Just a quick post to wish everyone a very safe and happy New Year’s Eve!!  It is so hard to believe the 2009 is about to begin, isn’t it?  I do know that it is gonna be a much better year.  The goofy dorks at the garden and the designers have been busy getting their challenges up for January….  I put my Inspirational challenge up too!!  I made 2 layouts with this inspiration…..

Thanks to Liz for her input and assistance on this one…. and then I did another one….

Credits for this layout go to Nathfunstuff and of course Ladybug… 

Now if you want to see what “inspired” these layouts….  stop by and check out my challenge!

Remember I told you about “finding” my cousins?  Well it seems that Debbie is a scrapper!!  Actually she paper scraps, and I just introduced her to digital scrapping…  Here is her very 1st layout EVER using the computer…  she used my kit called Frosty for this!!

She did an awesome job too…. She has been really busy planting those seeds in the garden too, so stop by and see the others she has created!!

Well, gonna wrap this up… got some shopping to do today and get ready for our New Years Day dinner.  I leave you with a little wish…..

See you next year!!!  BIG {{HUGS}}

I keep reminding all the members to update their blogs, so I thought I would “practice” ….  :)  So here I am, updating…..

The weekend is almost over, and then into a short work week.  Since it is only a week out from being a new month, I posted my “Replanting your Desktop” challenge.  This way you can have it ready….  Here is what the template looks like, and you can get it here:

and I did mine…  LOOK!

Noooo…. I didn’t take those photos LOL LOL  I still, have never seen snow! 

The SCRAP=BINGO game is finished for the month of December.  Elaine aka emst was the grand prize winner!  What that means though, it is time to get your January cards ready….  I made mine showing you what we will be playing for.  We will have 2 games…. first will be the Crazy L, and then on to the coverall.  Here’s my Crazy L :

I used the FREE stuff that you will receive when you do the Miracle Gro-session 1 challenge…. Here’s what is coming your way January 1st:

So you might want to plan on joining in this month!  We have a lot of fun with this one……

I also did another layout of some of my family on Christmas Eve….  I aged the photo with cracks attempting to do a new technique….

This was done for the font challenge at the garden.  You still have a few more days to get yours done and earn 20 seeds for doing so…  Dorann gives you the font, and you use it in a layout… how easy is that?  For each of the challenges, you earn 20 seeds (some will earn you more)… and for every 100 seeds, you get $1 to spend in the shoppe!  You really need to stop by and try it…. I think we have one of the best sites for challenges out there…..

Well my dear friends…..  I will wrap this up for another day, or two  :)  I will now share with you some of the members layouts using the desktop:

This one is done by Liz (aka sexy_eyes)… she does such beautiful work!

This one was done by Shari (aka charliesnana)  That is Charlie.. it is sooo much fun watching him grow up!

This one was done by Elaine (aka emst)  The littlest one is Sydney…. her newest addition to her family!  She also used the Petal A Day Giveaway for the month of December made by our very own Karen Wallace.  Every day, no matter what month, you can get a piece to a new kit made by our featured designer!!  So what are you waiting for?

Ok, now it’s a wrap!!  Have a great week, and keep those memories being planted!!!  Love you guys… {{HUGS}}

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  We sure did…. with the economy the way it is, it sure does feel good to “get back to basics”….  Every year we have a Christmas Eve get together with ALL the family (those that live around here)  and this year was no exception.  My oldest daughter Monique, her husband Andy, and my beautiful granddaughters, and my oldest son Sean, had a blast!  We had pizza, cookies, more pizza, eggnog, rumaki, and more cookies!  We exchanged gifts, drank beer, laughed and enjoyed each others company.  It was really a beautiful evening.  Joey’s girlfriend joined the family too!  Then everyone was off to do more “partying”.  We cleaned up and settled down for a quiet evening of TV.  You do realize that your children are growing up when on Christmas morning….  you wake up FIRST!!  :)  In years past, we would get woken up by the whispers of the children checking out their stockings….  :)  Ah, such memories.  My son Shane and his wife weren’t home this year, nor was Destiny, her husband Vincent or my grandson Aiden…..  but being able to talk to them on the phone was present enough.  Christmas day was great!  Getting up and making breakfast, and then opening our gifts to Christmas music…..  getting dinner ready (which was made by Bob Evans  :)  )  and then relaxing with my Mother and Father for the day was priceless.  The older kids stay at home on Christmas, which works out great!  Joey and Rhea will be doing some shopping with their gift cards they rec’d.  It is Black Friday, part 2!  I don’t think I will even attempt to spend mine!!!  LOL LOL  All in all, it was an awesome day! 

With the new year approaching, people tend to reflect back.  I do believe that 2009 is gonna be a good year for our country and economy.  So many people get wrapped up in themselves and their own self greed, that they really forget what the true meaning of living is all about.  I would say that at various times in my life, I have been guilty of that myself.  You step back, get a reality check, remember WHO has always been by your side….  and just say thanks!  It is like the FOOTPRINTS in the SAND ……  There may have been times I may not have been there for certain people, and I felt that I was alone, but thank GOD, He has always been here for me!!!

I did do a couple of layouts last nite…. actually I did 3, but I can’t show you one of them since it was made with the January Collab kit, which will be released Jan. 1st.  You will be able to purchase the kit for $8.50, or get it for FREE with the purchase of $10 or more…..

The bottom one was even picked as Bloom of the Day at the garden.  I can’t believe they have grown up soooo fast!  I have so many more to scrap…..  well, maybe tonight!

I do have my challenge stuff ready for January, but haven’t even had time to give you a sneek peek…  hmmm, maybe next week LOL LOL 

Ok…. signing off for the “day after”…… Hope everyone has a great weekend….  Joey is working today, Joe is off and well hmmm, I wonder?

See ya next week…  {{HUGS}}

I know it is Christmas Eve and not the big day yet, but I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  Thanks for visiting on a regular basis, thanks for all the kind comments, and just thanks for being there!  Here’s a little Christmas card for you!!

Long day today…. this is my post for tomorrow!  I did a layout tonite of my beautiful daughter and gorgeous grandson.  I know that Destiny really wishes that Aiden looked like her, but in going through all her baby photos… I do believe he looks just like his Daddy!  She says thats ok too..  (reckon she’s got no choice.. )  But it really doesn’t matter does it!  He looks like Aiden!!  Here’s the layout…

He just looks so cute in that outfit!  I couldn’t resist….

Have you been to the garden?  My dear friend and partner Nathalie aka nathfunstuff has overhauled the whole site!!  She still has to finish some things up, but wow, she has done a fantastic job!

Today was a good day and very productive too!  Rhea had an awesome day at school… when I picked her up, she just kept talking about this presentation she had to do… well, out of 120 pts… she got a 118!!  She did it on animal testing….. which she is a firm advocate against it!  She is going to be a vet, so the report was something close to her heart.  In January, she has a competition with JROTC… she is on the unarms squad (? not sure if that’s what its called)… but its part of drill team.  She has been doing fantastic in that class too…  her sister Destiny told her that the class would help her (she has always been shy)…. and today she did say that Destiny was right.  She is squad leader, and seems to be able to speak in front of people without the nerves kicking in….  she is really doing great!  Her older brothers were in JROTC along with her sister Destiny, and the 1st Sergeant is the same one when they were in school.  He is an awesome man!!  Gosh I think I have know him for over 15 years…  Damn, I am getting old.

Not quite sure what is on the schedule for tomorrow…. but I am sure something will come up!  Hope everyone has a great weekend… (not sure if I’ll be blogging over the weekend)…. See all of you on Monday!!  {{HUGS}} my good friends!

One more week till Christmas!!!  Woohoo…. 

Not too much going on today, so I will share with you some layouts that were done in the garden for my Miracle Gro Challenge…. (I did start working on January’s first session though!)

Top one is made by Karen, who is one of our designers at the garden and is actually able to join in some of the challenges this month….. The second one is made by Liz (aka sexy_eyes)… she just does tremendous work….. third one down is made by Jan (aka Intensemagic) who is one of my CT members…. and the bottom one is our newest addition to the garden, and made by Elaine (aka emst)… the newest addition is her granddaughter Sydney, pictured here with her Grandpa…..

Ok, gotta get the day started……  stop by the garden, there still is time to get this challenge done!!!

Have a great day my friends…  {{HUGS}}

I did another layout using Diane’s “Blacktie” papers….  This one is of my Mother and her father.  I never met him… I believe he passed away the year I was born. 

I have felt very creative lately…  I know it won’t last forever though.  Most of my inspiration comes from my garden members….  Have you seen some of the fantastic layouts that get planted there?  Wow!  My cousin is in the process of getting started with this stuff too…  she’s a paper scrapper, so I know she will do fantastic with digital….

Trying to get in the “spending” mood, and it isn’t working….  are you done shopping yet?  I dread having to go out in this traffic.  In wintertime for Florida, the traffic is what’s bad…  all you northerners.. LOL LOL  I did get some online shopping done though… Have to have a few gifts under my decorated palm tree aka our Christmas tree..  (just didn’t feel like taking down the 9ft tree and putting it up.. ) 

Christmas vacation starts the end of this week….  Joey will be working, and Rhea and I will be home doing whatever….  {ugh}  I’m gonna have to find something for her to do.  My diet is going well…. lost 17lbs total to date, and gosh I have sooooo much more to go, but this herbalife stuff is great, so I know I will accomplish my goal…  (yes, even with the holidays..  LOL )  I won’t be doing any baking this year because frankly, I don’t want to be eating back the 17lbs I just lost.  I love eggnog, but do you know how fattening that is?  Well, I am going to share with you a recipe for low-fat eggnog.  I haven’t tried it, but plan on making some this weekend.  Now I need to get Kristine’s homemade recipe for Kahlua and I’ll be all set!  LOL LOL  Here is the recipe:

South Beach Diet Eggnog-makes 6 servings

1 1/2 cups egg substitute

2 tbs artificial sweetener

2 tbs vanilla

2 (12 ounce) cans evaporated skim milk

3 cups fat-free half and half

1 tbs brandy extract

nutmeg

Pour egg substitute into a bowl.  Add sweetener and mix on medium speed till light and fluffy.  Gradually blend in vanilla, skim milk, half & half, and brandy extract.  Chill for 24 hours to allow flavors to blend.  Stir well before serving, and sprinkly with nutmeg. 

Now this recipe only has 181 calories per serving….  0g fat… 3 g cholesterol… 22 g carbohydrate…15 g protein…. 0 g fiber…and 299 mg sodium….

Looks and sounds great to me!!  Now to add Kristine’s Kahlua, and I will be good to go….  If you try it, let me know what you think.

I’m gonna wrap this up today… not too much to say YET  LOL LOL  …. Nathalie and I are making plans to do an overhaul…  hmmm, I wonder!!

Love you guys….  big, big {{HUGS}}

As you have read…. my unemployment problems are over..  noooo, I didn’t get a job YET, but I can now recieve assistance until I do.  I also have been in contact with family members that I think it has been over 30 years since the last time I spoke to them…  found them on my space and have so enjoyed talking to them on the phone, and walking down memory lane…  I guess it has kind of gotten me “inspired” to doing some layouts!  So, I am going to share some of them, and then get my day started…

This first one is of my cousin Debbie and her husband…  (I used my “Bellisimo” kit for this)

This next one is of her puppy…. she breeds them!  (Used my newest kit “Blossom”)

Isn’t he the most precious puppy you have ever seen?

Ok, before my designing days, I used to play online poker..  LOL  … while during that period of time, I met a super sweet woman, who has now become a very dear friend.  She was pregnant when I met her, and my nickname at the tables was JD… well, needless to say her JD was named after me!!!  LOL LOL  She isn’t a scrapper, and still plays poker, but sends me photos of my little boy to scrap for her.  This next one is of JD….  (I used a collab kit between Karen Wallace and myself called “Two Worlds do Christmas”)

and the final layout I made is an old photo (yep, I have found a bunch!)  This one is of my Nana and her siblings….  I used papers from Carjazi Designs called “Black Tie” (fantastic papers), and the rest of the stuff is mine….

I also have to show you this paper pack…… I absolutley love them.  Even though the preview doesn’t show the Garden logo…. it is available in the shoppe!

That’s it for today my friends……big {{HUGS}}

Ok, here it is…..  I rec’d a phone call from unemployment at 10:30.  I have been pacing around all morning waiting.  This nice woman asks for me…. I say, “speaking”… she proceeds to tell me that….

Are you ready????

“The employer has withdrawn and the claim has

been cancelled!!!!”

Ok, just thought I would give you a quick update…  got some new layouts uploaded and am soooo relieved that I now want to do more!!  LOL LOL

Thanks to all of you for your prayers, and good vibes….

Take care, love ya, and BIG {{HUGS}}