I am happy to say that I have had a lazy morning! I have not accomplished any thing in particular that I can think of. Feels great to do nothing at all!!

It is a great change from what it's been lately. But won't be for long. I pull a double shift tomorrow and have truancy work for about an hour in between the two shifts. So I will leave the house at 6:15am and will not arrive back home until probably 10:30PM. It will be a LONG ASS day!! So I don't feel guilty for being lazy today!

I lurked through 2ps photography gallery to get some tips on my upcoming senior photo shoots. Wow there is some effen talent there! I am also trying to come up with some ideas for a family photo shoot. The shoot will be my sista and her 4 beautiful girls. I usually take their shots around end of july...and hard to believe that it is almost here.

I hope to have more time on my hands in August?! I only have one day of court for truancy and one truancy meeting at end of August. OMG it will be SO very nice to not have to stress about that too. I have found my self saying "I can't wait for school to start" . I know beginning in November I will have only one job and hopefully NO committments of any sort any where. So I will be able to have time to scrap and focus more on photography!!!! I can't wait. I so need some major scrap therapy.

Eliminating several things has been a tough decision but it is necessary if I want to be happy. If I want to become healthy again. I want me back. I want my family back...my kids are so needing me. I need them. I hate that I have been working so much and have not been there for them like a mother should. I hate that todays mothers must be Wonder Woman!! I am not kidding. You MUST be infallible. Where the hell are the real men? OK so here is the thing women today must be the Mother. The Maid. The mediatior. Then go out and work a full time job...some more than one job. Taxi driver. Sports mother. Grounds keeper. Gardener. FRICK I could go on and on!!!!!! Well where the HELL is the MOTHERS time? How do women do it? The balancing act of a working mother.

It has been 2mos since I scrapped. I am afraid to tell you that I have lost my mojo. I lost if for numerous reasons.......
One, I lost my focus on why I began scrapbooking in the first place (my kids, family, friends and I loved it)
Second, it became a job. I began having to scrap for others to fit their magazine calls, or for magazine editors who wanted specific items, or having to create things for a new kit, contests...ya many of my creations have won but do you think my future generation will care that I won $, products, or designer spots because of the LO I created for them which really wasn't created for them and was just a creation to fulfill the demands kwim...or for everything other than me and my family.
Third, I began to stress out about what I was scrapping. The photos were no longer good enough...you know the ones..just the regular snapshots that millions around the world have. They became shots I hated..honestly disgusted me and could NOT scrap them. They had to have more meaning..better quality..more focus...tell a story with just the photo. I blame my photography skills improving..LOL!!
Fourth, are you seeing the big picture here? Basically scrapbooking does nothing but stress me out for the past 6mo and I am fed up with it. I have to eliminate some things in my life in order to get back on track in many areas of my life...not just scrapbooking!

Part of my honesty thing I posted yesterday was about the above mentioned along with many other things like my relationship with my DH or lack thereof. There isn't one. Nor has there been one in a very long time. I can't live this way much longer. I need to move on to the next chapter in my life..no matter what that may be. I have never been an equal to him nor will I ever be. He lives a bachelor life. I live the working mother life trying to be the mother and father, the enforcer, the advisor, the every thing! He has a life that I know nothing of. And he is happy that way.

I may not have the best family in the world or the family I would have chosen if allowed. But you know what I LOVE THEM. Each and everyone. I love them for them. Faults. Perfections. What ever it may be. But I love them unconditionally without boundaries. I have lost many friends because of him. He didn't like them so I wasnt' allowed to be friends with them. For years I allowed it. Now I simply ignore his demands. Or fight for my rights.

I am a very strong person and can't believe that I have allowed my life to be controlled for years. But love is blind. I do love him. I still can't believe that I do. He has never been my ideal mate. Let alone a soul mate. I have never been physically attracted to him. I have never thought that he was attractive. I met him at a very rough time in my life and I fell in love with his heart. I have always been attracted to the caring loving person that I fell in love with. But for him I was a challange. I was WAY out of his league and he knew it. So I became a challange to see if he could win. He used to say he was playing for keeps. Well I was wrong..he was wrong....gotta move on or this could be years of typing!!!

I also talked about religion. How I have lost my faith to some extent. I endured a horrific (to me) experience with one of my pastors and have not gone to church since the incidents. It kills me. I still believe in God. I wanted to become a member at another church but I think that my Grandmother will have a cow if I do that or so she says, ugh! Lots more on this in my mind, oy vey!!

Gotta run my nephews just arrived. I am taking them and the boys to the cabin for a couple hours before I head to work for the evening! Man they have grown. jr, sophmore and 7th graders this year...wow.

OK gotta run 5 boys are getting rowdy!

Later........hugs!

Sorry I thought I could post this very honest feelings...but I can't just yet. So for now it is edited OFF!

In loving memory of WaylanK. He died June 28, 2007 at the age of 36. He is the husband of an old friend I grew up with DianeCumber(K).

He died in a small plane crash in MO. There were no survivors. The plane had only been off the ground for less than 20 minutes his wife said. They have been given no answers as to what happened or why it crashed. Why she is a widow. Why their 3 children will grow up without their father.

She said he was there attending a conference and that the day before was their wedding Anniversary. His birthday was two days later. Here is a link to the MO local news http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/74604781-c0a8-2f11-01b2-af7b42652910

http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063-9bd94c70b769/73110d35-c0a8-2f11-01eb-e8a3e57c9c3c video coverage about 2.5hrs after crash.

I don't know how much more she can handle. Her father past away about 2 yrs ago. She was an only child. Her mother has remarried. Great, right. NO. He is a weirdo. I get VERY weird vibes from him. And I can usually get a GOOD sense of people. I have worked with him once before on a case. She gets the same vibes. So she doesn't come home anymore.

So here she is a widow....needing her mother who has gone through the same thing and she is alone..........Di my HEART goes out ot you...through these tears I am crying for you...we love you, we pray for you, we wish you the best!

I got an unexpected day off on saturday. Some devilish person erased my name from the schedule and replaced it with hers. LOL...if she only knew I REALLY needed a day off! She could have asked me to give her the shift, duh!

Any how I spent pretty much the entire day at the cabin. It was MJ's 2nd Birthday so I invited Heather and the girls/anthony to come over and play in the water with us. I was going to attempt blowing up the water trampoline and putting it in...but that was going to be TOO much work so we axed it.

I had such a blast. The relaxation was exactly what I needed. It's been a rough past 5-6 wks. I even got up on the skiis! It felt so good! I got up 2x and went around the lake 2.5x each time. I was amazed my knee handled it without any pain etc.

My mind was at ease for the entire day. It was so peaceful and refreshing. Totally rejuventated me!! I was SO happy! Minus the major bites I was getting from the deer flies? I had huge welts...check out the photo of me...you can see the huge scratch marks and welt on my upper thigh.

I was on the lake until 10:15 or so that night. 12hrs of sun, water, relaxation, picnic, fun, laughs & visiting...what more can you ask for? A few more friends to join you duh!

Friday night after pulling a double shift I met my dearest friend mary, mary quite contrary...at a local grill & bar for a drink. She stood me up for the past 2wks (fell asleep by 9:30) and I finally made her pinky swear she would be there! And she was. I think she finally realized how BAD I needed some one on one alone time with her. She is my bestest friend. Someone I can confide in. Tell my secrets. Well most of them..still many things I would never tell anyone. I know a few of you lurkers know what I am talking about but I will not ever burden you all with it! I must keep this load my self. Some bad things are better left unsaid. KWIM. I have learned the hard way...that some peeps you love or think love you will use your secrets to hurt you even more than the damage one has already inflicted upon you.

She has helped me through so many good and bad times in my life and I the same for her. Through deaths, births, husbands, children and all that those things have brought to our lives. And much, much more! I think she is the one I am most honest with. The most I am open with about my life. The hard times. The heart aches. The happiness. The sadness. The joys. The hopes and dreams. I love you chica :) You are my rock.

We laughed and cried. Bitched and praised. Loved and hated our conversation. Enlightened and brought fears into our minds. Confirmation on some things I will need for the new chapter in my life. Eye opening and brutally honest friendship. But all in a good way...to build each other up and make us stronger with an open mind.

I know this entry is all mambo jambo...but I have tons racing in my head and only a short amount of time. I have to get ready for work. Hope all is well with you.

Boogie...sorry I didn't get back to you. You know I love you so much! I miss you! I miss us! I miss our chats! I miss shopping with you. I pray you for good health and happiness for you. I so wish you lived closer. What are we going to do when you move to crookston, damn girl. I will never see you all!!!! Ugh! We MUST have a girlz wkd before!!! I am thinking vegas....ahhh! I will introduce you to Tim, ROFLOL!

The Chad and My Daily Flirt...I think you two owe me a little summn, summn! LOL!! I will say I am very curious to know about what your investigation discovered. I am thinking I already know what was found. I have an inside source to some of it. Who will remain nameless. Lets just say it's nice to have friends in high places. KWIM.

Giving a shout out to a few of my peeps....Sally...hope your feeling better...and hopefully your preggo;) hehehehe!!...V..baby girl I miss you...I hope you heel soon and get back to a good healthy life...and dang you are going to look so HOT...I am jealous...we need to chat about well...you know what...yeah its bad..I need to find my way....Boogie...I lub you chica...I miss you all so much...sorry I missed ur call...I so wish you all lived closer...I hope all is well for you..man what am I going to do when you move to crookston, ackkkkk....Blondie...where are you?....Dayami....how are you chica? Hows NC....Miami isn't the same w/o Dayami is it!...Miss chattin....ya you know what,lol. DT...wassup...thanks ladies...Mary, Mary quite contrary ya you know I still love you even after you stood me up 2 nites in a row...BFF...see you tuesday nite

Man I am in a rut today! I woke up with my mind on a million things and can't stop! Some good some bad. But the bad have me in a funk. I am not depressed just thinking too much about some things. Wishing others. Hoping others. I need to make a change in my life and it needs to be soon. Not sure how much more crap I can take. I am trying to be strong. And usually do really good. But somedays are harder than others.

Got news that an old friends husband was killed in a plane crash yesterday morning. Not sure of much right now. Will update another day when I have more info....this song is for you---->

Looked at my schedules and I see I have 2 days off for the next 3wks, WTF!! Ugh!! Oh wait 3. Sunday and then two weeks until I have 2 days off when I take the boys to the big movie.

I worked this morning/afternoon..just got home for a bit. Then back to work for a double.

My cousin is in town for his 20th school reunion. Been fun having him around. He is so excited to see his old friends tonight and tomorrow.

Have a ton of things I should be doing right now...want to get a resume printed and updated...maybe be able to move if things work out the way I want them to. Lawn work. Laundry. Dishes. Sweeping. Taxi. Work. Court reports. Phone calls. Filing. The list goes on and on...and I just want to relax a bit. Maybe take a nap. I am so tired from getting up at 5:30 every morning then going to bed late.

You would think that I would lose some of this fat/weight...but NOOOOOOOOO! Cuss words! Cuss words!!! I have to be careful how I lose weight...if I just don't eat as much...I am always in fear that I will have an eating disorder. I have before. Parents wanted to hospitalize me when I was a teen...seems as though it's very easy to fall back in to for peeps that have had them before too. Or for me it was excessive exercising and then not eating. Example: I would eat a half of candy bar and a can of pop for the entire week and work out for 3-4 hours a day.

But for years I was good. I weighed in well...103 and I am 5'3" but that is my "healthy weight" Felt very healthy. And then now I am the largest I have ever been in my entire life and feel sick all the time, no energy and when I do it goes fast. That's when I know it's time to start working out again. But again I have NO time. I love to work out. It makes me feel so good. So energetic. Healthy. Now I could lose 20+ LBS! Hate having nothing to wear but "my" fat clothes.

I have talked to numerous friends who say they will do a "biggest loser" with me. Everyone put in the pot $50. It would be 3mo long and who ever loses the most wins the jackpot. Cool huh. Ya well here we are months later and no one is still doing it.

I have another friend that is going to open a Any Time Fitness club...well talk of it at this point I think...that would be perfect for me! I could go when I can. Wish it was now.

Well I have wasted an 45min online already...gotta go and get on those tasks! Have a great day!

WELL it's official....

This summer SUCKS so far!! I am still working two jobs...and hate it. I am so upset that the truancy position has carried over into my entire summer. It's absolutely ridiculous!!! Never has it been this bad before. I have submitted another voucher and hope to be paid this time? Didn't work last time so we'll see?! Cuss words!!

I have yet to enjoy much of it...plus my birthday sucked..well other than having a few friends and family with me for a TS party.

M I love you baby! Thanks so much for your shoulder and ear! I know you will be ok too! Hang in there sweetie! You always know when I need you even if you haven't talked to me...it's weird how we have that mental telepathy type of thing together! You made my birthday a better one. HUGS

Can I seriously ask you how you do it? Honestly how do you juggle life, family, work, etc? Ugh I am so frustrated. I am sick of having NO time for things. 15yrs ago I never would have guessed that my life would be what it is today!

I am a mother, wife, taxi driver, truancy coordinator, server, friend, ski boat driver, photographer, cook, painter, maid, mechanic, babysitter, business owner, designer...and the list goes on with the many things that I am right now. Where is the time to enjoy life? I am thinking I need to start cutting back on things? I am beginning to get my migraines back..one for 2days now..the personal issues not helping it. I need a change. And I need it soon!

I have not scrapped in so long. I used to scrap every day. And I would feel so mentally free from stress, KWIM? Scraptherapy. I had the opportunity to scrap on sat after the huge sale but I found myself just chatting and enjoying the company of friends instead. It's been a while since I was able to do that too. We had a new friend join us and I found her to be very interesting. She is a walking book. She has so many amazing stories of her life. I loved how she was so willing to share her sad and happy moments and why she loves to scrap because of it. She has been through so much it seems and has also overcome SO much to become this one amazingly beautiful person that I am proud to call my new friend!

She comes from Orange County, CA and moved here not long ago..her Dh was born and raised here. She is a joy to be with. Hope she continues to come to more scraps.

I did have a fun 30 minutes a week or two ago. Merry Bees had a HUGE sale. You come in between 6-7am you got 40% off. Wear your pj's and get 50% off. So of course Missy and I wore our pj's for some awesome deals! Thanks to our dear friend who works for her I was able to shop a bit more than the average joe :) Thanks sweet thang! Now if I can only get total access to your closet,LOL.

I am going to take 2 days off soon. Going to the IMAX with my boys and BIL/SIL to see the new Harry Potter film in 3D. that will be awesome. They are SO excited. Unfortunately I will have to miss my family reunion in a few weeks. I got my schedule and it's not going to work. It is 3.5 days of family fun...without us! Ugh! This summer so sucks! There are some of my dear family members coming in from coast to coast. Bummer!

Gotta run...it's after 7 and I need to get supper started. My migraine is getting worse. Stress is getting to me. ON and on...you get the point.

I hope that it doesn't take another 2wks for me to get back again! I forgot my passwords/username again and had spent an hour trying to figure it out..and here I am~

Take care...
PS " Martina" - "The Chad" and "My Daily Flirt"....thanks for ALL of your support and amazing friendship!!!!!

BLOG CHALLANGE 6/12 - What's YOUR sign? I am Cancer. And I was shocked to read how right this email was about me! I got this email last week and just re-read it. Found it interesting and thougth I would share. When I was younger I ALWAYS read my horoscope.

So I got home a little while ago. It was of course busy at work. Had a few visits from friends (C, P and you two just missed--------> E, V, A, R&A oh yes and my sista along with her co-workers) So that was nice...thanks guys!

**Do you recall me blogging about a co-worker the other day? Well I blew up at her tonight!!! OMG she p'd me off SO bad! I normally take it and don't say anything...and have helped her to no end. But as I said the other day I was DONE. And of course she was swamped and I was under control, KWIM. I told her what she needed to do to get things under control when she asked me to do something for her. She DIDN'T like that, ROFLOL!!! I let her have it...and stood my ground. She just wants to have everyone help her and screw her helping others. WTF! Sheesh!! She came and appologized an hour later and said she must be PMS'n. Well NO excuse in my eyes but what ever. I am sure she only appologized because she realizes that every person that works there is fed up with her BS and she better watch her toes. My cousin (owner) told me after we closed that the co-worker was only upset because she couldn't keep up and I wouldn't help her. But that she was glad I didn't help her.** Sorry had to enter that so I could feel better after venting it! Thanks!

VIRGO - The One that WaitsDominant in relationships. Someone loves them right now. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. The one and only. 7 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

SCORPIO - The AddictEXTREMELY adorable. Intelligent. Loves to joke. Very Good sense of humor. Energetic. Predict future. GREAT kisser. Always get what they want. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Caring. 4 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

LIBRA - The BEST OneNice to everyone they meet, Unless they get bad vibes from the person they're meeting. Their Love is one of a kind, but if done wrong, they cut you off like it's nothing. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! however not the kind of person you wanna mess with .... u might end up crying... 9 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

ARIES - The LiarOutgoing. Lovable. Spontaneous. Not one to mess with. Funny. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY adorable. Loves relationships, Addictive. Loud. 16 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

AQUARIUS - Does It In The WaterTrustworthy. Attractive. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out. 2 years of bad luck if you do not forward

GEMINI - IrresistibleNice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in the you know where... Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE. 9 years of bad luck if you do not forward

LEO - The Lion Great talker. Attractive and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at almost anything. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found. 7 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

CANCER - The Cutie. MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high appeal. Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak. Spontaneous. Great telling stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to. 12 years of bad luck if you do not forward. (this is ME...2wks to my birthday!!)

PISCES - The Partner for LifeCaring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. High appeal. Has the last word. Good to find, hard to keep. Fun to be around.Extremely weird but in a good way. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet. 5 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

CAPRICORN - The Passionate LoverLove to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irresistible. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. Cool. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Smart. 24 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

TAURUS - The TrampAggressive. Loves being in long relationships. Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Loves to help people in times of need. Good kisser. Good personality. Stubborn. A caring person. One of a kind. Not one to mess with. Are the most attractive people on earth! 15 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

SAGITTARIUS - The Promiscuous OneSpontaneous. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. So much love to give.Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone They meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique appeal. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in the you know where..!!! Not the kind of person you wanna mess with- you might end up crying. 4 years of bad luck if you do not forward.

ARGHHHHHHHHH!!! OK I have typed this entry 2x to only have it vanish. Not sure what I am doing?!
Well first off I am SO sorry for the delay in posting the challanges. I have been so busy the past 4-5 days...plusn no power for part of it, work, etc...ugh I could go ON and ON!

Ladies THANKS so very much for your thoughts, words,etc...you ROCK!!! And YES I had to throw away most of the food. So angry about that! But can't do anything about it now. KWIM.

I just got home and don't have but 30 minutes before I have to go to my summer job...so the challanges are going to be posted so I can be up to date..but I don't have time to upload the photos yet. I will get them up tomorrow...I was going to say tonight but I am sure I won't be off work and home before 10pm. And its already been a long day!

Photography Challanges:
WED- Action shot. Any kind of action. Just make sure that you remember to put your camera mode on the action, ok!
THURS- Sunset. Take a photo of the sun setting. You will have to play with the camera a bit here. Some times you have to put it in the "night time mode". I usually have it in "auto" for this and it seems to work great! But there is always the chance, KWIM.
FRI- Your home. Photograph your home. Inside or outside. Angled or what ever. Have fun with it! Try to get a great shot. Good clarity and such.
SAT- Hands. Photograph hand(s). Use your imagination on this. I took a photograph of my grandmothers hand holding baby MJ's hand. To show the age and youth. KWIM?
SUN- Before and After shots. This could be MANY things. Haircut. Flowers from bulb to bloom. Redecorating. Can't wait to see what you come up with on this!
MON- Summer. Capture summer on film or digitally. This can be water play. Water tubes, sprinkler, pool, kids playing with sidewalk chalk, sun tanning, swimsuits,etc use your imagination of what summer is.

BLOG CHALLANGES:
WED- Make a list of your Top 5 Favorite TV shows. Mine are Mind Freak, Desperate Housewives, Trading Spaces, Deal or No deal...the property selling/remodeling type show, Handy Man Andy...MmmmMmmM! Andy is a HUNK!
THURS- Tell about your pet(s). I have one pet. She is a miniature doberman pincher. In July she will be 3. She runs the house or pretty close to it, LOL. I will post a photo of her later. She kept me up all night last night. DH left a bag of doritos on the coffee table last night...she ate the entire bag! Ugh...she is about the size of the bag, LOL! She is "working" with DH today...so I am a sure he has had to clean up after her,LOL! Serves him right!!
FRI- Top 3 Favorite Foods. Watermelon. Raw carrots. PB&J. I change on a day to day basis with this though,LOL!
SAT- RAK. Have a challange or something on your blog with a RAK as the reward/prize. I challange you to a # guessing game...I am thinking of a number between 1-50. Post a reply or email me with your answer for you chance to win a scrapbooking RAK from me!!
SUN- Tell us about a childhood memory. I will post mine later. When I post the photos...I have just a few minutes left and still have to get ready! Sorry!
MON- Create a LO about summer and post on your blog. I will create one and post tomorrow as well!

OK I have to get out of here!! I check in when I am back from work and in the morning!! Have a great night all!

I am here...been working. I pulled two days of doubles shifts and was basically home for sleep and that was it.
I will be posting the challanges this afternoon or as soon as our power gets back on? I woke up at 6:40am and realized that the power was out. I knew my son had to be to work at 8 so I frantically ran to find my cell and find out what time it was....thank goodness we didn't over sleep and him be late to work!
Not sure why the power is out but it is! I know we have had work crews digging holes, lines and messing with the poles,etc for the past 2wks around our area so I assume it has something to do with that?
The neighbor called the cell to see if ours was out too. Then another neighbor. So it is our area and multiple homes. Both lakes are out...ours and the one the cabin is on. We'll see how long it takes to come back on.
Not sure how long it's been off but I know the fridge is probably going to have to have the food replaced! Argh! I just spent about $200 the past few days. Tick me off!! All the food was warm to touch already. I will NOT eat that then! Ewww!!! NO thanks!
OK gotta run (not at home) get some things done. I have to print some pics at wally world, find a gift, and finish getting boys ready to leave this afternoon. I'll be back!

Todays blog challange is.....what makes you smile. I was inspired to have this challange after reading Jens blog www.scrapbookhut.com check it out. I read her entry of today and when I got to the end and read about the underwear drawer I half choked on my waffle and the other half went flying out of my mouth while I tried to laugh. It put a smile on my face and made me think...I guess it could be really revealing. ROFLOL.....good or bad. THANKS for making me laugh/smile Jen!!

I have SO many things that make me smile...I could write a book. My kids make me smile, my family, my friends, scrapbooking. The little things usually make me smile.

Like when you get an awesome greeting from someone who sees you when they were not expecting to. Puts a smile on your face because it shows that you are important to them and that they care. (you know who you are, THANKS!)

Or when I get an unexpected phone call from a parent thanking me for all of my work, efforts and over all compassion for their kids and showing their kids how they can better themselves, their future and their life. That I am a great person for doing what I do and that I should love my job because I can help others make a difference when I make a difference. Ugh, makes my heart sink because it is so filled with joy...really makes me smile.

Oooo how about when you get something in the mail......Ahhhh gotta love all that mail love. Thanks chicas!

Or when a friend tells you that they don't know what they would do with out you in their life.

Babies make me smile...kids make me smile....don't you just love it when they tell you a joke that really isn't all that funny but they make it funny because of how excited they are about it and how their actions are when they are telling you the joke....the expressions,etc. LOL...too cute!

Makes me smile when you unexpectedly get a large floral arrangement. I know how expensive those pups are and lets me know that its not the amount of $ spent on them that matters to the person who bought them. But what matters is the fact that they know it will make me smile and they feel I am worth every cent! Then every day you look at the flowers or smell them when you walk in the room it puts another smile on your face just knowing that you make the person smile too. KWIM.

OK off of the blog challange here is what I am up to today.......writing and submitting 4 court reports for court next week. Cleaning. Take photos for todays photo challange ( I know I am late again! Sorry I want to get them posted in the am but it just hasn't been working, LOL), then posting them. Did I mention cleaning? Ugh! I just want to scrap....its been a couple weeks! I so need some scrap therapy...put me in a happy place. I want to check Ann's blog to see if she made a new entry for her summer long journaling challanges/tips/how to's, etc. I really want to know more about it from a historian point of view. I just journal what I would want to know about the person I am scrapping about if I were their future generation...make sense? KWIM or am I a total freak? LOL

I know most peeps do spring cleaning...but in the spring I work 2 jobs and about 2 days a week only have 30 minutes in between jobs. So that leaves NO time to do my "spring" cleaning. Therefore I wait until school is out and summer begins for me!
Then I spend about a week to go through the entire house..top to bottom. I clean out every closet, drawer, dressers, stands, benches, "under beds" my kids' favorite place to put CRAP, argh! And I clean every single room, every nook and cranny there is.
We are having a rummage sale (multiple parties) on the weekend of June 22 (my birthday!) and that is my deadline to have the house in top shape by!!
My boys leave for a week on saturday. They are going to my BIL/SIL. I plan to do their rooms when they are gone...well basically the entire basement level. Thank goodness there is a large work out area & bar area that will not require hardly any time...prolly 20 minutes. Mainly to wash everything down. It is pretty clean in those areas 24/7. Whew. And the rec room will be fairly easy too. Its mainly their rooms and the laundry room that will be the nightmares!!!!!!
I wanted to start at the top of the house which is my room. It is really large and has a large walk in closet that has been jam packed all year. Other than the closet it will go pretty smoothly...just wipe things down, clean bathroom, mount a cabinet on the wall in the bathroom, move our bedroom couch, chairs, ottoman and table to vaccuum under them all...ugh the big thing...moving our log bed to vac. under it...way heavy!!! And with my recent back injury I may have to recruit some help.
For now I have been in my walk in closet for 4.5 hours and have about another hour or 2 to go before I am done cleaning it!! Ugh I am sick of this "spring/summer cleaning" already!!
My closet is looking soooooo bare though. I have emptied it and only putting back minimal things. I have eliminated about 4 rows of clothing and about 4-5 stacks that sit on shelves in the closet. Mmm I think each row is about 8/9ft long...to give you an idea of how much. I know I have multiple stacks chin high of clothes I am getting rid of.......sucks!! They are my "skinny" clothes that I have been hanging onto for the past year that I have gained and kept gaining more and more weight...finally giving up hope of ever being able to fit into a size 0-3 again!!!!!!! Ugh! I hate this weight gain! I am larger now than I ever was being a month over due with my first child...I think it is stress, boredom eating and NO working out from no time and being lazy!
Oh crap a half hour has past.....I better get my ass in gear if I plan on getting my room done today! I better put a fire under my boys butts to get moving...its wed and they leave saturday and they will not be going if their room is not done before!! Ya I know I said I was going to do it and I am when they are gone....but they have to do it to their standards...then momma does it to hers......WAY different!! ROFLOL!!

Beeeeeee back later to post the photo a day challange!

So sorry for the delay I got a bit busy then called in to work. Just got home and its almost 11PM, ugh! My back is killing me. Not to mention my attitude,argh!

Sometimes I hate people. Not all people. Just certain people! I get really sick and tired of trying to be so nice to these certain people that are only out to benefit off of other peoples generosity such as mine. I mean come on!

I am normally a very nice person who loves to help others. I am very generous with my words, thoughts and actions and DANG IT some peeps just SUCK! They literally suck the life right out of you!!! Life suckers is what they are...leeches.

So I got called in to work. No problem right. Right. Well of course I spent the entire night helping my co-worker and Rori got hosed, again! Same person so I should know right? But NO I have to just keep on giving. I am an idiot some times!! Tonight was one of those times.

Well I told my boss I am DONE with the BS. If she doesn't like to effen bad I told her. I also said that tonight was my last night helping this girl out. And that I am not going to spend the entire summer like I did last summer. Only then I kept my mouth shut and continued helping her and being walked all over. She agreed, thank goodness and said screw her she can take care of her own things. And when it doesn't get done its her own fault and has no one to blame but herself. She understands which is a relief for me. But that doesn't help the leech.

Ugh I have to stop talking about this crap cause I am getting angry again! Argh!!!

On to somethings else...our June kits are ready and have already begun shipping out, woohoo! We have our Designer Seach going on right now and is super exciting. We have had a lot of submissions already. Deadline is June 11. We hope to announce the new DT'ers by that weekend. If not earlier! We will try for earlier! So make sure you stop in on the MB to see all the buzz. Check in on the challenges & chats. Ooo and the gallery has been flying the past week, wow! Lots of new entries. Love it! There are some talented ladies.

Hey I watched "because I said so" last night. Have you seen it? It was cute. But The Lake House & The Holiday are still my all time favorite romance type movies.

Yes another hopeless romantic here. I guess I seem to want what I don't have...like every one else. Ugh, some day my soul mate will come. Yes I have a DH but he is not my soul mate. He's the first to admit it. Jill is his soulmate he says. But then you all know "those" stories, don't you. OK I am NOT getting on that train!!!!

So challanges........ya so again today I am late getting them.

Blog challange of the day...
Tell us what your biggest fear is. Be honest. Be deep. Be you. Because I will. So here it goes. My biggest fear is being with out my family & friends. Its not to be alone cause I CAN handle being alone. I actually love to be alone. Its not to be "out of love" or with out a partner in my life. I can be alone that way too...and LOVE it! I am a very strong and independent woman who doesn't NEED a man :) OMG who doesn't love to be single? Ahhh those were the days, LOL!

My fear isn't many things. But it is being with out my family & friends. They are my life. My love. My passion. I love them. They bring such joy to my life. They are always there. They may drive me insane on frequent occasions. But they are my family and close friends.

I love that I can just call them up at any time and say hey lets get together. Isn't it nice to know that your friends feel the same way about you. My dear Angel (Angelique) called me up on saturday...expected to stay maybe an hour. Turned into the entire day..and we LOVED every moment of it! She said she doesn't have anyone she would even feel remotely close enough to that she can just call on a whim like that and make 5 hours feel like it was 30 minutes.

Or how about last night...went to dinner with my family and ended up being gone for almost 4 hours. [ we missed you boogie!!!!] We ate out. Then went to the park and played with the kids. Such great fun. I love kids. I love MY kids. I love people. I love my family. I love life. I love ME.

Sheesh you would think I was writing a book or something, LOL. So the end of the story is that I fear having no family! Off to photo challange!

Photo Challange #4.........
As I mentioned in my earlier post it was Macro Monday. Today I want you to use your macro mode/lens. When you use macro it simply allows you to get a closer focus on your subject for a true close up. Basically you can get MUCH closer to your subject and your camera allows you to actually focus on it when you are closer than normal. KWIM?

A close up image isn't exactly a close up if the frame isn't filled with the subject.

If you have close up filters, lens bellows, extension tubes or a true macro lens this would be a great time to use them. These tools simply allow your camera to focus at a closer distance to your subject. If you do not have them that is ok! Simply check your camera to see if you have macro mode. If you are out of luck on all do your best. Your looking for clarity in a close up.

Photo Challange #5..................

Here is today's Photograhpy Challange. COLOR. That's right I want you to take photos with colors. This can be one color. Two colors. Or tons of colors. The choice is yours so long as it has colors. Have fun with this!!

And of course you can look below for the slide show of photos I took for #4. Sorry I didn't have as much time as the other 3 so there are only a few shots. But they'll have to do! TFL

Blog Challange for 6/5...................

Post a silly/funny photo of YOU and tell the story behind it! This is a photo Missy took of me. She used my camera and its a good thing she did, LOL. Not sure what I would do if she had this on disc,Hmm! Probably distribute to millions around the world,hehe!

**The photos you see here were performed by a trained stunt woman and a trained teenage stunt boy. We strongly reccomend you do not attempt this at your park or home. Accidents may occur.

We were at the park after dinner last night. The kids were busy playing and enjoying themselves. So I joined. They love it when I interact with them. They all may be teenagers but they are still young little kiddos! My kids! Today. Tomorrow. Forever & Always.

I was fine on the swing. And I was fine playing tag...that was a real blast. Then when the boys were goofing off with the innocent little pony...I mean bucking bronco, lol I figured I would see how long I could ride one handed too! They laughed as hard as I did, LOL!!!!

Here is the talented, the great stunt boy Luke! He sure gave that bronco a ride for his feed. But in the end the bronco won. Sorry stunt boy maybe next time. Better leave that bronco taming to Aunt Rori for now. Maybe next year, LOL! Love ya boy! Check out the smile on his face!!

In the mean time looking at these photos sure make me feel great! This is life. This is real life. This is LIVING life to the fullest extent possible. Making each moment matter most. Each day more meaningful. YOU make YOUR life meaningful!

I leave you with lasting memories of our life.

Happy Monday Morning!!!

It's Monday morning...where are you? ROFLOL.........working!! Not ME. Ahhhh. As I told many of you when I left work on friday I would be thinking of all of you as you work and I play,hehe! And so I AM!!!

Challange seakers here is a heads up for the Daily Photography Challenge and Blog Challenge....I will upload some new challenges and photos in a couple hours. I have a few things to do first! Until then here is a sneek peek...of what's to come for Macro Monday's Challenge.

Today's challange is about catchlights. I want you to take a photo(s) of someone with catchlights in their eyes.

Catchlights are the white lights that show up in your subjects eyes. These are created by light reflections. Look at the photo above of Cailey to see what I mean. Catchlights make your photos POP amazingly and add so much. I put another slide show together of a number of photos I have showcasing catchlights in my subjects eyes.

You do not need any special equipment to get this dramatic effect. Natural light sources are many times 100X better. The following is a list of things that can put the catchlights in your subjects eyes;sun, water, sand, window, snow, metal, glass, windows, light colored objects. You set your subject in the path of a reflection.

For the water face your subjects toward the water/lake, etc. For snow the reflection will come from below. Your home windows will produce a great reflection in place your subject facing toward the window.

Believe it or not but my photos with Cailey that have the amazing salmon color glows and great catchlights are photos I took of her while she was playing on the slide. The slide produced these amazing reflections for priceless photos. Many of my photos were catching the lights reflecting off of water, side of the building, there is a couple that the light is actually reflecting off of the white shirt I was wearing and onto my subjects eyes.

I hope I covered most of the info? If you have any questions send me an email or PM.

PS you can check my blog for a photo slide of my photos with catchlights.

Blog Challenge #2......

Today's challenge is quotes. I want you to find a quote that has meaning to you and publish it on your blog. Tell why it is meaningful to you and how it has changed your way of thinking. If at all.

My quote is from Helen Keller (if I recall correctly..been a while). "Well behaved woman rarely make history"

How true is this ladies. Think about it. I have more on this subject but don't have time to finish. I will try to edit it in when I return home.

For now I am headed to Companeros to eat dinner with my family. They are due in town any minute! See you soon

Sooooo here we are the second day of my summer vacation and I am already behind schedule,LOL!!!! Frick!

On our MB as you hip chicas know I said that I would start a daily photography challenge for the month of June and a blog challenge to get me back in the groove of regular posts here and maybe you too.

Well I posted the 6/1 photo challenge on the MB and it is below........
"OK ladies lets get outside and take a close up of a living thing that you normally would pass by. Use your imagination because this can pertain to millions of things! Here is what I saw...there was literally hundreds of them outside. They are all over the branches,etc. Gotta love them though they help keep the skeeters low in count! Post a link to the photo or an actual image on the daily challenge thread in the MB. At the end of the month I will send out some RAK to 1-2 fellow participants. Look below for my photo..."

Here are a few others I took....for both challenges 1) close up of a living subject 2) still life 3)things that sparked my interest

Did you know that by looking at my photos it is a way for you to "see" what I see. Maybe by the end of this months daily photo challenge you will know a bit more about me and how I think, feel, what I see, the meaning of things in my life....many more things...but basically I share with all of you a piece of ME.....Hope you enjoy the ride.

6/2 Daily Photo Challange........
Today I want you to focus on still life. I was limited today because of the rain so i appologize for not getting the interesting shots I was hoping for...but I am going to try for more tomorrow.

There are many things that will fit in this subject field as well. Take a photo of a flower, an interesting stained glass window, clock, message center, stable, home, glass of water, toys, shovel & gloves, OMG the ideas area endless!!

Get creative. I want to see some really interesting photos ladies! I want to shout to everyone that Jen took an AMAZING photo of a cute little frog in her pond...I'll see if I can share the photo tomorrow?! It is the coolest thing! Kudos Jen!

Below you can see one of my many takes on the still life.......I hope to take more photos tomorrow. I will be sure to upload them in this entry as well. Can't wait to see what you all come up with on this one...you had some interesting ones today!! Thanks for playing with me!

Blog Challenge #1

Find something that will spark the interest of your new and old blog readers. Some ideas are the slide shows like I have above, interesting photos & stories, how about a music video. Or create blog challenges.

If your interested in lots of peeps checking your blog(s) join a ring surf..there are numerous ones out there. Or change the look of your blog...give it a face lift.

Or create a blog for a specific topic like Ann...she created a blog dedicated to discuss/learn about journaling. She is a historian by profession and sounds like she knows a thing or two that many of us could take notes on!! Check her out http://witbeforebrevity.blogspot.com/ I personally can't wait for her next entry! I was very moved by her first!!! Thanks Ann!

Schools out for summer! Frick ya!! As My Ms Angel (Angelique) would say, LOL. Sweet!

I am out of here in 5 minutes...the buzz is in the halls. Kids laughing, chatting, and you feel the excitement! I love it!

Principal just announced " one last announcement...HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!"

Cioa!!!!!!!

Put em' up! Not exactly what you want a little 1.5 yr old girl saying, LOL! But when she has 7 older male cousins that want to be by her side any chance they can things like Put em' up seem to "slip" in. And I am one for grabbing the camera and not getting mad....which is why this

<------- photo is here. And may also be why I have literally thousands of photos. This is just one of the hundred photos I have of this adorable baby girl. I love her more than words can decribe. She is the sweetness of our days. She is an Angel sent here in disguise to show us the important things to remember like family, love, growth, nurturing, stopping to smell the dandelions (if your her,LOL), watch bugs crawling on the sidewalk, or sit on the swing and let the wind blow through your hair no matter how old you are or to love and be loved in return but most of all to LIVE life. Every day I see this face of hers, it makes me 100X more blessed than the moment before. Just when I think I couldn't be any more blessed than I already have been.

OK so I visited Ms Raquels blog and found her favorite song which is now my new "favorite song" by Rob Thomas....thanks Raquel ;) Check out... http://www.raquelp.blogspot.com/ and show her some bloggin love!

Thanks for sharing the great song Raquel!


Check it out at the top right of this screen------------------------------------------------>

Does anyone even check here anymore, LOL!! I see I forgot about this ol' thing!!

Frankenstein cake..last nights party...

Jesse and I made this cake last night in about an hours time for my friends Halloween party last night. I know it could have been SO much better had we of planned our time and day better,LOL. But it didn't happen and we were still happy with the end results.
Everyone loved it so much NO one wanted to cut into it and eat!! I said we made it for you all to EAT so darn it cut it!
We still have about half left...the photo doesn't truly show the size of it!! It took two boxes of cake mix to make the towering head and is four layers.
And of course I made the frosting from scratch..I hate bought frosting,ewww!
[url=http://www.thescrapbookstand.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=559]Show me some of your Halloween Photos ladies!! I would love to look at them!![/url]