New 2007 Layouts - 18th Anniversary & At Your Best

Hope everyones weekend is going well. I spent most of the day painting a mirror frame and helping my DH clean out a storage area in our basement. However, I did find time to take a quick (2 hour) nap, finish up some layouts as well as wash & braid Miss Jayla's hair. About the hair, I was pleasantly surprised that her hair braided "normally", considering her trying to give herself a hair cut a couple weeks ago...ARGH!!! Anyway, all is well.

Now about the layouts I finished; one is of our 18th anniversary dinner back in December. I LOVE this LO!! The colors are beautiful...purple, gotta love it. I even did a little cutting details with the ole trusty X-acto knife.

The 2nd LO is of my DH. I can't say that I remember the last time I did a LO of him. Probably because he HATES taking pictures...so there aren't too many around. But this shot is from the family photo shoot we had back in the summer. I can't tell you how much I LOVE this picture of him. He's so HOT!!! :-) I had the hardest time trying to think of a title for this LO. But for some reason, this song by the Isley Brothers kept coming to mind. So I decided to use it as my make shift title. I think it worked out perfect and is so fitting for how I feel about my hubby. It simply says, "At your best, you are love. You're a positive motivating force within my life."

Enough said, huh?

Friday Flower Fix

"May your flowers display a beautiful palatte as they worship the sun and all that nature offers."

Happy Friday everyone!

Ok, it's time I get on the bandwagon with a weekly...something! :-) A few of the bloggers that I know have some sort of topic or something that you can always look forward to seeing EVERY week. So I thought it would be nice if I end my week with something similar. That's not stealing, is it? :) In the world of scrapbooking, that's called "scraplifting". Not sure what it'll be called in blogland. Anyway, doesn't matter...it's a cool idea, so I'm gonna do it too.

Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I LOVE flowers...all kinds of flowers. I am actually in the process of working on a project for my scrap area and it includes pictures of flowers. So while I was searching for the photos today, this idea came to me. How cool would it be to share my love of flowers with my readers?

So, beginning today, I will post a picture of a flower(s) for my new "Friday Flower Fix". Personally, I think everyone needs something beautiful to start off the weekend. ENJOY!

P.S. Let the records show...I said that I LOVE flowers, HOWEVER, that does NOT mean that I have a green thumb...Therefore, other than your basic roses, tulips, dasies and the like, I have NO idea what most of these flowers are called :-). So don't ask me! HEE HEE (I just think they're pretty)

New 2007 Layout-Who says Guys don't wear Pink

Well, I thought it was time to share a LO I did of Markell. I know it seems that I'm always taking pictures and doing LO's of Jayla and our dog, Trae. But that's because Markell is always running away from me when he see's the camera :-). And Jayla, on the other hand, LOVES the camera. What about the dog, you ask? Well, he's just obedient and does what I tell him...LOL.

But THIS one of Markell was one of those shots he couldn't run away from. The big picture is his 6th grade school picture...hee hee. And the others, he let me take because he wanted to show off his "Tough Guys Wear Pink" t-shirt on the first day of school.

Anyway, I promise, I do make LO's of him, but they are few and far between. Most of which are of him playing soccer. Mainly because while he's out there blocking goals, he's not really paying me and my camera any attention :-). However, I think I'm gonna have to start pulling rank around here and take more pictures of him. He's just too darn handsome not to have TONS of photos of. Don't you think???

Thanks for looking and stay tuned...there's more to come.

The Bible Experience

I'm sure by now, most of you have heard of the audio series, The Bible Experience. If not, this is something definitely worth looking into. Back before Thanksgiving, a good friend of ours sent us the link via email and advised that this was something she was looking forward to hearing.

Well, my sister gave it to me and my DH for Christmas. (There was a delay in her receiving it, so we just got it from her today). I'm actually listening to it as I type this. Oh my GOODNESS!!! Let me just tell you, I am in AWE!!! It's amazing...and I'm only half way through the FIRST CD! (Matthew 1 - Matthew 15)

If you get a chance, you have GOT to either get your own copy or borrow it from someone. There are some super talented black actors out there...not only their "acting" but their spoken voices. Amazing...that's all I can say...it's AMAZING!!!

Hopefully you'll get chance to listen to it. If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

Family Time

Is there ever enough of it? Family time that is? Can you ever have TOO much family time? I have been struggling with this lately. It seems that I am always running errands either by myself or with the kids (sometimes just one of them). But it seems that, other than going to church, our family doesn't really do a lot together. I miss that!!! Don't get me wrong, I think it's awesome that our family goes to church together...families need that. But once my DH gets home from work, he doesn't want to leave the house again until the next day. And sometimes not even then if he works from home.

He has this little "joke" he makes everytime we get ready to go somewhere; as he's getting ready, he says, "I'm not goin!" Cute, huh? It never fails though, whenever he says he doesn't want to go somewhere (and you can tell he doesn't), he ALWAYS has a great time. Same thing happens when we have people over. Which by the way, I LOVE to do! I love to entertain.

Not sure why I even went down this road...I guess to some extent, I need to vent. I don't want to go somewhere ALL the time. Every once in while would be nice. But I want my DH to WANT to go. That makes me think of that movie, "The Breakup" with Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn...where she says, "I want you to WANT to do dishes". And he follows up by saying, "Why would I WANT to do dishes?" That's just so funny to me, because it sounds just like my hubby.

I don't think it's that he doesn't want to spend time with us. I just think he's a home body. I, on the other hand, am always gone. But like I said, I'm either by myself or with one (or both) of the kids. Man, when we go on our family vacations, we have SUCH a wonderful time. I just don't see why we don't do it more. Doesn't have to be a vacation, just hanging out sometimes Maybe I'm too needy????

Anyway, I guess I'm done. But I will leave you with a few questions: 1. Does your family have family time together? 2. If so, what do you do? and 3. If you don't have family time, what do you wish you did with your family/spouse/significant other? Who knows, maybe I AM just too needy....

Hanging Frame Kit

Ok, I'm not sure if this is considered one of those "altered" projects. But I thought I'd share it anyway. Simply because it contains pictures of the cutest kids in Powder Springs, Georgia :-).

This is a Hanging Frame Kit I got from JoAnn's. It's part of the Gallery J line and it comes with EVERYTHING you need...even the holes are pre-drilled in the frames for you. How cool is that? Only thing I didn't like was the paper that came with it to cover the frames. They didn't match anything in my house. So I cut my own patterned papers to size and used them instead. I also cut 3 squares from a transparency and put the pictures behind it...being that this is hanging in our kitchen, I didn't want anything to get on the pictures.

Anyway, here it is. I just LOVE it!!!

Thanks for looking. Be inspired!

New 2007 Layout - Special Bond

My goodness, have I been on a roll!!! I sure hope I don't lose steam anytime soon with my scrapping. My mojo is HOT! :-)

I just completed, yet another layout and it's only the 14th day of the year! This is a special one I did of Jayla and our family friend, Ted.

Journaling in folder reads: “I don’t know where to start with this story. Other than to say that Jayla and “the Ted’s” have a very special bond. Ted Harris is not only a co-worker/friend of Marque’s. But also a long time friend of the family. Ted and Marque started working together at BellSouth in 1999 and became good friends. Ted was one of the people that was almost as excited as us when we found out we were going to have a baby. The day after we had Jayla, Ted was one of the first people to visit us in the hospital. He came with a bag full of gifts of Jayla. One being this cute little stuffed animal, who’s name happened to be Ted D. Bear J. Not sure if Ted (Harris) did that on purpose, but it stuck. When Jayla started to talk, she would always ask for her “Ted” (D. Bear). He became her favorite and she slept with him every night. She even took him with her when she had her 7 month pictures made. Now, Jayla is in Pre-K and Ted D. Bear is right there with her (He’s her naptime buddy). And as far as Ted Harris, every time Jayla talks to her daddy at work, she either asks him if she can talk to Ted or asks him to tell Ted that she loves him. Ted never forgets Jayla’s birthday and loves to get a big hug and kiss from her when he sees her. So I think it’s fair to say the feeling’s mutual…he loves her too!”

~~~

Thanks for your time. I'm inspired.....

New 2007 Layout - Me at 40

Yep, I've been at it again. And this one, I must say, was quite the challenge for me. But so much fun. I'm actually very proud of it. I think I've only done one other LO of myself ("I'm a Pepper").


Prior to doing this particular LO, I'd been thinking...what if something happened to me (God forbid!) would my kids really know me? Would they remember my likes and dislikes? My passions? Being that I'm always the one behind the camera and the LO's I do are always about other people, I had to honestly say, "NO!, they won't "really" know me." So once I got past the thought that doing LO's about myself was "vain", I got right on it. And so far, it's going pretty well :-).

Well, here it is.


Thanks for looking. I'm inspired....

New 2007 Layout - 50's Day

Alrighty folks, I've completed another one. I have come to the realization that I'm NEVER gonna be caught up with all of my scrapbooking! NEVER!!! Especially if I continue to try and scrap everything chronilogically. Shoot if I did that, I would just now be getting to Jayla's 2nd season of soccer (she's about to begin her 4th), her entire 3rd year of life (she just turned 5), Markell's 4th season of soccer (he's about to begin his 8th) and his 5th year of school (he's in the 6th grade).

Having said all that, I'm just gonna do the layouts that I FEEL like doing. One day I'll get back to the things I mentioned above. But until then, I'm gonna live in the moment. These kids are only kids once and they don't have time to wait for me to "catch up".

Therefore, here's a layout I just completed of a special day Jayla had in Pre-K. All the kids and teachers dressed up in outfits reminicent of the 1950's. Talk about cute. I even made Jayla a poodle skirt and she got to wear bangs for the first time :-).

Well, here it is. Thanks for looking.

First challenge of 2007

Hello all, I hope this post finds you well.

This morning, I was doing my usual BLOG reading, and I came across this challenge. From what it appears, Diane "borrowed" this from "Cheryl", whom she saw had left a comment on my blog a couple of times. Don't you just love "networking"? ANYWAY, Diane didn't tag anyone to answer these questions, but I thought it was really interesting, so I'm kinda tagging myself, so to speak :-).

Ok, here goes. Kinda long, but the questions are fun and different from others I've seen. Enjoy!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you've never done before?
Hmmm, let's see, I have NO idea! How odd is that? If I think of something, I'll come back to this one.

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Miki had a little girl named Zaidah, fellow blogger & friend, Melanie had a little girl named Courtney and my friend Jamie had a son named Branton.

3. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, NO!

4. What countries did you visit?
Mount Vernon, IL...HEE HEE!

5. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
All of our debts paid and an unlimited supply of funds.

6. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
I'd have to say my BABY starting school (Pre-K).

7. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Again, Thankfully, NO! Although I did find that it's NO fun to have even a basic cold while driving through the mountains of TN! That was the worse congestion I've EVER had!

8. Who's behavior merited celebration?
My oldest DD. She's continuing to surprise me and make me proud of her independence. And my aunt, Aleada who KICKED breast cancers BUTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. Who's behavior made you apalled and depressed?
I'd have to say my dad. I love that man more than any man I've ever known. And that being the case, any behavior "issues" he has, hurt and upset me the most. I only want what's best for him. And his well being & health are VERY important to me. Enough said!

10. Where did most of your money go?
Other than the speeding ticket that my DH got :-), most of our 2006 money went to finishing our basement & getting hardwood floors.

11. What did you get really excited about?
Getting back in touch with and hooking up with an old high school friend. And exercising.

12. Compared to this time last year, are you, a) happier or sadder, b) thinner or heavier, c) richer or poorer?
What a question. I think I'm happier, thinner (YAY me!) and poorer. Two outta three ain't bad!

13. What was your favorite TV show?
Same as always, The First 48, American Justice, Law & Order: CI (actually, just about anything on the A&E Channel) and The Backyardigans (Everyone needs a little balance, right?)

14. What was the best book you read?
BOOK??? I don't really read books. I'm more of a magazine person.

15. Is there someone or something you missed this past year?
As always, I missed my grandfather, Cliff and my sister-in-law, Paula both passed away in 2005. I also missed my friend, Dee Dee...we let, yet another year pass us by without seeing eachother. Hopefully, 2007 will be better and we'll make more of an effort to reconnect.

16. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Back in November, I turned 40!!! My DH took me out to dinner at Ruth Chris Steak House in Buckhead. It was WONDERFUL and Deeeelicious!!!

17. What kept you sane?
Who says I was sane to begin with is MY question?!?! But I'd have to say my faith, my family, my friends and my scrapbooking hobby.

18. What is one new thing you'd like to accomplish this year?
I'd like to meet my weight loss goal. However, if I continue at the rate I'm currently going, I'll be well into my 60's by the time I hit it...LOL! After my 1 year at Curves (June '07), I may have to kick them to the "curve" and kick it up a notch in a REAL gym. More on that later...

19. If you could do one thing this year and not get chastised by or for it, what would you do?
Spend money like my last name is Gates or Trump!!! :-)

20. If you could meet one blogger in 2007, who would you want to meet?
Well, I've given this one quite a bit of thought. And I've actually come up with 4 (I know, that's not what the question asked...but what the hay!) I'd love to meet, Tangee, Tiffany, Brown English Muffin & Veroncia.

Ok, unlike Diane, I'm gonna tag some folks. So I'd love to see Tangee, Brown English Muffin, Veroncia, Renee, Maria and Muriel take this challenge. And anyone else who feels led to do it, handle yo bisness!!! :-)

New 2007 Layout - 1st Relaxer

Well, here's my first layout of 2007.

This year, as far as my scrapbooking goes, I'm going to try and start mixing more papers together in my layouts. I've done that in the past, but not to the extent I'm gonna try to this year.

Anyway, this is a LO of my DD, Jayla getting her very first relaxer. Now THIS isn't something you see everyday, huh? :-)

Well, I'm very pleased with how it turned out and I even tried a new technique with regards to posting it. I simply took a picture of the entire LO together instead of the individual pages. I guess I've still got some playing around to do with my camera. But in the meantime, this is what I got :-).

Thanks for looking and as always, your comments are welcomed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!!!
I hope everyone has an awesome and prosperous 2007!!!!!