8/2 Blog Prompt

---

Here's a two-part question for today:

In what way do you indulge yourself?

My number one way I indulge myself is my computer toys and time. I rarely do buy clothes or jewelry for myself but I love having the latest toys for my pc. I have an 8.1 MP camera. I also have an Ipod shuffle, 2 external hard drives, an internal dvd burner, a backup internal dvd burner AND an external dvd burner. My speaker system for the pc is better than one for my home stereo system. My next purchase is going to be a Wacom tablet. Soon as I find a great deal on one that is.....

In what way do you wish you could indulge yourself?

I should spend more time pampering myself spending time away from the family and the pc. I used to go out to lunch all by myself with a good book and just eat and read. It gave me time to renew myself so that I am not always so irritated by demands placed on me by family obligations.

My Image Your Image

My Image Your Image

This is some of the most glorious nature shots I have seen in a long time. I was blown away by the detailed shots that show the beauty that God blesses us with daily that we often take for granted.

Friday 7/28 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Friday 7/28 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Here's one from Laura Lou!

'What advice would you give your much younger self if you could?'"

So much of what I experienced as my younger self makes me my older (and hopefully wiser) self now....but I would definitely say finish college. If I had done that then I wouldn't be struggling to do it now. Other than that, I can see the lessons I learned in each thing that happened to me or that I did and I really wouldnt change much.

Thurs 7/27 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Thurs 7/27 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Tag!! We're it! Stacey42 tagged us with an Internet meme! Copy and paste this into your blog and answer the questions, if you want to play along!

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? yes


2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster? yes


3. When's the last time you've been sledding? NEVER


4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? someone else


5. Do you believe in ghosts? yes

6. Do you consider yourself creative? yes


7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? yes


8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very 'now') Angelina Jolie


9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? yes! I am a very INFORMED voter


10. Do you know how to play poker? basics


11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? yes
!

12. What's your favorite commercial? Starbucks commercial about Glen


13. Who was your first love? Scott

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? Yes


15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? yes


16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? Yankees


17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? Yes


18. How often do you remember your dreams? often


19. What's the one thing on your mind? WHEN I AM HAVING THIS BABY!!!


20. Do you always wear your seat belt? yes cause I have auto seatbelts

21. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing


22. Do you like Sushi? no


23. What do you wear to bed? hubby's tshirt
.

24. Do you truly hate anyone? yes
.

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? Tyrese Gibson


26. Do you know anyone in jail? yes


27. What food do you find disgusting? beans


28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? no I laugh right in front of their faces!!


29. Have you ever been punched in the face? yes


30. Do you believe in angels and demons? yes
"

I been SO busy

Haven't been able to blog as I would like. I started a new class on Tuesday...lets hope Marketing is easier on my brain than Finance was!!

I have been working on a new (my first full kit). I have hand drawn some elements and I am Very Pleased with how they have turned out. The whole kit will be available soon so keep checking back.....

I have also been keeping busy with my Monday Noon Crop & Swap at SBP. Every Monday at Noon EST I give away a quick page just for attending the crop. Lots of fun and sometimes other prizes to be had.....please drop in...I would love to see you there

My work on DT at DigiMoms is going great. We have a WONDERFUL Mega kit coming up for August so check it out.

Wed 7/12 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Wed 7/12 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

im checking ebay for prices on a Wacom tablet..I want one SO bad. Maybe an Ipod Nano (ebay of course) I rarely spend money on things for myself so I definitely deserve it.

Mon 7/10 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Mon 7/10 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "Summer: Sunny, warm, picnics, outdoors, sunshine, hot, sticky, sweltering, insects, bugs, camping, swimming, lakes, boating, summer, corn, carnivals, festivals, parades, beach, fun, celebrate, biking, hiking, campfires, pools, outdoors, watermelon, sand castles, ice cream.
"

sweet summer corn on the cob...is there any taste like that...slathered with butter and salt....or icy crisp watermelon...sweet and juicy.....sunny days are here again.

I learned last night on our evening news that we are in the dog days of summer here. Contrary to "pup"ular (ok bad pun) belief, the dog days of summer have nothing to do with canines and how they suffer in the heat but occurs when Sirius (the dog star) is in conjunction with the sun which ancients believed added to the heat of the sun, bringing sticky sweltering weather.... This period usually last from early July to mid August. Isn't it grand that two years in a row, I am in my third trimester during this period....

African American Barbie Dolls

African American Barbie Dolls

As a girl, Barbies were never at top of my christmas wish list. I had a few but I wasnt crazy about her. I preferred books to dolls and it remained that way for years. UntilI turned 25 and was bit by the collecting bug. My collection has grown to 12 Barbies....

Thurs 5/6 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Thurs 5/6 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Choose a character. What was your favorite fairy tale as a child, and which character did you most identify with?

Its not the typical "fair tale' but I LOVED Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time and boy did I identify with Meg! She was smart, a loner, and adventurous....I admired her and wanted to be her. I read all the books in that series voraciously....over and over again.

I coudn't wait to introduce my daughters to Meg..........

Wed 7/5 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Wed 7/5 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

For those of us that stayed up too late watching fireworks, tell us about it! Or whatever you did to celebrate Independence day!

My 4th of July was miserable. My oldest six children are outta town with my mom for the week and this was my first holiday without them. We chatted on webcam and they looked to having so much fun. I wanted to be there with them. I ended up eating chinese with my husband and watching the remake of the Amityville Horror.

All in all I am eagerly awaiting Sunday cause my children will be back home!

Independance

Tuesday's Update
For today let's think about "independence". What does it mean to you? Your family? Your life? Your future?


Independance has been a big deal on my mind this past couple weeks. Going to school has been getting harder and harder. But I realize that it is a choice so that I can express my independance. I recently started two home business in order to gain independance from the financial hardships on our family. My children are all in different stages of independance and its bittersweet to watch them grow and change. They all have their own thoughts and opinions and are not shy about expressing them It makes parenting them a challenge but it also tells me that I am raising THINKERS. That they will be able to use their brains to figure out if the path they are following is the right one with out me being there. In my mind thats the best way to prepare them for the future. My younger children (ages 11 months and 22 months) are doing typical toddler things.

Monday's Update

Write a poem. This was a great exercise. I decided to write a haiku. I always struggle with writing these as try to stay with the japanese rule that these have meaning...not cjust the sentences but life philosphy


digicreating
preserving my memories
scrapbooking is life

I'm a bad bad blogger

Ok real life took over and I haven't blogged in a week or so...however I do have a very good reason...its summer vacation and between cheer practice (my daughter...not me), therapy appointments (Jorrell has reached his 13 months goals!!! YAY!!!) and prenatal visits for me (33 weeks and counting....oh yeah its a GIRL and her name is going to be Zaniyah (za NEE yah) Ylonne Kelis), and my duties at SBP, I feel like the energizer bunny...I haven't really felt like even messing around in PSP until today when the creative bug hit me. Here is the Happy 4th Mini Kit I created. I hope everyone likes and LEAVES a comment if you decided to download!

Wed 6/21 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Wed 6/21 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "The tastes of summer"

Since I am in my 32nd week of pregnancy, the tastes of summer are definitely high on my list...first thing that I had a taste for this summer was a lemon shake up...for all the uninitiated...its when you take crushed ice, sugar, a half of lemon in a glass and shake it up....voila lemon shakeup! They sell them at our local flea market. Um Um GOOD! Also bing cherries! I polished off a bag of those last week. Sweet firm peaches, nectarines and plums!Just thinking of them makes my mouth water...can't forget funnel cake and elephant ears...oh and carmel apples...cotton candy (only the blue kind)....french fries with malt vinegar in a paper cup or tray. Italian sausage sandwhiches with mozzarella cheese....oh man I am HUNGRY!!!!

Tues 6/20 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place

Tues 6/20 Blog Prompt - Digital Scrapbook Place: "3 ways in which someone can compliment you are...."


First and foremost...compliment my children. I put so much effort and thought into helping my children grow and learn. Don't just say they are cute kids (even though they are) comment on their abilities, I take pride in praising my children in areas they are strong in and encouraging them where they are weak. It is definitely my "life's work" nothing gives me more pleasure than to see them succeed.

second compliment my accomplishments. I have worked hard and sacrificed much to get where I am today. I have not always made wise decisions but I chose to deal with the consequences without blaming others. I changed my life when I didnt like the way it was going and I am by gosh darned proud as heck of that!

last but not least compliment my creative spirit...it has taken me until my thirties to truly find an outlet/medium that allowed me to release my creativity....and I LOVE IT....with my digiscrapping I woudl probably be crazy!!!!

Dinner Party

The prompt was what 5 people would you have at your dinner party....I responded to someone's before I wrote mine so I am gonna steal a few of their guests
(thanks Faery-Wings)

GWB would definitely be at my table...NCLB is a pitiful shame and so is the state America is in right now. I am curious as to what he THINKS about when he is alone. Does he think? Or is he SO sure that he is RIGHT...he never second guesses his decision..... Seriously I wonder sometimes.

Jesus Christ....I would like to ask him if what consenting adults do in their bedroom so much more to worry about than the millions of children living below the poverty line in our own country? Does he really care that we are so worked up about homosexuals marrying than the thousands of children being abused, misused and generally neglected in the joke we call foster care system? Should we as a nation be up in arms about what two people in love consider a family than all the children who are being sexually abused by convicted predators that our legal system has failed to keep track of........I would REALLY like his opinion on those issues....

My 29 year old cousin Tahnee who was murdered this past novemeber. I woudl give anything just to have one more dinner with her. She was the sister of my heart and I miss her daily.

I would also like to have her murderer there as well. And ask him if you loved her like you say you did...how could you take her from us? How could you cause so much hurt to so many people? How could you tear a hole in the very fabric of our lives by ending her life? We know you...we welcomed you as family through her...and you do something so vile, so unspeakable, and then to toss her body away as if it was no more than trash......

I seem to have gone on a tangent and I am gonna end here as the pain is still to new..... too raw.......

What is your SCRAPBOOKING history? Did you start with paper or digital?

What is your SCRAPBOOKING history? Did you start with paper or digital?

I actually started out scrapbooking the paper way. However once I figured out that I could turn my love of tags, stats, and other graphic making in PSP into scrapbooking.,.....there was no stopping me. I have been using PSP since version 6. I have both 9 & X right now and have at least sampled most of the other biggies but nothing can compare to my PSP. It is rare for me to find something I can't do with PSP so why bother learning something new...

oooh a meme

No not my baby girl MeMe but a meme from Monday Madness



1. I have a picture of _____ on my computer desktop.
2. There are _____ pictures hanging on my living room walls.
3. My big goal for this week is to _____.
4. I plan to visit _____ blogs this week.
5. The weather we're having right now is _____.
6. I really should _____ more often.


My answers

1. My kiddos
2. Zero
3. Not miss any appointments
4. 25
5. nice...not to hot...not to cold
6. exercise
   

My New Venture

I decided to start selling AVON


http://www.youravon.com/treeves-keaton

I decided to sign up for the E-representative option. Please stop by and order a little something......or even a LOT of stuff.....

Monday 6/12

How did you get started using computers? When did you first get "online". Do you predate the Internet being available to the public or was it always here for you?

My first experience with computers was WAY back in eight grade. Our school got a new lab of 25 Commodore 64! I learned to program in BASIC and thought it was the coolest thing ever....My beginnings as a geek grrl.....

I have been on internet for a long long time.....I remember using free-net back in 92 on my university account. As far as personal usage, I got online with AOL..back in 1995, when you got 6 hours for 20.00 a month and 4.95 for each additional hour. I had 80 and 90 bills sometimes due to that mess....but I hung around with AOHELL until they went to unlimited....I think my first online session after that was something like 15 hours.....

Today's Prompt

"I see a number of teachers are blogging, now and, along with the end of the school year, I wondered if "Who was your favorite or most influential teacher?" might be a timely prompt."

My favorite teacher was Mrs. Bennett. She was my fourth grade teacher and was the first teacher I had that actively encouraged my reading for pleasure. She allowed me to read as much as I liked in class as long as my grades didnt suffer. She would even bring books that her daughter had outgrown for me to read. She passed away some years later and I felt a distinct sense of loss.

A blog topic perfect for me

What was your favorite childhood book? If you have children, have you passed this book down?

I am such a reader and have a LONG list of childhood faves from every stage. And what better way of sharing my love of reading with my children than reading my favorite books with them.

1. Charlie and Chocolate Factory - my 7 yr old and I are reading this right now. She has seen both movies and loves to talk about how they missed certain parts.
   
2. Chronicles of Narnia - another love of mine. We have several different copies of the entire series as someone is always in middle of one of these.
   
3. A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle is a must for any fantasy lover...Charles Wallace, Sandy & Denys and Meg....my eldest two daughters have read this with me
4. Mrs. Frisby and Rats of NIMH - my soon to be fifth grade son, Joshua and I are reading this right now. I read it years ago and still enjoy it.
5. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry this series of books by Mildred Taylor was shared a couple of years ago in my household.
6. To Kill A Mockingbird - Who doesn't love the escapades of Scout, Jem and Dill....and Atticus.
   

My little kids get to share books with me as well

1. Anything by Else Minarik...Little Bear
2. Maurice Sendak...Where the Wild Things Are
3. Dr Suess...Hop on Pop and The Foot Book rates highly here!
4. Richard Scarry....Gotta Love Goldbug
5. There's A Monster at the End of this Book - THIS IS A BIG HIT with all my kids. I do my best Grover imitation while reading it....

Tuesday's Prompt (shhh I know it really Thursday)

What are you thankful for? How do you express it?

I am so thankful for my family. I recently loss someone I considered my sister to a violent crime and it has made me appreciate how blessed I truly am. I tell those I love that I love them often. I spend time with the people who are special to me. The ones who are far away, I call often just to catch up. I don't want to lose someone else and feel that I shoulda, coulda, woulda did something differently.

Gotta Brag

Yesterday was my son Joshua's 4th grade recognition....his grand total was 8 badges: three for honor roll, two for math acheivement. one for reading, one for writing, and one for overall excellence...he also got 5 certificates! here is a layout I created to showcase his stuff!!!

My Earliest Memory

Today's prompt:

What is your earliest memory? Why do you think it sticks with you?

My earliest memories center around my grandparents house. My mom was in college full time when I was born so my grandmother kept me for her. My dad was the eldest of eight children and he was only twenty when I was born. So here was a house full of teens and all they did was spoil me rotten. My mom teases me that I did not walk alone until I was almost 2.5 because they passed me from person to person instead of making me walk. I am still to this day very close to my aunts and uncles on my dad's side due to this.

Events Team keeping me busy

I haven't been able to update much since I was selected for the Events Team for SBP
I am in charge of these monthly challenges:

1. Color Challenge
2. Element Challenge
3. Sketch Challenge
4. Ad Challenge
5. Scraplift Challenge

Stop by and join in the fun with me...I am so excited about this new opportunity. Gives me a chance to get more involved in the digiscrapping community.

My first pet

My first pets was an AKC registered champagne miniature poodle, Missy Ann. Although small dogs and small children are supposed to be a no no...no one ever told Missy Ann that she was a dog....not a really small person! She was very affectionate and protective of me and my brothers. So protective that when my brothers got in trouble and my mom wanted to spank them, Missy Ann had to be locked up or she would growl at my mom and try to bite her!!! She was 14 or 15 when she died and my heart was broken.

Monday's Prompt

Today's prompt: Blog about a scent that reminds you of childhood, or just one with strong emotional connection.

This one is easy for me. Any time I smell sage, I think of holidays at home with my mom. She was always the designated cook in our family and all holiday meals were served at house. She would be begin cooking the night before. And the aroma of the sage she used in her dressing would fill the house. Even now the scent of cornbread dressing with sage makes me feel like a little girl again!

Another particularly poignant smell is that of sweet potato pie baking. I was my grandma's spoiled little darling. And every holiday she would make the best sweet potato pies and because I was her special girl, I had a whole pie to myself and woe to the person who DARED cut my pie.

Vacations....

Today's Prompt: What was your favorite vacation/holiday you ever took and why....

My kids, my mom and I all went to Cincinnati to visit family there. We stayed in hotel instead of with family. We went to the water park, The Beach with my mom, my adult cousin and me as adults and eleven kids between ages of 4-12! We actually had a blast and only lost track of a couple people towards leaving time. We had a wonderful relaxed and fun time for all of us. Unfortuanately I don't have any pics to scrap but we always have our memories!!!!

Childhood Memories

Today's Prompt:
What aspect of play do you miss most about childhood? Was there a favorite piece of playground equipment you could spend hours on? Did you ride your bike aimlessly for hours? A best friend you had weekly sleepovers with? Tell us about it!

I grew up spending a lot of time at my paternal grandmothers. I had 3 girl cousins who I was very close with and still am to this day. We all shared so much that they are more like sisters than cousins in my eyes. We used to walk to and from the park, wading in the creek and catching crayfish! We would stay up late at night telling each scary stories. These memories are especially poignant for me as the youngest of my cousins, Tahnee, was murdered last November. I see her two girls growing up with my own kids and it reminds me of how close we all were.

Got me a prompt!

In an effort to keep this updated and get my creative juices flowing, I decided to use journaling prompts from Digitalscrapbookplace (thanks Stacey for the tip). I plan to use these here for my scrapping blog but am off to find some for my non scrapbooking blog (yes I do have other interests BESIDES digiscrappin!

Busy Scrappin

With all of the great challenges over at Scrapmommies , I have been so busy making layouts. Here are just a few of my newest ones. MeMe has kindly graced my pages but I think I am ready to scrap some older pictures (Monkey Business is layout I did with pics from 2002)

I did it again!!! Yep I posted another freebie...this is a retro inspired kit based on my favorite flower, Brown-Eyed Susans (my mom says it looks like a 70's kitchen color scheme)!

This set includes 4 solid 8x8 papers, 2 patterned 8X8 paper, 4 textured tags, 4 glassy tags, 4 ribbons, 4 rickrack and other goodies! Over 25 items in this kit!!!!

You can download the kit here ---> Groovy Suzy

Lookie at what I did

I got my own domain & hosting. Here is my site www.digiscrappinwithstyle.com I did some basic web design (thanks Shea for wonderful linkware set) and added my VERY FIRST KIT DESIGNED ALL BY ME!!!! Its called Creamsicle cause it reminded me of the popsicles I used to get from ice cream truck when I was a kid. I plan to add more and do some decorating but for now it works!!!!

tagbox, blinkie and a new layout

Ok I have been busy customizing and updating my blog that I just started YESTERDAY! =) But I have always loved tagboxes...that way if all someone wants to say is hi or I was here.. they don't have to post a comment.....I also created several custom graphics for my blog links....



and



Now of course they aren't linked to anything right now but if ya see them on a forum or my other blog spots....it will bring ya right here!

Today I dropped in on Stacey's Speed Crop at do it digi...and let me tell you...getting the inspiration at 10 chatting till 11 and then posting a finished layout by 12 takes some work....but I loved the finished product!!!!!!




The inspiration or theme was to only use papers no elements or anything else. I have actually done this before and its relatively simple because I am a paper freak and often prefer to use multiple papers as elements in my designs....

Newest Layouts

Here is a layout of me at 20 Weeks...I don't do layouts of me too often as I am usually behind the camera but I got a new dress and felt pretty

The kit is Bannerwoman's Sheang Kit..love the colors and elements in this!

Why Blogger?

I already blog on myspace but thats more my personal thoughts...this is for my all consuming hobby, digiscrapbooking! I have been doing this for a year now and have completed over 50 layouts. I decided to join blogger so I could keep up with blogs of some of my favorite designers!