Postivity has moved to Typepad

Hey ladies I have moved to typepad, so if you want to stay up with my unnecessary ramblings, self glorified philosophy and half decent layouts, lol You can find me at: www.trinilove.typepad.com Have a great day!

Happy Scrapbooking Day

Best wishes to all my scrapper out there, As you know, Adrienne and I did a photo swap and she did a layout of me and had it on her blog. Well, I finally got hers done and I wanted to share it with you. In honor of National scrapbooking Day, my theme is to scrapbook my friends so I am pulling out a couple of photos of my friends and doing some layouts today So here it is, Adrienne, I hope you love it girl.

If only you knew...

how much I do, I do love you..... Don't you just love that that sound by Patti LaBelle. I got an email from my friend Crystal with the journalling to complete her grandmother's layout yesterday afternoon. When I started to create it, this sound popped into my head. Dedication to Grandma Grandma, You are such an incredible woman. Your beautiful smile is irreplaceable. You light up a room with your presence. You've given me so much "Wisdom" when I felt lost and lots of "Encouragement" in times of uncertainty. You taught me to "Never Quit". Finish what I start. Be my "Best" at everything, because anything that's worth doing is worth doing my best. You let me know, "What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger". These are phrases I've lived by thanks to you. You are truly the greatest and I'm happy you're my grandma. I love you. Crystal Love between the generations, love from grandparent to grandchild,woman upholding woman.

Mother's Day is coming soon!

Vanity Proclaimation

I create because it makes me happy and I can use all the happiness I can get. because at 4 in the morning, I have the most creative energy. because I love myself and care how I represent myself to others, you will know the real me, unsensored, no preconceived ideas required. because it pleases my family, it bring them joy and it makes them want to get together more. because I learn about myself more and it always amazes me to know, "I did that". because I love to share art, I want people to feel inspired and I know it has to start from within me. because God creates beautiful things, I am a vessel of God, shouldn't I do the same? because at the end of my days, I want someone to know who was behind the camera and who loved them without knowing them, enough to preserve their heritage. If it is Vain to scrap about yourself, then vain I am, you can't love others without truly loving yourself,,, you can't capture the life of others, if you don't appreciate your own life. Just something to think about.

Challenge yourself to scrap "ME"

Do you know that this month is National Scrapbooking Month. The day is officially the 6th of May, but May is the month for scrapbooking. I did a layout on Sunday night and Adrienne took the challenge and it is fabulous. You can do it too, you should do it, you should run, get out a photo and some cardstock and journal by hand or on the computer. I don't just say it,, I live it, this is the new layout celebrating "ME" Journalling says: At 16 I was finished with high school At 19 I was in Marine Corp Basic Training At 21 I was married with a step daughter At 22 I was in the middle of kuwait running to a bunker What are the milestones of your life? Come on scrappers, this is your time NOW!!!

The photo featured has a aged crackled finish that was made in photoshop CS

Me: Right Now

Sometimes you just want to journal and scrap without the hoopla and the bells and whistles of design. Today I was reading Cathy Z's new book and she did this layout and I thought immediately that I HAVE TO DO THIS. I have to make this my own. So if you are up for a simple challenge try this one. Get back to the essence of why you scrap! Inside I feel like I'm: 30 A goal I'm working on right now: to learn Photoshop CS My most recent achievement: Getting back into the workforce The last gift I bought someone: My Mom's Mother's Day Gift Victoria's secret pure sensation body collection and a white leather bag. The last CD I bought: Ludacris (the red light district) My current favorite song: "Pass me over" by Anthony Hamilton. The last movie I saw at the theatre: V for Vendetta The last book I read: Nervous by Zane The Last thing I learned: How to produce a crackled aged finish on a photo in Photoshop CS What I'm I wearing now: a Tommy Hilfiger Tank top and shorts The last person I talked to on the phone: My mom, she woke me up this morning. What I ate for breakfast: Milk and cereal What I thought I would be doing at this age: Pretty much what I'm doing now just with a better job Something I am saving up for right now: Nothing, I am paying off bills Someone I think about alot: My mom and what she is doing at that point in time, then myself. The last person I helped: Devin, I'm always helping him do something Something I'm worried about: Not having enough money to retire What I wish for when I see a shooting star: I wish for my family's health and prosperity. What my plans are for the rest of the day: Figure out how to download a driver for my printer on my ibook, print out this document and try to get a good night's sleep

Been tagged!

Apparently,,, I got tagged this morning, thanks alot Adrienne In my Fridge 1. Every type of Lean cuisine available 2. 12 pack box of Sprite for Devin 3. 2 gallons of Milk 4. French Vanilla Creamer 5. Grinded herb seasoning from Trinidad In my Closet aka Mini department store 1. 1 shelf of Coach bags (my favorite) 2. Winter shoe collection and too many loafters 3. Sweaters, light and heavy (the weather hasn't made up its mind so I have to be prepared) 4. Gap Jeans Curvy, every color they carry 5. Huggable Hangers, a must have! In my Purse (which is more like a bag) 1. Post its with information I wrote down from work 2. Shopping receipts that I need to shred, LOL 3. 2 pens, I am always writing something down 4. Cards, Cards and more Cards 5. Ipod nano, a must have! In my car 1. Anthony Hamilton CD, love it 2. Magazines, in case Devin is driving and I'm being chaffeured, LOL 3. Gum, it magically appears, I don't buy any 4. straw, there is always a straw in my car, always 5. Coins I don't have a DVR! Okay that was fun, anyone that wants to take up the tag you are free to go at it! In other news, I love the new clean and simple sequel, it is awesome,,, great read! I was so tired last night, I had to package up these catalogs from Close to my heart to ship out, I was so tired. Lots of work. I still have a couple more so if any one wants one let me know! Okay, that all for today, it time for me to get some rest. PS. Basic grey accepted my layout that is featured below for their gallery!!

Celebrating a Beautiful life

In tribute to my friend Cris's grandfather, who past a month ago. A man that will be missed for being a good husband to his wife and grandfather to a child that was not his flesh and blood. Cris asked me to do this layout for her scrapbook of her grandfather. I had put it off forever and then today I was listening the Anthony Hamilton's song Pass me Over, for the umpteenth time and I got the motivation to do it. I hope I captured him how she would want him to be remembered, happy and full of life. The journaling says "think of me in heaven, where i will wait and watch over you until the day you come into my arms and stay with me for eternity. Rejoice for there is no more pain for me, have a beautiful life and remember me as I was for everything beautiful eventually dies and its not your fault that it was my time but one thing I couldn't say enough is that I really love you; always, forever, for eternity and a day - unknown"

Disregarded Beauty

This weekend was hard for me and I found myself in a deep and negative place. I had a lot of bad thoughts encircling my mind and I wasn't able to fulfill my creativity. I had to let go of my burdens before I could allow myself to flow again. During my despair, I stood up against the wall by my walk in closet, looked at all my clothes and shoes, and it did nothing for me,just made me feel worse. I thought, "my closet is in a mess, I have to reorganise it, just one more thing to do on my hectic list", Ugh. I turned my head and slowly looked through the blinds of the window and there it was. We had first met when I moved in my apt in the fall, the last of it's leaves blowing in my face and hair as I was stuggling to carry my groceries in the house. I thought what an ugly sight, A tree without leaves, brown and dried up. I was so mad the leaves had blown in my eyes and I couldn't see where I was going, plus I was cold and tired. I just wanted to go inside. Winter came and when and I looked through the window, the skinny,meager tree still reminded me of that day. But looking at it now, what a beauty. I felt the warmth in my heart again. This is how it happens sometimes, we get so consumed with all the bad stuff that don't go right in our lives, we start to hate any and everything that don't work for us. Everything becomes the enemy and the hurt builds. But every once in the while, the things that we can't stand the most is the one thing that will make us happy; if we are willing to see it for what it really is. Just something to think about!

Sistahood of the travelling Journal Pt.1

Do you believe in faith? I believe that everything happens for a reason and everything has a time and place that it needs to happen. When I got the email from Lu, asking me if I will take part in a Sistah CJ, I was shocked, I actually remembered reading the email, letting it sink into my mind, then edging up towards my desk, squinting my eyes to read each and every word carefully. I had never participated in a Circle Journal before, I thought it would be too much stress and unwanted pressure on my creativity because everyone taste and style is different, what if the other scrappers did not like my work, I just could not deal with it. However, when I got Lu's email,I did not feel these things. I replied without thinking about it, "Yes, I will love to be a part of this". My inhibited response was not due to my own will, after I sent the email; I sat down to replay what had happened and it was totally BEYOND me. So this is the cover of my CJ, it is not finished; I still have many plans for it once its journey is complete. It will go to Tiffany, Michelle, Adrienne and Lu, they will all bless it with their individual talents, lacing it with Words that define them as a Black woman. Then, it will come back to me and I will put it in a place on honor in my home because I am deeply honored to be involved in this revolution.

Stew Chicken philosophy

Ahh, the aroma of a well marinated pot of stew chicken with a dash of curry powder for added flavor on some freshly made rice and red beans. Add some fried plantains or a green salad, splendid everytime. It's story time again. Devin thinks I don't use my Trinidadian dialect/accent alot. He thinks that I am denying my culture by not speaking how Trinidadians speak to everyone I talk to. Devin thinks I don't cook enough Trini dishes, I don't listen to enough Soca and Calypso and I don't listen to alot of Reggae. He complains about these things all the time. I once had the pleasure of having lunch with a friend, Conelius, who was studying to be a priest, and Father Grie, priest of my Grandmother's Church. Father Grie is from Southern France. He has been "stationed" in different parts of the caribbean for 20+ years and he has a well deserved natural tan to prove it. We talked about many things that day, people, religion, music and of course, cheese and chocolate but the most important thing Father Grie told me is that Communication is the key to Peace and Unity. It's not how you say it, it's what you say, choose your words carefully in the best context to relate the message you want to rely. Lauguage is a strategic tool, use it accurately and with caution. Words are powerful, they can hurt just as much as they can heal. My dialect is strong and misleading at times, words are always confused and most times people just don't understand what I am saying if I speak Trini. I spend more time explaining what I am saying more than getting my point across. Therefore, I don't use it that much depending on who I am talking to. I told Devin, My Dialect does not define me. I am a born Trinidadian, coconut water is in my blood. If he thinks that listening to Reggae and Calypso all day makes me a Trini then he is sadly mistaken. Like a good pot of stew chicken, that can be marinated with many herbs and spices, stew chicken will always be stew chicken, rich in flavor and part of my culture, served to others in many ways.

gifts for two

I hope everyone had an awesome easter, I spent mine cleaning and sleeping, so it was pretty much like any other Sunday. Devin asked me about two months ago to make a couple of frames for his office, he has a wall of achievements and wanted to add a personal touch from his wifey on it. He made is quite clear that he wanted a couple of layouts that represented his Marine Corp career achievements and to make sure that it looked neat and distinguish, in other words, no ribbon, flowers, fiber, buttons, or any other embellishment that didn't look appropriate. So I had a challenge at hand, I decided, with his approval that I would use the colors of his dress blue uniform, the blue with the red blood stripe which imitates the look of his dress blue trousers. I got the eagle globe and anchor insignia and the 2 stars to symbolize that this photo is his second re-enlistment in the Corps and the number of times he was deployed to Iraq. The background paper has a depiction of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the war he served in. The words say, core values, the Marine Corps Core values is made out of Ten words, his favorite is Integrity, the ability to be truthful and do the right thing even when no one is looking. This photo is of him and one of his previous retired commanding officers Major Copeland. He really loved it, I guess it really touched him, he just sat there and stared at it for a long time. On the other hand, I got home to my TRL kit, i was pleasantly surprised, I don't know what is in the cards for these but we will see.. such beautiful papers Last but not least, I got my Studio Classic and puntuation set today also, I have wanted Studio for a while so I just broke down and buy it and I'm very happy to have it. Okay more tomorrow, let me know what you think about Devin's layout for his wall

A Jouney Well Travelled

Most of my journals are filled with day to day descriptions of my travels. This week I had a lot of time to go through and EXPERIENCE them all over again.

So now that I'm ready to start back creating, I thought it would be fitting to find a photo to scrap which showcased my love of travelling, sometimes by air but this time by sea. All and all it's always A Journey Well Travelled.

I wanted to doodle on the layout but I opted to use my x-acto knife instead of a pen to make the photo corner, I think it came out okay for a first try, just something else I got to work on.

Notes from My Journal

Good Friday has always been a time of reflection for me. I was raised between a catholic and baptist background. My paternal grandmother is a devoted catholic, I honestly think she could count the beads of her rosary in her sleep. Every Good Friday we will complete the station of the Cross, we will meet the congregation at 7:30 am and for the next 3 or so hours we will climb Calvary hill, kneeling at every cross in order to beg God to forgive us and thank him for allowing his son to die for our sins. As a child, it was just to big of a burden to bear, I used to be so sad, all day long, asking questions like, did I kill Jesus, why do I have to beg for forgiveness for something I didn't do. Needless to say, this went on for many more years,,, questions unanswered. Gladly, those days are gone, now I am an adult, I can choose how I want to pay homage to the death of Jesus Christ, through these words I will share it with you. Love- I am a vessel of love and compassion, I aim to share my heart with more people. I want to enrich their soul and help them to be better. I want to my family to love each other more, I want my husband to keep loving me and I will anoint him with more love, he deserves it Loyalty- I want to trust more, I want to have friends that are true and I want to celebrate them. I want to cry when they cry and laugh when they laugh and I want it to be genuine. Learn- I want to become a proverbial sponge, I want to soak up knowledge and pass it on to others. I want to learn with others at the same time, so we can have a bond in our wisdom. I will honor HIM by these things everyday, that is all I have to offer and hopefully that is all HE will want of me.

The Spotlight is on You

Yesterday was one of the best days I had in a long time. I got up in the morning feeling powerful, the type of feeling where you know you can handle anything that life may throw your way. I had a great day at work, I got a few positive compliments, I met a new coworker and we had a fabulous going away lunch for another. I spend about 2 hours in target and I spend another 3 hours connecting with my family both overseas and here in the US. The day was just plain glorious. You see the banner at the top of my blog, I want to change it put I keep telling myself over and over again that maybe if visitors to my blog read the words at least once per week, the affirmation will subconsciously help them to be more positive toward their life and other people around them. I don't just say it, I live it, and try to pass it on.... some days I succeed and somedays I don't. However, yesterday I read two things that really tripped me out. I logged on to Lu's website and read the quote she posted called Believe big, immediately I got goosebumps, I really wish I could get that quote as a rub on, I would love to put it on a coffee mug or something. Thanks lu Tamika, your mission statement touched me girl. I was so impressed by your words and how you choose to take a positive look on all the negativity in the scrapbooking industry. It is just plain depressing and you are right, more and more we are reading of how people will do almost anything to get a name for themselves, very heartbreaking. Ladies, your words and art adds wealth to my day, it remains me to be more grateful and more positive because there is so much beauty left in the world It's not about me, it's all about you, keep on bringing it!

Scrap Fast

Congradulations to Adrienne for making layout of the day at Scrap Jazz again, that layout was definiately a winner! I am so proud of you and keep it up honey. So this week I am on a Scrap fast, every once in a while I go through a period where I will scrap every day.During this time I comb through 2 peas and every idea book and magazine for creative stimulation so I can scrap layouts that are half way decent. Eventually, I get so wrapped up into it that I start to feel frustrated when I can't think of what to do with a layout or a photo. Even worse, I start comparing my art to other people's and sometimes I feel envious and sometimes I feel inferior and that is not a good thing.These feelings are the reason there is so much negativity in the scrapping community and I refuse to be apart of that mess. Yet, I feel it coming on like how the water pulls back before the emergence of a wave, you feel it coming before it's actually in your face. Then it envelopes me and I feel strained and that's when I know I have to take a rest so I can focus again. Adrienne and I email each other everyday and we talk about this things to a great extent. I will tell you that it is good to talk to someone when you feel like this and not just anyone but someone that know how it is to feel that way. It really humbles you and gives you a broad prospective. Yes, we all feel this way and yes, some of us chose not to admit it. So I will take a break, breathe, watch fresh prince of Bel Air reruns with my brother and rejuvenate myself. Quality is more exhilating than quantity.

Be a Muse!

I have been thinking lately, I have been writing and drawing and talking to many inspiring people, one of my favorites told me something that ignited my thoughts and I have been pondering ever since. My mother, she is the epitome of a Muse, a business owner, a mother and daughter, sister and lover and best of all,,, she can throw down in the kitchen. I called her and she told me that when I was a child, she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said, I want to be a teacher, so she asked me why and I said, I wanted to be teacher so I can teach people color. She said she laughed and corrected me, she said, Toy,, you mean,, you want to TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO COLOR, not teach people color. She told me that I looked at her like she was crazy and that was that. Mom said she wanted me to know that because I love scrapbooking, writing and most of all I love to color and having it all around me. She wanted me to know that as a child, it was always my passion and to never stop creating and sharing art with others. This made me think, how I love her so much, what a wonderful memory to pass on, I now know for a fact that my creativity has a history and I was inspired. Now my question to you is, do you strive to be a Muse? When you create do you think of what you are putting out there for the world to see. How are you representing yourself? Do you create from the heart or do you just do what others do just to belong? Do you show appreciation to other women in your ethnicity when they put out artwork that is just off the hook? Do you praise them, so that they can be inspired and motivated to do better or do you feel jealousy and remain unheard? Sometimes it takes that thought and that spoken word to ignite the fire so that the creativity can burn Are you a Muse? because I'm looking for one, maybe you can help me from one sista to another. Toy

Insomnia

First of all, thanks for the comments on my photo and story. It was really hard for me to write that, I remember that time as if it was yesterday and it is still overwhelming. So tonight I have a little insomnia, I want to sleep but I can't and it's great. Why? Because I can use this time to create something I've been putting off. Tiara in full force on a Saturday morning, high on Cartoon network. Tonight the flow came easy. Chatterbox papers can do that to you and the fact that I picked up some more zig pens today with my 40% Joann coupon, is the icing on the cake. So, I'm not going to bore you down with stories and philosophy tonight instead I'm serving up a seven photo layout. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Self portrait Tuesday: Be fruitful

When Life gives you lemons make lemonade. How many times have you heard this one? Today a little birdie made me think of LIFE LESSONS, so I got one for you, The land my parents house is on was given to them by my grandfather and on this land there was a Huge lemon tree that was grafted with orange, it made the best lemonade ever. The thing about this lemon tree is that it was always fruitful, the lemons were always huge and juicy. During the Coupe in 1990, when the government was overthrown for those couple of days by a terrorist attack, my grandmother gave everyone food from her garden so that they could eat, there was a nationwide curfew so we couldn't go anywhere for most of the day and all the markets and groceries where closed down. My grandmother also gave everyone lemons off the tree to make juice to drink. The lemon tree become a symbol for the community, a sign of God's promise that he will provide for his people and everyone in our village reaped from it. In a time of stress and uncertainty of the future, we all knew one thing was sure, we will always have food and family to depend on. After that year, we noticed that the tree started to die slowly and my father decided to cut it down, it had served it's purpose and it is on that very stump my parents built their house, which stands today. Therefore I say when life give your lemons, take those seeds and return it back to the earth so that generations after you can have something to sustain them, plant those seeds to give them certainty in this uncertain world, we live in. Being Fruitful is more than providing for yourself but for everyone that touch your life in one way or another.

My 47 hour weekend

I am so tired, I am doing my laundry sitting here with a bowl of cereal trying to get some type of energy back from my run. My weekend was fabulous but exhausting. Saturday: My Trip to Make it Unforgettable I got up with the intension of driving to Hatfield, where Make it Unforgettable was having there Grand opening. My first thoughts while I drove through the little city was the fact that I have been there before, when Devin and I had just got to PA we thought we were going to live in the military housing which is very close to Hatfield. My directions where messed up thanks to good old Mapquest, I was so pissed that I didn't take the GPS out of Devin's car but when I called the store, I spoke to the owner and he gave me directions to store and I got there with no problems. when I entered the store,the first thing I noticed is how good the floor plan was, it was very spacious, from the front of the door you can clearly see the cropping garden or area. Items are segregated by manufacturer which makes it easy for you to get what you want. I love the fact that they had military stuff,most stores do not feel the need to carry a large selection but they had a variety of stuff. They have an Embellishment bar which I thought was the cutest idea. You can purchase embellishments, like spirals etc for 10 for 1.00 an they were all in martini glasses, so cute. They had a large selection of arcylic stamps and bazzill carstock which I loved. The staff were friendly but they allowed the customer to shop on their own, I really hate when people are breathing over my neck trying to help me when all I want to do is get my thoughts together. They have a room for children to play, I am not accustom to that, I've seen stores with a little area, but they have a room with a glass door. They had an Ek success rep, on Saturday to do make and takes, I didn't make anything because I was just observing. There was artwork from the DT, however, it wasn't overwhelming, just a little here a frame there. It blended in and looked like it belonged. so the experience was very nice, everyone seem to be enjoying themselves and the store is tastefully done, you will want to go back. these are some of the things I got. The military stuff is for a 12 x 12 photo frame I have to decorate for Devin's office This is another pic Sunday: Trip to NY I had to go get my brother Marchel, who is now here with me for about 3 weeks. I got up late, had to wake devin up, get dressed, jump in the car drive 101 miles to Brooklyn, NY. Call my dad, who was at work, get him to bring Marchel to my aunts house, wait for every one to get dressed so we can take the TEENS shopping. Marchel and Reese had a ball, I bought him his Motorola SLVR for his 17 birthday which is in 2 weeks. The city was so busy and my feet was killing me at the end of the day but those kids had fun shopping. It must be nice to be a teenager! We got back to Philly around 12 am dead tired, what a day, I need more hours in my weekend, LOL Okay enough is enough, I will check in tomorrow.

Alone

As I sit here on a cool Philly Friday night , Alone. My vanilla cappuccino in my hand swirling round and round. I look at my x- acto knife blade and I ponder the possibilities. My mind slowly drift off to Devin who is still at work and Tiara who is safely in the arms of her mother. I wonder, why am I, a 24 year YOUNG woman, sitting here listening to smooth Jazz streaming from by ibook on a night made to go out and Shake it like a salt shaker or whatever they say these days. I ponder this as I drag my blade through the paper, the first cut is always the best, it means no turning back now. I think I go into a trance most of the time,, then the creativity takes over, I can not really tell you what happens as I arrange and rearrange embellishments and photos and cardstock around the layout. Sometimes I snap out of it to see an embellishment in my hand, it seems like I have been looking at it forever, is it suppose to tell me what where it wants to live, I have no clue, however, I keep on staring and back into the trance I go. Working steady and diligently as I seal every seam with precision and through all this I can honestly say I have no sense of time. I feel a warm tear slide down my cheek, I look up to see this. I guess it is only natural as in NATURE, beautiful things is born out of Pain.

He took me on a date

Last night was fun. Devin took me to a 76er's vs Pistons game at the Wachovia Center in Philly. I am not a huge basketball fan but Devin is, so seeing that we have never been to a live pro game he thought that it would be a fun date. Due to his busy schedule as a recruiter he usually only get Sundays off and he gets home very late at night so we never really get to spend lots of time together, hence the idea of going on a "date". We were really high up, but we were still able to see pretty much everything and they had a guess appearance by Ray J, Brandy's little brother, which we didn't stay for because I'm not into his songs. I try to get pics of Rasheed Wallace because that is Devin's favorite baller on the team. Good times Anyway, Saturday I'm going on a 37 mile trip to Hatfield Pa to check out a sb store called Make it Unforgettable so I will let y'll know what's up with that and thanks for the great comments on my layout below, I have 2 more to post which I will try to post between Saturday and Sunday before I go up to NY to do some shopping in Manhattan.

To cluttered?

I am so skeptic of putting two much stuff on my layouts because when I do, it just don't look right to me. I am still trying to use up the TRL kit. I have to, if I don't I will put in in my pile of paper and never use it again. So this is the layout I was suppose to deliver on Monday but didn't, what do you think?

Ink on paper equal priceless treasures

Devin and I have the weirdest conversations sometimes, tonight it was on politics and somehow we started to talk about fountain pens and beautiful handwriting. I have a replica of the declaration of independance which is in a time capsule that hasn't been opened since 2002. It has the must beautiful Penmanship on it, when I think of handwriting this is what I think of. When I was a child growing up in the caribbean, my elementarty school taught Penmanship as a class in school, it was mandatory to learn how to write with a fountain pen. I remember wasting bottles of ink, trying to learn how to fill back the cartidges of the pen and remember getting it all over my hands but what I most remember is how good my handwriting became. Many years later, devin and I was separated due to our military deployment and even though we had email, I wrote him 1 letter a day every day for 3 months. I would take my time and form my letters and choose my words so he could know how I felt about what was going on with the war, our marriage and everything around me at the time. When we both got back home he brought out a bag and pulled out the letters in its original envelopes. I was so shocked. I thought he would have thrown away most of them or lose them during his movements but he had them all. I look at those letters now and smile, they are most cherish and very loved. Devin always talk about how he would read them over and over again, passing his fingers on the writing, knowing this is Me in written form. This is a reminder to myself that I must journal in my handwriting I must make it personal and tangible so that one day someone who has never met me in the flesh can run their fingers on my words and feel my joy and pain and become inspired to carry on my legacy of preserving the past for the future.

So caught UP!

Oh my gosh, I didn't scrap a thing this weekend, lol. I was too caught up in my reading. I started getting into Zane during my first deployment in 2003. One of the girls was reading "Getting buck wild" and I was like, you sure you want to read that type of book in the middle of desert with a strictly inforced "no sex, under any circumstances" rule. Of course everyone laughed and she said, "read a chaper, this is some good stuff". Well, I did and that was the beginning of it, because I now own the sex chronicles one and two, sadly they live in the drawer next to my bible, I hope I don't burn in hell because of that one. I hope God could understand, sometimes you need a little motivation to get things going after a hard day at work, lol. Surely this book is addicting, just as the name applies, very outstanding writing, lol I just ordered Skyscraper and Nervous, I have to start building my collection again, I always end up sharing my books and never getting them back. That's okay, I can handle it.

Feeling a little better

This week was the worst. I was on a rollercoaster with this flu, one day I felt good next day back in bed. But today I feel better so let's hope for the best. Thanks for the "get well" comments. I appreciate it. Hopefully by this weekend I can do some scrapping, I got some great inspiration from so many blogs this week so I am ready to create,,, something,LOL. Good Things. don't you just love when you order something and it comes in lovely wrapping. I got my Russell and hazel binder for my book of me from seejanework and it came wrapped like this. you can alter it if you want,the binder is made out of a chipboard like surface, but I don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, But it looks so yummy, like a popsicle,LOL In other news I also got an American craft 6x6 modern album as a RAK from Darla from the ckmb. I was trying to find them and they were sold out around January. Darla told me she was teaching a class on altering them and she was try to get one for me at the lss she was teaching at. The order never got there in time for her class and I told her it is okay, she didn't have to go through all the trouble of getting one for me but she did, after 3 months she still sent one for me and I got it Wednesday. I really can't believe she sent it after all this time. Darla you are awesome!!!! I also got my order of American craft ribbon from QVC craft special. I love this ribbon I also bought some from Michael also, but know that I know exactly what I have I can go buy some more. I love ribbon but mostly the good stuff. I am loving strano designs now that Trl has wet my appetite with such lovely ribbon in their March kit,,, scrumptious. Okay enough rambling I am going to get dressed for work. TTYL toy

Layouts from TRL kit

forgot to share these, I will go back to bed now, hope you guys like them

SIQ

it means sick in quarters, when I was in the military this is what the doctors used to prescribe when they wanted you to stay in bed all day long. I am sick, I went to NY got a blast of wind walking in the city and started sneezing and coughing immediately, by the time I got back to Philly, I was totally sick with fever and aching muscles. However, being the trooper that I am, I still crawled out of bed and went to work yesterday. Bad idea. I had to leave around 12, I could bearly open my eyes to drive, water was running down as if I was crying. this flu really sucks. So I will be down for a couple of days, but I leave you with a pic of the fam. This was taken Saturday night before we left to go see V for Vendetta.

My space and Tiffany's Challenge all in one

Yesterday was a great great day, I got my contacts in the mail, I had to wear my dumbo glasses for a couple of days and it was not very glamorous so I was not too happy, lol. Of course I got my TRL kit and as you can see from the post below, it was like winning the Oscar's. Thanks to Adrienne, I was so pumped up all week, you would think that I was getting it for free, lol. This morning I cleaned and listened to my many podcast, if you are home cleaning, wishing you were scrapping, you can go to Scrapcast or Wholly Scrap and stream a podcast about scrapbooking while you clean. I do it all the time, or you can go to itunes and just search for whatever topic you may be interested, they have a lot of podcast on photography which I listen to alot. Okay back to the why I post this morning. This is my scrap space, Yes it is my Dining table, and yes I am proud on it I realize that many of you have beautiful scraprooms that inspire you everyday put all I have is my table but I make do with what I have.

I honestly feel that if I had a scrap room I would have no savings account, but that doesn't mean that I won't want to have one, one day. On this table is all I need to scrap minus my sewing machine which is in my guest bedroom. The blue box is from ikea and I have alot of them, in my coat and storage room filled with tools, embellishments, stamps and paper. I also have a couple of cropper hopper embellishment holders filled with ribbon of course Now for the challenge, Tiffany this was fun thanks for passing it on 1. List the people from your past who you would like to reconnect with through email (if you could find them).

Gosh, I would love to chat with my Principles of Business Teacher because he told me once that my travel line on my hand was long and I would travel a lot in my life, HE WAS ON THE MONEY, I have been a world traveler ever since, I think he would appreciate knowing that. I also would love to have a reunion with my child hood friend GAIL, I really don’t know how I remember her name, I met her when I was 4, moved and never saw her again. 2. List the companies you wish you owned. IKEA because that place is a Mecca, it’s like the Walmart of home furnishing. Bazzill because that would make me that happiest scrapper alive, talk about Cardstock overdose, 24 hours a day. General Motors,,, I know the person that owns that is not complaining. Martha Stewart Inc….. just google her name, she pretty much owns everything. Apple Inc…mac geeks can relate to this one. Ebay, I think this should be first on my list 3. List the things you do to defy aging. Honestly, I have no regime, my family age very well both males and females, my mom can pass as my sister. I just don’t way powders, foundations or concealer unless I am going somewhere really special. I wear the minimum, eyeshadow, lipgloss and eyeliner. I think the more natural you go the better you preserve the quality of your skin and drinking water does help. 4. List what you do to snap out of a bad mood. When I am in a bad mood I try to sleep, everything always seem better after a good nap. If I need to cry I cry, I am an advocate for a good bawling session, it releases stress and it’s like a tangible way of releasing your pain. If it is just a little spat. I usually shop it off, nothing like a new pair of shoes to make you feel better. I talk to God about it, regardless if it is at the moment or before I go to bed that night.

It's here

Oh my Gosh, it's here it's here it's here. Okay breathe, Alright I'm ready. I have the package in my hand, I'm about to tear it open, who is that at the door, damn. Okay, I'm back the first tear is always the longest moment,my heart is totally racing hold on,,, what's this..Primas? Oh my gosh... another bottle to add to my collection, this is better than expected, GREAT Oh the Joy, it is better in person, this is so awesome, no cooking cleaning or talking tonight, only scrapping. I said I was going to take pics of my space but that will have to wait because this is so much better. Off to drool over my new RED LILY kit ttyl

PICTURESQUE

That is title of the layout I will be doing to represent this photo. I got home early and I took this pics of Tiara so I can post it for y'll to see my step baby. Right now she is dancing up and down, claiming to be watching Malcolm X with me. I am about to clean up and read my april issue of scrapbook answers while Tiara continues to do cartwheels in the living room. She is a non stop ball of fire and my camera is on the chair handle were I will be sitting as soon as get all my chores done. I bought my punctuation set today, I was going to postpone it but it's not really expensive so I just took the plunge. I'm going to post pics of my scrap area tomorrow when I get home, you will see how I do it. Today I was on the net with Adrienne talking about scrap space. I think it would be interesting to show you what I'm working with. Here are some pics Yeah, she was flirting with my Camera alright

a long long day

Today was a very long beautiful day. My day at work was great, I got a lot done and that was really rewarding. Tiara got here safely, Thank God. I can't help but be anxious about her travelling alone. She is with her Dad right now and it is the most precious sight. She was helping him train the recruits tonight when I went to pick her up on my way home. She was barking out orders to 'push" and "keep running" it was so cute. She is a daddy's girl just like how I used to be as a little girl. I'm to tired to post pics but i will post them as soon as I get them. Thanks to Tamika's blog I went to Micheals today and picked up american craft ribbon for 5.99 and they are a great buy even though it isn't the most up to date release from AC, I really don't think ribbon goes out of style so it is worth getting it. Thanks Tamika, and yes I left a whole bunch for you, lol so that brings my total amount to 49 dollars in ribbon for the month, all of which is American craft. Mikes has the loveliest array of ribbon. I was so glad I had to go pick TT up so I can drag myself aw ay from that place. I got my pedicure done as well, hot pink toes are the bomb,not to red but still sexy. I do need to spend more time on these things but when it is winter my toes look like hell because no one sees them but devin and he can deal with them, lol I also bought this today for my book of me. I choose green maybe because I can't wait for spring to get here and I love how simple it is . I fell in love with this binder, it is from RussellandHazel.com. when I saw Ali Edwards used it in the february Ck, I thought. I had to have it. I am also going to purchase this because I have to have it. Quickutz punctuation die set. I will have so much fun with this Okay, more tomorrow.

Her Royal Highness

First of all,thanks for the great comments on my layout, that one is very special to me. I am so happy to say that my step daughter Tiara will be here in PA tomorrow Morning. She will be here for 10 days for spring break so I get to play mommy for 10 days. Devin is really anxious even though he is playing it cool. I'm getting my camera ready, I am so ready to update her scrapbook, lol. In other news, My Mother in Law is getting Married at 50, WOW and I'm expecting another little one in the family because my sister in law is having her second baby. We are just full of surprises this week. If anyone knows of an online store that sells awesome photo albums let me know, I have to start putting misc. photos somewhere, the Lord knows I wish I can scrap every photo all but we all know that ain't happening. Below is a layout of Tiara for christmas 2004. I found these photos last saturday and I was surprise that they weren't scrapped as yet. Okay, wish me luck, her Royal highness she is a fiesty one.