Saturday, March 31, 2007

Chat Tonight!!

Chari Class of "Chari Originals" will be hosting a farewell Chat here at DSC on Saturday March 31 at 9 p.m. Pacific for 1 hour (Midnight EST). Prizes for all who attend and want to wish her a fond farewell

Friday, March 30, 2007

Leafy Green......

Freebie kit! Hope you like this one. I was playing with layers and brushes and thought these looked pretty nice. There are 6 papers and 8 elements in this little kit. If you would like this just click on the image and the download will begin. Please remember, if you think someone else would like it, send them here to my blog to download ok? As always a little LOVE is appreciated, especially if you download ;)

http://waititgetsbetter.blogspot.com/2007/04/last-chance.html

This freebie has been moved and will soon be unavailable. Click the link above to go to it's final post!

Egyptian Kit

OK you asked for it, you got it lol. You wanted Egyptian kits so I have finished one of the two I have been working on. Here are the previews for Egyptian Nirvana:






This kit has 9 highly detailed papers - 4 of them are scenic papers. Also included are 28 elements. 13 charms, 8 trims and ribbons and 7 Wordarts. This will be in the Scrap Shop this week!

Hope you like this kit. I am almost done with the red and blue kit which I made the QP Freebie for a few posts down ;)

New Layouts

Here are two layouts I did with the new "Essence of Spring" Collaborative kit by Shannon F, Ronda and Laura Pitman. I LOVE this kit, it has a ton of things for you to play with!





This is a layout that I did with Confetti Birthday by Shannon F. It was perfect for my nieces birthday photos!



I used some of the pieces I made for this month's TREASURE HUNT over at Digi Scrap Central.



Here is a preview of the kit you can get when you participate in the TREASURE HUNT!

Chats and Challenge Layouts

Chari Class of "Chari Originals" will be hosting a farewell Chat here at DSC on Saturday March 31 at 9 p.m. Pacific for 1 hour. Prizes for all who attend and want to wish her a fond farewell

My "Bliss" Challenge and Sketch Challenge are almost over. Check out these two wonderful layouts:

Shellshok combined both challenges into one:




By Ineke62:



April 1st starts a new round of challenges but you still have time to jump into these and a few others!

Thursday, March 29, 2007

I've added something new

I have added a new widget to my blog. I am PLANNING to have a new poll every week. I would appreciate it if you could take a minute to vote on the poll ;) This weeks poll deals with kit preferences and it can be found on the right hand column of my blog.

Here we go again

OK Here is where I get into trouble again. Mind you, I have taken out a big chunk of the article for the sake of time and because I wanted to leave in the parts that I have to comment on.

100 Haitians wash ashore in S. Florida
By TRENTON DANIEL and KATHLEEN McGRORY
Miami Herald
HALLANDALE


- More than 100 famished Haitian migrants slogged through waves and staggered ashore Wednesday after their flimsy wooden sailboat ran aground on Hallandale Beach.

One man didn't make it, washing up dead on the sand. A second, naked and shivering in the fetal position as he clung to a shipboard rope, had to be pried loose by paramedics, who carried him to the beach on a stretcher. One 10-year-old boy was aboard.

"You could tell that a lot of them didn't know how to swim. They were terrified. You could see it in their eyes," said Danny Nassi, who lives in a condo on the beach.

The Haitians told authorities they had spent 22 days aboard a 40-foot smuggling vessel. They told one witness that they ran out of food after 10 days - then resorted to eating toothpaste and drinking salt water.
...
That Haitians usually get sent back to Haiti is a constant bone of contention among Haitian leaders. A U.S. policy informally known as "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" allows Cuban migrants to stay if they reach U.S. soil. Haitian migrants are sent back home
.


Ok, here we go. I will start off by saying that I am Italian and Irish. My Dad is Italian and my paternal Grandparents were "off the boat". My Mom was Irish and adopted by and Englishman who immigrated to Canada with his parents and then he himself immigrated to the US where he met my grandmother who was born in Mississippi and was raised by (or lived with) a black (African American - insert your personal terminology preference here) family after her parents died when she was still a young girl.

IMHO, and I know of course that I don't know everything about this subject but like I said IMHO - Let's forget whether or not you feel that immigrants should come here in this manner. Let's not even discuss whether you think we should let anyone in at all. Let's focus on it as "Yes they can come" Keep it simple, cause I am about to make it difficult (and since it's my blog I am allowed to do that lol) Why is it that Cubans can stay and Haitians can't? Why do we allow one set of rules for Culture A and another set of rules for Culture B? To me this is the basis for all that is wrong -- seriously - in every aspect of decision making we - as a society - have decided to "bend" the rules, twist them and turn them upside down to accomodate others. Look, I have found lately that so many people out there are seriously lacking reading comprehension or any type of literacy whatsoever. Why? Because we are forever, bending the rules. We play semantics with our children and with our government. During tax season semantics are called "Loop Holes". ANYWAY.... I digress. Here is my suggestion for how ALL immigrants should be handled.

If you want to keep the "Wet foot, dry Foot" policy then let's go from there. OK fine, you want to become a citizen, (because if you don't want to be an actual citizen - your butt needs to go back...end of story) here are the rules:

1. Get them all "signed up" (for lack of a better term), issue them a temporary social security card, make sure they have all of their immunizations etc.
2. Now that they are here they need to do the following: They MUST be gainfully employed within 6 months (allowing for language barrier, education etc.)
3. They MAY get governement assistance for food, housing etc HOWEVER they MUST pay the money back at the end of 6 months (either through payment plans, their taxes or by volunteering their services to help at these government agencies as a translator, clerk etc.,)
4. They MUST "check in" physically with the government weekly. If they go missing for one week, they go on a list and when found they get deported immediately - no excuses (except if they were in the hospital in a coma or something)
5. Commit a crime - you get deported immediately
6. If you are here, you need to learn OUR language. I wouldn't go to France to live and expect them to speak English.

Of course these are just brief outlines but for Pete's sake, we let people come into this country and let them run amuck. People come here acting as though we OWE them, they make money here and send it to other countries. They use our schools to educate themselves and then go back to their country. I heard a woman once ranting about how "her country" was so much better and Americans are stupid pigs (or something along those lines) I told her to take her loud, fat, lying mouth and go back to her country because obviously she was full of crap since she was here not there. Nowhere is perfect but if you want to come here and you risk your life to do it - where do you get the gall to down us? By the same token, there are people out there who really are in fear for their lives and want better for themselves and their children and families. I think these suggestions would help sift through the real people who want to do better and those who are looking for a free ride. I'm not even going to start on the thousands of dollars we give some of the immigrants who come here so that they can open their own businesses. Point is, treat everyone fairly, keep track of what is going on and make it workable for everyone.

OK done, for now......

New items in the Scrap Shop

Tripping into Spring is in the Scrap Shop! Here's a little preview for you:




Go check out more new kits in the Scrap Shop too..... like these:

Butterfly Pagekit and Butterfly Elements by Shannon F (and remember all of her designs are 50% off right now!)




Gail Cook's newest kit "Gail's Spring Doodles Pagekit"



Also going on..... TREASURE HUNT!! Link 4 is up! Don't miss out on getting this great kit - "Precious Moments"

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Egyptian Freebie Preview

Just a little sneak peek at ONE of my Egyptian kits coming. I couldn't decide between the dramatic Blues and Reds with Gold or the golds, silvers and beiges so I ended up creating two kits (Which are almost done) This QP obviously comes from the Blue/Red kit and since I keep getting alot of requests, I figured I would share this little freebie with you all. Hope you like it! If you want to download it just click on the image and your download will begin. It is in 300 dpi and is 12X12. Please send people here to my blog to download if you think they would like it ok? As always a little LOVE would be great appreciated ;) Enjoy!

Tuesday in LOCAL Florida News

Yeah, so good morning Florida - God Sometimes I really wish we could get the heck outta this state.

6 Blocks from our house in front of my youngest DS's school:

Okeechobee Boulevard shut down after driver dies in collision

By Jerome Burdi
sun-sentinel.com

ROYAL PALM BEACH – A man driving a red Dodge was killed Tuesday morning in a collision with a tractor-trailer that shut down the Okeechobee Boulevard and Folsom Road intersection for hours........

....... Elementary school was opening later because of the crash.

The Palm Beach Sheriff's office said the 5:30 a.m. crash occurred when the Dodge collided with the eastbound tractor-trailer, which rolled over.

The unidentified driver of the car died at the scene.
The driver of the rig was not injured.

Deputies are investigating the possibility the Dodge did not halt for a stop sign.


....and only 20 minutes from my house:


Police: 3 killed, 4 injured in gang-related shooting in Lake Worth

By Chrystian Tejedor
Sun-Sentinel.com


LocalLinks

Three people were shot to death in Lake Worth and at least four others wounded in what authorities said was gang violence this evening.

Four survivors were flown to Delray Medical Center, three of them in critical condition.

Authorities were looking for three men wearing ski masks and armed with an assault-style rifle who were driving a black Dodge Stratus.

A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene, in the 1400 block of South B Street. A law enforcement officer in the residential neighborhood just blocks from Interstate 95 said the crime appeared to be gang-related.

The Palm Beach County Violent Crimes Task Force was heading the investigation.


AND..... while this is not really good news it does mean I am closer to getting a house as opposed to living in this apartment we have been in for nearly 7 years:

Florida has third-highest foreclosure rate in nation

TCPalm.com
Posted March 26 2007, 10:15 AM EDT
Nevada, Colorado, Florida continue to post the top foreclosure rates in the nation, according to RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties.

Florida foreclosure activity grew by more than 63 percent in February from the previous month, giving it the nation's third-highest state foreclosure rate with one foreclosure filing for every 382 households.

The state reported 19,144 foreclosure filings during the month, the most of any state.


And today was a slow news day.

Later..................

Monday, March 26, 2007

Lily Freebie

Ok I went on a tangent again lol. I was actually going to keep going and use it as another kit for the store but I decided to give it away instead. I hope you like this. It's called Lily. There are 4 papers and 9 elements in this kit. I went on a tangent because I am doing an Egyptian kit and was looking around for Lotus flowers (That kit will be going to the Scrap Shop soon ;) ) If you like this kit, just click on the image and your download will begin. Please remember NO file sharing. Please send people to my blog to download it ok? Enjoy!

Lot's Going On!

New kits in the Scrap Shop, Scavenger Hunt, Challenges and more are running amuck over at Digi Scrap Central!

Have you seen the new kit in the Scrap Shop from Shannon F, Ronda and Laura P? Wow this kit is great Check it out:


***While you are at the SCRAP SHOP don't forget to check out Shannon's Store, she is having a 50% off sale but it ends soon!

Here is my newest in the Scrap Shop now. Dark Romance:


And the Add-on paper pack which you can purchase with the pagekit and save $1 or buy it seperately:



Coming this week to the Scrap Shop is a favorite of mine. My newest kit Tripping into Spring:


MANY MANY Thanks to LittleFox for letting me use her adorable character "Trippy"

Come on over and checkout the Scavenger Hunt as well! Link two is up now and Link one will be gone soon!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Thanks to the 3D Community



**I found the generator for this neat little newspaper creator at: The Newspaper Clipping Generator

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Treasure Hunt!!

Woohoo, I am so excited! This will be my first time being included with a contribution to a Treasure Hunt! This is the "Precious Moments" collaborative kit by Designs by Mama Moose, Laura Pitman, Christy Haig and Myself ;) It starts tomorrow at Digi Scrap Central! Take a sneak peek here at the kit you can get:




Ladies...... start your engines and put your thinking caps on!!

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Easter Freebie!

Well, here it is. As I said I was working on this and just kind of lost my feel for it. I hope someone can use it. There are 15 elements, 1 QP and 5 papers. Click on the image to start your download if you like it ;) Please remember, no file sharing, please send people here to my Blog to download it. As always, please leave a little LOVE if you do download this kit ;) (Did I say please enough? lol)



I might have some chicks and what not later on. I haven't decided yet whether or not to finish them ;)

So what do you think?

Yes, I got bored with my other background for my blog so I changed it again lol. This one is pretty neutral so I'm liking it.... for now ;) I was working on a kit for Easter but kinda lost my umph with it. I hate it when that happens. I was pretty happy with the little eggs and the bunnies and some of the papers but just couldn't seem to get it to pull together. I have been working on it for about 3 days. Now I know that seems like a short period of time BUT I can usually tell within the first 2 days if it is going to be worth it to finish it or not. I don't mind working on a kit for 5 or 6 weeks if I have to but if I am just not "feeling it" forget it. Sooooo..... guess what's coming? LOL There are about 5 papers and maybe 20 or so elements to this kit for Easter. I still have to pack it all up for you but it will be here soon. Shame, I really liked the colors and what not, just couldn't seem to catch the fever for it again.

In other news, lol, it looks like I will end up taking John out of Public School here as well. They are now after him it seems. I had a meeting with the teachers the other day and I heard many of the same terms used when I had to take Charles out. John has it in his head that he wants to be homeschooled because of several reasons. One of course being that his brother is at home and supposedly getting all of the attention, another being that he heard Charles and I talking about Columbus and what REALLY happened when he "discovered" America and John's comment to be had been "Why should I go to school and listen to them when they lie to me?" I tried explaining that for his age group the things Charles and I were speaking about was not apprpriate but that the basic facts of what he was learning were true. His next quetion/rhetorical statement? "Then why does everyone celebrate it like a holiday?" How do you argue with that? I managed to get by with saying that the holiday had been set up before the truth had become widely known and that it has since become a tradition and the we celebrate America being found moreso than Columbus himself. He didn't fall for it - don't tell me this kid isn't smart. ANYWAY.... moving right along... he had come home with his "Study Guide" and asked for help with it. Cool, no problem... uh huh. We would ask him the questions and he would blurt out the answer verbatim. So we changed the wording a little and the order of the questions, he was immediately lost. "Just read it like it is" he says to us. "Yeah uh no, you need to understand the answers not just spit out the answer" His reply, "Why do I have to do that when all they tell us to do is memorize the answers?" So, of course, I had to have a speific answer from him as to what he meant .... exactly. Turns out that the "Study Guide" is actually...are you sitting down? - it's actually THE TEST! Yep, that's what I said, the so called study guide is the test. Now, of course, I am not stupid, I know how kids like to finagle and embellish and twist things so when I had had our meeting with his teachers a few months ago we asked about this. Their reply? "Well alot of parents have a hard time or not much time for helping their children study so we found this to be the best way for everyone" My reply was "Well then some people shouldn't be parents" I'm sorry, I am a SAHM now but I worked 10 hours a day in the office, out on sites etc then came home did all of my household stuff PLUS worked again from home doing reports, setting up the new department etc till 4 in the morning and STILL found the time to help with Science Fair projects, reports and daily homework. You just do it.... period. I don't care if you don't sleep for a week - your children come first. Spoon feeding them the answers is NEITHER teaching NOR helping them - in the end they are still ignorant if they don't understand WHY the damn answer is right. Sorry but this just burns my biscuits and frustrates me to no end. We have Charles doing his work alone first. Read the lesson, do the lesson then do the quiz or report etc. We are here if he needs us to help along the way. We go over all of it with him during it if he needs it then always after so that we are sure he is understanding it. We go over his tests and reports with him, grade them ourselves and go over it with him to show and explain to him why and where his work was incorrect and to praise him when he does well. We don't give him the answers. My first question is always "Why do you think this answer is wrong?" He will re-read it out loud to me (or Alex) and alot of the time he catches it right away, sometimes not. If it takes us an hour to help him understand one little thing so be it. But don't tell me that spoon feeding him is the way to go cause it's not happening, not in my house.

(**A little edit here, Laura had asked how old John is. I realize I should have probably said that somewhere lol. John is 10 and Charles just turned 14. Thank you Laura for bringing that to my attention and for commenting ;) )

Well, I really didn't mean for this to turn into a rant, sorry. Going to go pack up that freebie for you ;)

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

DAZ FREEBIES & Deals!

TODAYS MARCH MADNESS DEALS!!



Wanna take a guess at the total cost for all 4 of these items? What if I told you that the normal retail for the four of them is just about $63? OK well they are all in my shopping cart and will cost me a total of $6.46!!!! I LOVE the dinosaurs - have been crazy about them since I was a kid, the toon items are from 3D Universe and their stuff is just awesome! Toon Elf, Toon Christmas and the Toy Solider/Train Set is just toooooo cute to pass up. Just 4 more Reasons why I LOVE DAZ!! Oh and by the way, the train set is FREE!!!

So what do you think?

I know there is always a need for Christmas and Channuka kits and birthday etc. But what about the other holidays? Do you all want Easter Kits? Do you want Fourth of July Kits? I have several kits I am working on and some are holiday oriented but I want to make sure that I am putting my time and effort into something that you, as a customer would buy. Of course the design plays a big part of that, but in general, do you find that you want kits for the "other holidays"? Let me know! Help me decide what it is that YOU want so I can make it for you!

Monday, March 19, 2007

Going on at DSC

Wow, there is alot going on over at Digi Scrap Central this week! Come check it out!!

Cat Scrap Fever is back with a vengence and having a price break on a bunch of her kits!

Flippy Hippy - $2.25
Father's Pride = $3.25
Kiddy Carnival = $3.00
Mind Maze = $4.00
Springy = $2.75
Sunwashed = $2.25
Think Pink = $3.25
Think Blue = $3.25


She has also released her new Sweetness Page Kit and her Curved Photo Templates ;)
Laura Pitman has released 3 new items to the Scrap Shop - Cowgirl Page Kit, Cowboy Page Kit and Stitches (For Commercial Use)

You can get all of the new releases for March in the Scrap Shop!

Also the March Mega Kit - Over the Rainbow - is up to links 5 and 6! Hurry and snatch them up before they are gone!

Now we are officially switched

No more Bellsouth, no more Adelphia, THANK GOD! Of course I still have to argue with BellSouth over the charges they have applied against me (double billing on internet etc) but at least we are now set up as a normal functioning household. Cable and internet are in and the Vonage will be hooked up in a few minutes. Now if we can keep the Electric Company from being jerks we will be ok lol. It's like the end of the year hit and they all turned into complete idiots I swear. BellSouth had that merger or takeover with AT&T so they messed up service and lost their minds FPL decided to cancel level billing and expects payment of over $1000 in about 6 weeks, ridiculous. So now I will be continuing to copy bills and e-mails and mailing them back and forth. E-mails don't work because each time you reply to an e-mail it goes to another person who messes it all up again. Just keep your fingers crossed for me please I need all the help I can get right now lol. It's funny, people who do the wrong thing seem to get away with it all the time, people like me who are honest and just want what we are supposed to have, keep getting tripped up. I hate that, just not right, but in the end, at least I can sleep at night ;)

OK so it's taking a little longer to get everyone hooked up on internet lol. Have to set the routers and stuff to adapt to four computers and then the Vonage can go on. Oh well, at least we are on our way ;)

Friday, March 16, 2007

Here we go again

This has got to be quick because I only have 7 minutes left on my time at the library lol. Alex's computer is on the fritz!! Not even a laptop now I will shoot myself ARGH. ANYWAY....... He is in the process of trying to fix it, since he is the IT guy around here (it's what he does for a living) So the laptop is down which means I can't upload anything or download either ;( Am running around trying to get Charles to do his work, Johnathan is in rare form, the computer is on the fritz, and now the electric company is back to wanting to disconnect us! Are these people kidding me? Egads. So we are going to try and get the room finished painting, yeah I know but things happen you start then stop.... yeah. Get the room painted and the new fixtures up (silver ones since his colors are silver and white - DS) then get the lviingroom on it's way, get my kits done for April and finish up the new kits I have in progress for the Scrap Shop. Got a few cutsie things for you all some freebies and some just for the store. Get over to Digi Scrap Central to grab link 4 of the MEGA kit before it's gone! Speaking of Gone I have go to go for now. Will try and get back later!
Oh and thank you again to all my faithfull readers who put up with my insanity lol. The comments mean alot! Have a good one!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Going on at Digi Scrap Central

We have Challenges galore this week! They all last until March 31 so come on over to the Challenge Forum and see what we have to tickle your fancy!

Sketch Challenge
Bliss Challenge
Color Challenge


Also we have more great kits up in the Scrap Shop! Find them :

Antiquated Love- By TerrellS

Early Spring - by Gail Cook

Sweetness Pagekit by - Cat Scrap Fever

Curved Photos Templates - by Cat Scrap Fever
Sandy Gold - by TerrellS




Comeon over to Digi Scrap Central and see what all the talk is about!

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

DAZ DEAL you can't miss this one!!

Holy Moley Here we go! MARCH MADNESS IS UNDERWAY!!!

First let me show you the FREE item for this week:



"So you say you want to do some Big Game hunting on an distant planet! No problem. But you wont find a blaster here, we mean to take our prize alive. Shocked, Stunned, and yes VERY angry, but alive."

Normally $8.95 on sale for FREE!!

Also you have got to check out MARCH MADNESS - This is the sale that we all wait for every year! There are items which normally cost $19.95 and more for only $1 or $2 Check these out:

JENNA Normally$15.95 now only $1.60 !!!! "Jenna is a new character for Aiko 3.0. Inspired by a beautiful real world model, Jenna has a light frame and a fresh, young look. She has a little Elfin blood and will add her own unique magic to your renders. She comes with high resolution realistic textures, transparencies and bump maps. Her carefully sculpted custom morph was made using the Poser magnets so it's unique and original. MAT poses for each version of Poser are included for ease of use."

Casual V3 "This casual set of clothing will compliment your every-day renders. Victoria 3 is sure to feel comfortable in any setting with this morphable clothing and seven sets of included textures" Normally $12.95 on sale for $1.30!!

These are just two of the items they have on sale right now for March Madness. The sale items change EVERYDAY!! Items are up for about 24 hours only then they go back to regular price. Oh and did I tell you a little secret? If you are a DAZ Platinum Club member you get an ADDITIONAL 30% off all DAZ Original Items. So Jenna will end up costing you only $1.12 after the additional discount! RUN RUN GO GO BUY BUY HURRY!! LOL

Well today is the day

that I run around like a chicken without a head. Once a month I do this. Need to go pay bills, grocery shop etc so this should be fun. It's always an adventure so maybe I will have a ramble or rant later on lol. Anyway, if you didn't see it before there is a new freebie in the post below this one. Sntch it up if you want it but please leave me some love ;) OK I am off to put my face on - don't want to scare people lol.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

OK One more .... FREEBIE!

LOL I had made this as a prize for DigiScrapCentral then realized that the colors were supposed to be neutral....sigh. So I figured, why not give it out here? Let somebody have a little fun with this kit. I know it's a little loud, but it's also kinda soft....if that even makes sense? At any rate I think it has earned the title Springtime is here! If you would like to download this, just click on the image and it will start. Please remember, no file sharing, send people here to my blog to download it please ;)



Have a good one!

Have the cops caught ALL the criminals?

I just wanted to know because I heard something on the news but only caught a piece of it and I must say I am confused and slightly miffed. Now before you start thinking that I am against cops FORGET IT. I have the utmost respect for police officers, they put their lives on the line everyday, have to deal with wackos and degenerates then often have to fight their way through the system to get these criminals convicted. But this is just ridiculous.

According to the piece I heard Police Officers will be cracking down on where smokers put out their butts. Sigh -- now read that again -- slowly - to yourself (or out loud if you prefer) OK so here I am, a smoker for almost 30 years now, and although there is a person stabbing another person two blocks away, the officer who is writing me my ticker CAN NOT go to this call because he has already started writing me a ticket because I have placed my butt in an inappropriate place?? Uh huh, ok sooooo now what is this helping to deter the constant buzz that at the end of the month most traffic tickets are written because they have to meet quota? I mean there has to be far more smokers out there than drivers being erratic right? I got verbally attacked once by a woman who didn't like me smoking at a bus stop - mind you I was not in the little shelter, I was standing outside by the curb and the wind was going in the opposite direction from her. It was about 35 degrees at that time and I was in NY. I told her she wasn't even downwind from it and she kept complaining so we exchanged a few pleasantries and she eventually shut up. But I digress, the point is that the government has no problem charging us an arm and a leg for cigarettes (currently around $3.80 per pack here in FL give or take and as much as $9 and $10 per pack in NY!) but yet even though they collect all of these ridiculous taxes, they now want to tell us where we can smoke. As far as restaurants, I can understand that completely. You don't want to be in an enclosed place when you are eating and smell smoke, especially if you are not a smoker yourself. Not a problem, Bars/Restaurants though I disagree, people go to a bar - most of them smoke. So if you want to eat at one of those Bar/Restaurant places - deal with it. Smokers have just as much of a right to enjoy themselves and relax as the next person. If people are outside they should not have to listen to the rantings of people who don't smoke.... it's our personal decision whether or not we smoke and when it's all said and done, the only one I will be answering to is God (at this point, he knows me and who I am ;) ) I mean I have come across some REALLY smelly people in my life but if I were to make a big scene over it and tell them they couldn't eat at a restaurant because they smell or go to a local beach or park - I would be wrong .... right? I was working in Manhattan when I was pregnant with my oldest DS and this guy was standing next to me, on a hot train, with his arm up holding onto the strap and I liked to have passed out from the smell - it was bad. I had to keep swallowing my breath to keep from gagging. He kept giving me these weird , mean looks and finally I had enough. I said to him "You know Right Guard works under the left arm too." He got off at the next stop.

Anyway, I think our officers have enough problems and enough REAL criminals to deal with, without having to deal with this petty BS. If you want to try an enforce these laws, fine.... hire a bunch of "deputies" or whatever you want to call them, cut down the unemployment rate while you're at it and let them deal with it. As a Type A person with ADHD I know that having too many things to do lowers your productivity and thoroughness. Our police officers need to be police officers, not baby sitters.

Enough said.

Today I am.....

... loosing what's left of my mind lol. I am trying to create two new kits, burn off my old stuff - again lol- get more layouts done, upload stuff, finish the boys' rooms, I STILL haven't gotten to paint the living room argh. Anyway, link 3 is up over at Digi Scrap Central so make sure you get over there to snag it ;)

I have three new freebies posted this past week so be sure to grab them if you want to. There are also a few more coming but I need to full fill my obligations first so there may only be one or two over the next couple of days. We are celebrating Friendship next month over at DigiScrapCentral so be sure to stop by for some great prizes and fun!

I have to make this post short, I have a ton to do and the boys are already fighting and working my nerves.

Monday, March 12, 2007

New LO

I love the expressions we are sometimes luck enough to capture on film. This is another one of my son that I had caught at just the right moment. Bewilderment, confusion and just a hint of fear. I used Garden of Life by Gail Cook for this photo. I call this LO: Whoa...

Another FREEBIE - Marines

This mini-kit is for our Marines. It has two papers but also has 4 notepapers 3 ribbons and two button/brads. If you would like to download this kit just click on the image and your download will start. Please remember - no file sharing - if someone else would like this, please send them here to download ;) Have a great day!

Sunday, March 11, 2007

PS I Luv You .... FREEBIE!

PS I Luv you Freebie

This is a little something I started while making my Paisley girl kit (still working on that one lol) There were some pieces which just didn't fit for one reason or another so I gathered them up here and came up with this little kit for you ;) I hope you like it. If you like this kit, feel free to download BUT if you think someone else would like them, please send them here to my blog don't share files ok? If you would like to download, click on the image and the download will start ;)



Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments! I took off yesterday to start cleaning out my sons room and set up the floor plan for it. They are switching rooms and we are painting that room and the livingroom so I have been a bit busy lol. There is another freebie on the way too so keep your eyes peeled!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

FREEBIE

I have a freebie for you. These are just a few little items I made extra and figured I would share them with you. Summer Trinkets:

3 slightly different designs in 3 different colors. Surfboards, seagulls and seashells each in blue, silver and gold. Fun accents for your summer photos! I can't wait for summer lol. If you like these, feel free to download BUT if you think someone else would like them, please send them here to my blog don't share files ok? If you would like to download, click on the image and the download will start ;)

And yet even MORE layouts!

I have done a couple more layouts and wanted to get them up here.

The first layout was done using Gail Cook's Country Kitchen - I thought it was perfect for a 1960's Italian Party lol More pics of my Nono and also a few other family members whose names I have no clue lol (I think one was Uncle Carmine isn't that just so cliche? lol)




The next layout was done using Winter Festival which is a collaborative kit by Shannon F and Mama Moose



This LO was done with May Flowers - it's a freebie kit still available on Shannon's Blog ;)





This last layout is one that should give a little chuckle. I call it The Hamster Wrangler. This was our dog Frenchie and whenever the hamster would get loose or be let out, he would follow it all around. If it got lost, he would find it and lay there and whine until we got it back again. I used Trees Kit by Shannon F for this one



OK I think that is it for tonight lol - well for the layouts anyway.

Friday, March 9, 2007

New Kit on the way!

Antiquated Love - Coming soon to the scrap shop ;)

Antiquated Love is perfect for those heritage layouts and even just to add charm to more modern times. This kit mixes old world parchment papers and ribbons with antiqued metals to give you many variations. This kit is comprised of 6 papers and 25 elements including ribbons, a love note, trims, pins and drops.

New Layouts

I have done a couple more layouts and wanted to get them up here.

The first layout was done using Mama Moose's Spring Fever Kit which I got for free from Ronda's Chat last week ;) Aren't the colors pretty?




This next layout was done using Red butterfly's Forever February Mega Kit. This kit is awesome and I thought it was perfect for the photos of me and my Nono ;)



Still waiting on getting the freebie file up to the ftp ;) Will do that later so be sure to check back ok?

I have things to show you .......

and a freebie too but this stupid Library computer won't let me upload. ARGH..... we can't even get the file up to the ftp and it won't allow me to post any photos either off of my key. Sooo. I am going to wing this for now just to say hi and let you know that there is a freebie coming today and a bunch more layouts. The March Mega Kit is coming to Digi Scrap Central Over the Rainbow

Shannon has a new freebie on her blog! Be sure and get over there to snatch it before she takes it down!!

Thursday, March 8, 2007

A Bunch of Layouts

Well at least I am being productive lol. I have a bunch of layouts here for you. All of these kits can be found at Digi Scrap Central

This LO was made using Butterfly by Shannon F:



For this one I used Early Spring QP by Gail Cook



For this LO - which I call "Look I'm Carol Burnett" lol I used Big Prints, Little Prints by Shannon F ;)



I made this LO using my new kit "Antiquated Love"



And lastly - for now - here is a LO I did of the grown ups enjoying Spring Break. I made this using my Sandy Gold kit.



OK Gotta run for now, the library is getting ready to close....sigh. Will try to get back on later for a little more news ;) I believe the MEGA KIT is coming up soon over st Digi Scrap Central so you might want to drop by and take a peek ;)

Oh for the love of Pete... or Mike or whoever lol

Yep, they did it the lousy creeps. Internet is gone. ARGH!! So now I post to you from the land of McDonalds, and tomorrow it will be McDonalds and then the library too. How do they sendyou an apology letter for them mistakingly killing your service and then tell you too bad -- you have to give us this and this??? This is almost as bad as Best Buy .... another bunch of winners there. Anyway just wanted to give everyone a heads up since I am now floating across the internet stream. There will still be freebies and there is another kit hitting the store next week - It's called Antiquated Love and there is a freebie up at DSC. Go a few posts down to see the QP for this kit. I should be uploading a pic tomorrow so you can see the actual kit. It's over 60 megs with 6 papers and 25 elements! Oh and if you get a chance check out the forums over at DSC, I hear tell that there will be a scavenger hunt soon ;) Run over to DAZ too as they have their new freebie up, it's for Bryce! And the release of Bryce 6.1 is coming and the new bundles are coming up too - less than $20 for 10 items. One bundle has Hexagon!!! OK gotta go, it's late and I need to spend my time being creative instead of arguing with this stupid laptop ;)

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Yes, I'm getting old - my son is 14

**Warning - this is a soppy ramble about my son so if you don't want to read soppy this morning scroll down to the next post lol Plus I am not awake yet so my thoughts may not be coherent (even less coherent than normal lol)

Well, things have definitely been rough the last year and a half. Both of us losing our jobs was, of course, the biggest hit all around. Kids can be amazing too when push comes to shove and it's really nice to see, just wish I didn't have to see it. Does that make sense? Well here is my example, today is my DS's birthday - he is now 14! Well, he will be 14 at exactly 3:30 this afternoon and all he is asking for is an old game he used to have for Playstation. Total cost between $10 and $20 about now. He even offered to get a job - now that he is of legal working age - we're not that bad, but we are nowhere near as in as good shape as we were even this time last year (After I had already lost my job but Alex still had his) I told him no, of course. If and when he gets himself to where I don't have to struggle everyday to get him to do his school work and he goes back to A's and B's then he can work a few hours a week so he can buy HIS stuff. His little extras like extra minutes for his phone (Yes his phone is prepaid no more $300 phone bills thank you very much lol) his cologne, extra sneakers (meaning his 3rd and 4th pair lol) etc. In our house you earn your extra stuff and the only time you get bombarded with gifts (normally) is on your birthday and at Christmas. You get new clothes when school starts and then once more through the year(and also alot of them at Christmas now that they are both older)

Anyway, I digress lol. The point of this is that I cannot believe that he is now 14. Sure 13 was the "entry" into teenagedom but 14 is almost more real - or surreal if you know what I mean. I still remember the 17.5 hours of labor like it was yesterday along with the first time he kicked in my belly, rolled over making my tummy look like I was in the movie Alien lol. The first time I held him, bathed him, fed him, watched him walk, heard him talk. Now - he knows it all!! He already has more hair on his lip than his Father did, legs, underarms, arms etc all covered, and today I saw his adams apple. Realizing that he is growing up is almost sad. He's already been through alot for someone his age, already found out that life isn't fair and still he is "Man" enough to still be who he is. He's his Momma's boy (he tells his friends - "you don't like it? Too bad!" lol) he has compassion for people who are hurt (unless it is something drug related then he says they got what they deserved) and freaks when there is a story about an animal who was abused or worse. I mean he will rant and rave through the house for HOURS about how sick these people are and what he would do to them if he found them. Don't get me wrong, I know my son, he is opinionated (no idea where he gets it from lol), stubborn, loud and thinks that he is on the same level as an adult - thereby very often being disrespectful. Of course, after his Dad died and him being the oldest male in the family, it was perfectly normal for him to try and assimilate himself into the role of man of the house. He had no problem with Alex, even when he moved in almost 2 years ago, what he has a problem with is remembering that 14 or not, he is still a child and NOT a man. The part that keeps me from throttling him during those extreme moments (other than jail lol) is that 90% of the time he is trying to do the right thing - even if his methods are wrong. I can see the type of person he is and the man he will become. He has that type of personality that charms people and the compassion that touches people and more importantly - he doesn't sway from who he is. Sometimes he staggers a bit but he always finds his own path. I step back and watch him make his own mistakes, and I know more than he thinks I do. Sometimes he doesn't come to me with the newest problem but for the most part he does. So does he have an obnoxious MYSPACE (actually 3 or 4 of them) yes he does, does he dress in clothes that are too big, sound like he's from my old Brooklyn neighborhood and listen to loud Rap music? Yes he does. But the good things he does and feels outweigh mine or anyone elses personal preferences. I always tell him he can be who he wants to be but he has to learn the meaning of the phrase "Time and a place" The time to act that way is when he is home or with his friends. When he is at work (later of course) and school he needs to act the way "society" demands. Calm, assertive and intelligent. The kid has an IQ over 130 (the lady wouldn't tell me exactly what their IQs were when I had them tested but she gave me a nod when I asked if it was over 130)he is VERY intelligent - but thanks to the Florida school system BS he thinks he is stupid and should just go to work and drop out of school. That's NOT happening. He will finish school and he will go to college. If he were having a hard time and really didn't have the ability to do better I would tell him, finish school through High school then take up a trade, but he CAN do much better and he will - even if it kills me.

14 is the critical age now, more drugs around and drinking, sex, more peer pressure, I remember those days all too well. I feel like I am constantly walking on egg shells. It's so hard to step back and watch him do what I know he is going to and watch him go through heartbreak and fights with his friends but I know I have to. I repeat myself constantly in the hopes that some of it will seep through and we have our talks when he is ready. I don't push because it pushes him away. Sometimes I ask what's up and he will tell me nothing. So I say ok but I'm here if you want to talk. Eventually he will tell me (90%) of the time. For me as a parent, it's not about who is in charge- I'm not on a power trip. We don't wake up mad, whatever is from the day before is done. Of course if he is grounded then he is still grounded but any attitude is gone. It's about what is best for my child, what makes him feel most comfortable and allows for open communication. So today is his 14th birthday. 14 wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking years and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I can't wait to see what the next 14 brings ;) I LOVE YOU CHARLES!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I made two LO for my son before I have to go. I need to take him shopping lol
This first one I made with Feeling Nostalgic by Ronda. I made the silver frames with a style I made - they are not included in the kit.



This second LO I did using Gail Cooke's Raggedy Ann kit. I love the blue stripes against the red background.



OK I am back - didn't even know I was gone did you? LOL I went and we took Charles to pick out his game then we went and got John from school, went to the doctor's to get our prescriptions, went to the grocey store got one of the prescriptions and stuff for Charles's cake. Chocolate on chocolate of course ;). I am making empenadas, Charles didn't care about dinner this time so he said let John pick - thought that was nice of him. John obviously picked empenadas sot he meat is marinating/cooking now and a little later I will go and put them in their little cases and fry em up and make the rice etc. Gotta get the cake in the oven soon too. ANYWAY here is another LO I did just before I had to leave. I used Debra Anderson's Midnight Wind for this one:



You can find her designs at Go Digital Scrapbooking ;)



Will be back again later lol I hope ;)