I've been bad again!

Hambly is the devil! I am convinced! I was blog surfing and looked at some of Kristina Contes work, whom I love and she's on their Design team. I totally love Hambly and honestly never buy much, because I can't find it. I hate shopping online, because alot of times, things look great online, but when you get it .....IT AIN'T SO GREAT....lol

Anyway, one of my favorite store is Windy City Scrapbooking, but it's so far from my house, I didn't feel like making the trip and also, they didn't have what I wanted. It sold out!

So, I told you guys I have been thinking about starting some new projects...

Well with NEW PROJECTS...you need NEW SUPPLIES...

I didn't do a lot of damage, but this is what I got:

*** Please do not respond to this email. It was generated by our automated system. ***

Hello Dana-

Thank you for shopping at the Hambly Screen Prints online store. Here are the details of your order:

---

Order ID: 3448

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Order details:

Item	Quantity	Description	Price Ea	Total
R089	1	Mod Flowers R089	$5.00	$5.00
R090	1	Mod Flowers R090	$5.00	$5.00
R091	1	Mod Flowers R091	$5.00	$5.00
R093	1	Mod Flowers R093	$5.00	$5.00
R107	1	Journaling2 R107	$5.00	$5.00
CO100	1	Clearly Heavy Overlay CO100	$3.99	$3.99
HO 636	1	Mod Circles HO636	$3.00	$3.00
HO 641	1	Woodgrain HO641	$3.00	$3.00
HO 642	1	Woodgrain HO642	$3.00	$3.00
HO 572	1	5 Dandelions HO572	$3.00	$3.00
HO 570	1	5 Dandelions HO570	$3.00	$3.00
HO 520	1	Big Vintage Circle HO520	$3.00	$3.00
HO 577	1	Big Vintage Circle HO577	$3.00	$3.00
HO 597	1	Urban Chic Frames HO597	$3.00	$3.00

---

			Subtotal:	$52.99
			Tax:	$0.00
			Shipping:	$0.00
			Order Total:	$52.99

You have earned 52 color Frequent Shopper Points with this order. Your points total is now 52 color

---

Order will be shipped to:
Dana Brooks

Country Club Hills, IL
USA
60478

---

info@hamblyscreenprints.com

Thanks for shopping with us,

www.qbaroo.com/HamblyScreenPrints




shhhh don't tell Baptiste!!!!!

When you lay in the bed sick, you tend to get bored. And when I am bored, I get into trouble. LOL

Aha moment...

I truly have an "aha moment" 20 times a day, but today was one of those days where I really woke up ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED. I woke up really appreciating my life. PERIOD.

I can't explain the mood I am in...

It's better than good, better than excellent, better than superb...
I just really woke up feeling GRATEFUL, HOPEFUL, LOVED, ....
Why? I am not going to question it. Just EMBRACE IT!

Being a chronic depression sufferer, these days are to be CHERISHED.

Last year, was my worst bout with depression, since being diagnosed at age 12 in the 8th grade.

A lot of people, really don't get DEPRESSION....
I have heard so many tell me "just snap out of it" or "focus on something happy" or "you have no reason to be depressed" or "you have so much to be grateful and happy for"...

They don't get that I have absolutely 'NO CONTROL' over it.

They don't get that : I just wake up some mornings, and would rather not get out of bed, shower, talk to anyone...

They don't get my: crying spells....that last for hours and I have absolutely no clue why I am crying...

They don't get me: wanting to just give up, and then the guilt I feel afterwards for thinking like that ....because I am a mother of 3, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend...

They don't get : that depression hurts, body aches, shortness of breath....
They don't get my panic attacks or my anxiety attacks...

I have to explain to people my depression all the time, and unless you are 1. Going through it yourself or 2. Psychologist or Psychiatrist. You will never fully UNDERSTAND...

Understand, what a day like this feels like to me...

I am so at peace and so content today...

My soul is smiling today....
and I thank God!

Now...
With all that being said..

I went to bed early last night and woke up early
Woke up showered, started my coffee, and fixed myself a little breakfast...

Booted up the computer and read my daily blogs:
Adrienne
BonnieRose
Ali Edwards
Vee
Noelia
Adrienne Looman
Celine Navaro
Jennifer Pebbles
Keisha Campbell
Donna Downey
Heather
Toners
Aimslee
Elsie...

and I can go on and on....

But I love to read blogs! I may not always comment, but know I stalk on a regular basis...

But through blogging, I have met so many wonderful people. People from all over the world.

People whom I have come to know and love ...
People who I respect ...

I have found so many great things and learned so much from my cyber family!
One of the things, that I have found is SIS tv, and I go this from my sister Adrienne....I signed up, but never really took the time to really look at it, but boy am i hooked. This site is awesome on so many levels. I have literally been on there all morning long. So helpful, so insightful, so inspiring. Thanks Adrienne...

Here is the link, but I am sure you guys already know about it. But for those of you who don't :
Scrap in Style TV

I love Jeanette Heardmen, she is a hoot. So reminds me of Talk Soup and she does resemble Jenni Bowlin....LOL

I looked up and it was noon! I had literally been on the site for 3 hours! So much inspiration there. So many kick ass scrapbookers!!!!

Even though I felt crappy yesterday, I managed to :

Start my first painting on canvas and it turned out so great!
I have always been a MONSTER, when it comes to drawing, but I never interpreted that through paints and so I have been contemplating this for awhile and bought a canvas, and I really loved doing it. This can be my next great hobby...

I just used to paint in my sketchbooks, never on canvas...
And guess what, my dad LOVED IT! Why does this mean anything? Well, my dad is an AWESOME ARTIST, who is very critical and very technical! For him, to like anything, he must have thought it was good! LOL

I also altered (FINALLY), the MM Love Chipboard letters. Not done, but it look damn good the way it is...I just want to add the perfect picture and some bling, bling and I am done....

Also, painted and started to alter a clipboard I had sitting around, that is like one of my favorite things to alter.....LOL simple, easy, and versatile....LOL

So I did get CREATIVE throught the CRAMPS.....LOL

I didn't even touch Jaree's album, because I really don't know how to end it.... I am kind of stuck...LOL The last bit of advice, was to PRAY daily....

So far I have :
Be yourself
Don't be afraid
Always be a lady
Be silly
Be kind
Smile
Pray...

But, in this you are beautiful album I have to pages of just written advice and just emphasized the one's that were really important to me...

Now I have to sum it all up I guess and tie everything together. I still have quite a few pages left, I am thinking I want to leave them blank to add more pics as she get's older or maybe rip them out and end the book already....because it is sooooo BULKED OUT....

This book is literally bursting at the seems....I am so not a FLAT SCRAPPER...lol

And I still have tons of journaling left....so I am just frustrated with that whole project....LOL

Now I am planning 4 new ones....

Bonnie and Clyde album for Jariel and Jaree
People, Places, and things I love: for that ATC holder I bought a few months back
Jariel's Heart of Gold album
and You make my sould smile " the album I just thought of today, while in bed this morning...

I get these ideas.....and It just takes me forever to get started on them...

I think I OVERTHINK it too much and I plan it..
Because I want it to be Perfect! KWIM?

I think I am just going to jump right in, head first ...
No holds bar ....no inhibitions....

Just do it! Right?

We'll see...

I am interested in knowing what you guys are working on, or what plans for projects you have, doesn't have to be scrapbook related either....

Just post it back to my blog .....

I love looking...

Just call me VOYEUR DANA......lol

Until next time..

P.s : Adrienne if you are reading this, I posted a long post for Old School Friday this morning at 7am, maybe youtube will get it here by Easter......LOL

I need some love.....

....I am not feeling too good today. and Baptiste is at Pharmacy School......
Poor Dana!
When I don't feel well, usually he spoils me....
but he is not here to do that ...
NOthing major....just CRAMPS...
I swear I hate being a woman sometimes...LOL
Why don't men have to go through anything.....
We have to endure LABOR, MENSTRUAL CYCLES, MENOPAUSE....
damn!!!

I have a very low tolerance for PAIN....
and since I have never experienced cramps, until after I had a tubiligation, it's really Murder, for me!

I usually don't talk about these things so candidly, but damn, this shit hurts!!!! LOL Excuse my french!

Baptiste, didn't even want to leave this morning, but I told him to go....
But, boy do I need him right now. I need to lay in his lap and have him hold my hand!
It truly makes me feel soooooooo much better
I know I am a big baby...LOL

Today, I don't have much planned, being as though I have these God awful cramps.

I am supposed to go over to my mom's today, but that plan is probably going to be scrapped, if I don't feel any better.

I do plan to lay in bed, let Baptiste pamper me, watch television, drink some good chai tea and play on the puter...

That's it in a nutshell...

If I feel better, I will try to:

Clean off dressers...
Fold and hang up laundry
Cook dinner
Finish up Jaree's album....

I have to pick up some last minute stuff for the kids for Easter, damn!
I almost forgot...
Will have to do that today!
I got Jaree's dress, accessories, but still no shoes...This girl has MONSTER FEET...
She is 8 years old 4'10 1/2 , 6 1/2 shoe....size 14/16
She is not heavy at all, but she has a big butt and big thighs and big legs.... She does not have the body of a 8 year old at all. It scares me. She is soooooo developed. Boobies, butt, hip buds...
What am I going to do.

I developed very early too! But I just didn't grow....LOL I am only 5'1. But Baptiste is 6'3. If she keeps it up, she's going to be taller than her daddy...

Jaree has worn every color in the rainbow for Easter, pink, lavendar, yellow, mint green, white, hot pink, cream, This year Peach...I FOUND A COLOR, she hasn't worn. And this girl is picky.

She does not like the color blue! I found that out. She made it VERY CLEAR! lol

It's really hard to find clothes to fit her, because she is so big! She has the body of a teenager, but she's only 8. She will 9 next month! I want her to look like she's 9, know what I mean. Not like she's 16! I am going to have to learn to sew, because I will be damned if I have to resort to Junior's clothes for her and she doesn't look like my baby anymore....LOL

Jariel wanted a suit and he's wearing a black suit, with a peach vest and tie to match Jaree...

And Guess what, Bee does not want to dress up for Easter, told me " Mom, I am tooo old for that"...

Wow, 15 years is ancient...lol

Teenagers, gotta love em...

Last subject....

Run out and go get the latest copy of Somerset Memories and Scrapbooks Etc....
You will not be disappointed!!!!!!! Trust me. Awesome stuff in there.
I got a chance to read them while I was getting the wheel cylindar fixed on our van....

I swear I will go and buy 40 magazines, and won't read them for weeks later....But when I do read, I'm on a roll..... and I can't stop, until I am done reading every magazine...

Which included:
Domino
Essence
Somerset Memories
Scrapbook Etc
Oprah
REal Simple
Making Memories
and Glamour!!!!

Still to go:
Vogue
Beading
Digital Photography....

See when I am on a roll, I am on a roll...

And I am about to roll my butt right off of this computer, so that I can finish up some reading...

Today, Dana is GETTING HER RELAX ON!!!! LOL

Until next time

That's why God made mommy's

.... Last night Baptiste told me, that I could sleep in late, and that he would get the children ready for school. I was a little hesitant, but I obliged. I haven't been feeling great (sinusitis) and the needed the extra rest. I combed Jaree's hair and wrapped it up, so that all she had to do was take the scarf off and go. I made them take their showers, so all they had to in the morning was freshen up.

WElll....


Jaree was supposed to boil eggs to color for school on today. Totally forgot about it...

Instead of Baptiste either 1. Waking me up or 2. supervising Jaree boil these eggs...

He took plan B. He told Jaree to boil the eggs and call him when they were done...

One hour later, I wake up to the smoke alarm, and this God awful aroma....

As I jump up ....I hear ....SPLAT, SPLAT.....

Not only did the eggs burn to a crisp, the exploded, all over the kitchen.....

Because my husband and his wonderful kids ALL WENT BACK TO SLEEP!
Notice they are his kids when they do wrong.....LOL

Guess who's cleaning it up....

Not me.

Exactly how does one clean eggs off a ceiling....
guess Baptiste is going to have to put his thinking cap on this morning...

I have hard wood floors too .....Hope he has fun!

As for Dana,

I will continue to relax, surf the web, watch a little television, and read!

Then I will get up, finish my last load of laundry, and see what's for dinner!

I am almost done with Jaree's album! Yes, I am still adding to it. This thing, just has a mind of it's own!!!!!!! It's super thick.....LOL I have totally reached 'BULK CAPACITY', but I wanted to get everything I wanted to say to her in this album....

I should be finish, by the end of this week!!!! I was working on it for the last couple of days.

I can't wait to get my hand on that atc holder! I have learned not to do more than one project at once, because I get carried away on one, and neglect the other, so I have learned that it's best for me, to do one project at a time....LOL

Adrienne, you talked me into it girl. I am going to get the IMAC! Since, I already have a laptop, that's less than 2 years old. But, it's going to be mine girl. The kids won't put a fingertip on it. My mil has one and baby .......I gotta have Leopard! I love ILife....it's awesome. We have an Applestore, right in our mall, and Baptiste takes classes on Thursdays, so we are always there. I was looking at this program called Aperture, do you know anything about it? Is it as good as photo shop. Photo shop is just tooooo damned complicated for me girl! Anyways, only going to get the 20 inch monitor, not the 27, but with a bigger hard drive.... I will have it by April, so girl I will let you know all about it. I know you were looking at one too!

I have turned into a MAC BOOTY, like my husband....LOL Goodbye PC

Anyways, I better get my butt of this computer, dh is giving me that look ....
You know the one...

He's saying "Baby, I am here....hellllloooooo, can you pay me some damned attention...LOL"

Off to give the big baby some attention....

Until next time

I was just thinking....

....about how truly BLESSED I am ....
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in "what's wrong" with our lives, that we can't recognize "what's right".

I can say...
I have a roof over my head....
I have 3 beautiful children
I still have BOTH my parents, and they are healthy
I have people who in my life who are "real friends"
I enjoy some of the finer things in life...
I have all of my needs, a good amount of my wants
I am healthy!
I am here....

You can think your life is going downhill...
Until you here some real HORROR STORIES....
Things like losing your child, not having a place to lay your head, not having food to put in your belly when you are hungry, ......

My life has honestly not been a fairytale....
I have been through ALOT....
rape, alcoholism (not me), caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, drug addiction (not me), alienation, and many more things....

But, I am still HERE!!!!!
I am alive and breathing.

I didn't let those things CONSUME ME!

Yes, it was horrible.....
Unimaginable...
but there are people out there, that have been through far worse.

I am a SURVIVOR!
I didn't get there alone, but by the GRACE of God, who never forsaked me!

And I can TRULY say I am blessed!

I am blessed, to have met soooo many people who ARE JUST LIKE ME...
Who enjoy some of the same things I enjoy...
People who I have come to know and love....
Like Adrienne, who is my sister by another mother.....
BonnieRose, who is my partner in crime, and whom I love and respect...
And so many more people who I have met, through scrapbooking and blogging!!!!!!

I am BLESSED to have a husband, who will GO THROUGH the fire for me, and who puts up with my moody ways at time, and supports me through my depression. We have been through a lot, but one thing I can say, is that he has never ABANDONED me, he has remained with me through good and BAD!

Today, I challenge you to list 10 reasons why you are blessed!

We can sometimes get so wrapped up and not appreciate and acknowledge our BLESSINGS, and in doing so ....

We can be blocking them....

Until next time...

WARNING: blog overload and a gripe

Why o why do I feel the need to explain myself, but I guess I have to! You see, we have some people who read my blog, that like to post anonymous or send emails accusing me of being a liar or materialistic! First off, I am not a liar, and I don't have to take pictures to support every statement I make on my blog. If I say, I am going shopping or I went shopping, please believe I did. I don't have to LIE! Now if you call me a procrastinator, then you would be on the mark. I hate loading pics to blogger, because it's a headache, and being that I still have not got the camera I wanted, I am still taking pics from a camera phone. I know some of you are like "What is she talking about ?". Well lets refer back to this post.

If you are a regular blog reader, then you know I love to shop! I was on the hunt for that lazy susan and some white sharpies, and came home with the following:
Found this cute storage tote from Target! Has a chalk board on the front!

Found these cute baskets at Target for dirt cheap, and I spray painted them red!

Couldn 't find that green lazy susan, but saw this stainless still 2 tiered rack and sprayed it red, didn't take a picture of the second coat, but for all you NON-BELIEVERS, i can take a picture tonight, can't promise when I will post it though!


Picked up the cute new soft spoken stuff from Mike's





along with this new cutesy stuff by Amanda Blu....Love it

Wanted some watercolors so I picked that up too!

thought these soft spoken stickers were cute, so I couldn't resist them either


while at Target, I cruised through my favorite aisle, the home office section, Love the birdie post its so I bought those



couldn't choose between the turqoise or green real simple post its, so you guessed it I bought them both

this was the whole purpose of my shopping spree, finding white pens, because I loved that ARticle by Jennifer McGuire, and hunted down that white sharpie...found it at Office Max

saw these paint pens, and 'GREAT FOR SCRAPBOOKS", caught my eye so I bought those too!

Forgot to mention I went down the scrapbook aisle while in Target, and was totally in shock, to find these Awesome products on CLEARANCE, by Autumn Leaves!


Thought I should by the papers to match!

What woman can't resist the dollar spot, found these cute pails, thought they were cute, but there were only two left, bummer!


saw these cute ribbons in the dollar spot at Target

Last but not least, these were also in the dollar spot, and I knew fully well, they were not a dollar, but since I worked in retail before, if you have more than one, in the wrong area, you have to give it to me for that price, so you know I love post it's so I had to get it!

So there you have it! This is documentation and proof of what I say! By the way, if I am going to lie, why would I lie about something so small as going scrapbook shopping. It's not like it's something that is intangible. Now if I say, I live in Palm Beach, with a 3 Bentley's and a maid, then one SHOULD suspect I was not telling the truth...LOL

By the way, I went shopping on Yesterday, and Bought myself a new Dolce and Gabbana purse, and that was a plunge! Guess I will have to take a picture and post a receipt! LOL

Sorry, if this seems childish, but it get's on my nerves when people make assumptions about me, but don't know the first thing about me.

I would have to assume they are jealous! I am by no means rich, but I live a very comfortable life. My husband was BLESSED with a very good job, so that I can afford to stay home with a sick child and still have some of the finer things in life. But know, that I don't feel it necessary to take a picture of every single thing I have to proove anything. Not long ago, I was accused of BRAGGING TO MUCH! Now I am lying...... You people need to make up your mind! Which is it!

Now that I am off my soapbox! LOL

I had a great weekend, Friday, was a day of cleaning and changing things around in the house. I get bored easily....

Yesterday, dh and I went to see a play called "Relationship Games". It was soooo good. And guess who was in the play! Tiffany Pollard otherwise known as Miss New York, she actually did a good job It was sooooo good!

Afterward, we went to our friend Tamika's house for her birthday, and why o why, did I allow her to coerce me into taking 7 jello shots.....I was feeling no pain when I left!

But I am paying for it this morning.....LOL

Today, I am going to stay in bed and watch television. My mom picked up the kids and took them to see 10,000 bc. and take them to Breakfast! She ditched church....LOL

They will back later this afternoon, so I am taking advantage and getting my relax on.....

Until next time...

Too funny...

Ok, everyone knows that I do a tribute to Old School music on Friday, well last Friday I went on Youtube, found the song I wanted, blogged it and it never showed up....Thought something was wrong with youtube....Well, it's almost Thursday, almost a week later and guess what it showed up....

I just chuckled when I saw it...

This so made my day...

DAna

Let's try this again

Ok, so I had typed out this long post and I guess youtube or blogger ate it....

I was hoping it would show up, but oh well...

You know I do this thing called "old school friday"

This is one of my super crushes when I was younger...

I loved this group
Especially the lead singer

I even sought out to find someone who looked like him...

I did

his name was Darryl Lockhart and he had "the drip too"...LOL

He was 2 years older...
I start liking him in the 6th grade..

I had a big crush....

Turns out he had a crush on me too, but I was too young...

That is until I made it to the 7th grade...yeah I know, big difference huh...

My dad hated him!

Recently saw him at Starbucks, we chatted briefly, and I had to let him know the truth....

"he was a second rate replacement for the lead singer of Ready for the World"

hehee...

and don't you worry about a damn thing ....girllllll no!

I did manage to sneak out and do some shopping again...

I know, my mom is a bad influence. She had to go into MICHAELS, for post converters for her earrings, she wears clips (ouch)

and I promised myself I was going to sit in the car, because I didn't need a thing,

I think i sat in the car 20 seconds before I bust out of the doors like a wild woman...

and yes I did the deed...

Then went to Old Time Pottery and I spent more money, but so did my mom, infact her bill was higher than mine and 95% of the things in her cart were for ME!!!!!

Yes, I know I am spoiled, but who cares....

Until next time

Validation

I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but you wake up and see things through clear eyes. It's almost like someone finally opened up the shades, after being in the dark for so long. That is the best way I can describe it. I believe they call it an "Eureka" moment or an "aha" moment.

Clarity! that's it!

Today, I finally am feeling alright....
Okay...

With who I am! Comfortable in my own skin! Realizing, finally, what truly MATTERS in life!

What matters to me is:

Loving myself, Loving my children, My relationship with God, My relationship with my Family and friends, taking time to just BREATHE, being myself (no matter who I am around), LETTING GO.....(which is so hard for me to do...), living in the present, not in the past, enjoying the small and minute things in life and not TAKING myself of OTHERS too seriously...

My weekend was wonderful....
no drama!
YOu know why? I simply don't allow it.
I don't submit to it...

I realized that YOU BECOME, what YOU SURROUND yourself around...

If you want to be rich, then you should surround yourself with affluent people
If you want to be positive then you should surround yourself around POSITIVE people...

There is an old saying that rings true "When you sleep with dogs, you wake up with fleas".

That is soooo true!

I found that even your own family can be TOXIC, to you!
I can't stand people who are so Negative all the time, but I myself had started to become Negative and pessimistic ....

So, what should you do?

I just disconnected myself from all NEGATIVITY....
and I didn't care who it was or what it was?

I did for my OWN SANITY....

What have I been doing, surrounding myself around people who are positive and UPBEAT. Uplifting people or as BONNIE would say "Balcony people".

In the last couple of years, I noticed myself more DEPRESSED than usual, more ANGRY, more Negative....

and when I looked in the mirror, I did not like the person staring back at me...

I knew I needed to change...

So I worked on DANA first and then I started add and delete, some people from my life...

I had too~

And my life is running like a calming stream now....NO WAVES....lol

I enjoyed my weekend, the kids were with my mom........

I indulged myself with some herbal tea and a hot bubble bath.........
I napped ......

Gave myself a facial......
Went shopping with my niece Lattaniah on Friday, went out to hear Baptiste do his thing...
Saturday went out with friends.....
Sunday went to church ....
and came home and crashed.....

No waves, no choppy waters, no DRAMA!!!!!

and after seeing how this weekend went, I attend to make every day forward like this....

No craziness!

Still no creativeness this weekend, but I do plan finishing up some projects during the week. I will keep you posted!

Thanks for all of your encouraging words and prayers....

Until next time

Feeling better....

.... you know why?

I totally DISCONNECTED myself for the last couple of days from everything and everyone...

I turned off the phones....
I sent the kids with my mom and dad....
and locked myself in my room....

For once, I was DANA....
not Dana the wife, Dana the daughter, Dana the mother, Dana the sister, Dana the friend,

My only role was being myself.....
I just needed a break....

A break from all the bullshit that seems to follow me ...

I had a heart to heart with Baptiste, I basically told him what I NEEDED from him, and if he couldn't do it.... then hey ....it is what it is...
No more Mrs. Nice guy!

For once I was in control,
I am driving the damn bus now!

Sometimes, PEOPLE can take you for granted....
They get used to a routine.....
and they forget they need to do the same things they did to get you interested, are the same things they need to do to keep you interested....

Baptiste, seemed to lose focus.....
I think he really forgot what he had waiting at home for him every night...

A GOOD ASS WOMAN...
A down ass woman
I was the Bonnie to his Clyde...

A ride or die chick....

And he wasn't appreciating that....

It sucks that some men don't appreciate Ladies, they like BITCHES, and that is what I had to become.......

I hate to be this frank, especially with my little cyber friends...

but I am not sugar coating anything anymore....

I am a real person, and what I am dealing with is real.....
And my real friends, will support me...

I had to take some drastic measures, but sometimes that is what you have to do be HEARD...

FEEL ME!

Today, I am feeling fine....
Dandy
Happy
Elated
Relaxed
Content
In control
Understood....

I don't think I will ever have a problem out Mr. Baptiste again!
He has learned a valuable and hard lesson...

If men would use this principle they would be okay...

"Don't do anything that you wouldn't want your mate to do, because if it's good for you, it's good for them". That goes for women too...

Before you do anything, think about it real hard....
Is it worth it? How would I feel if they did this to me?
and I think that would be formula to a happy and successful relationship...

On a lighter note, I have been reading and writing, I haven't been feeling creative lately, so I haven't been creating anything, but I have been shopping...

Today, my mom and I went to MICHAELS again, my mom wants to convert all her pierced earring to clips, so we went to buy the materials for that, and you know I came out with atleast 3 bags....

Then she took me to a place called Pottery something, not Pottery barn, but its very inexpensive ..They have all types of candles, home decor, art, storage ideas, plants, dishes, pots, pans, all types of household products for very little money, I bought some things, but my mom as always apoils me and bought me an area rug, a cute vase with flowers, some storage containers, and cute trunk....

Guys this is my new LOVE....
TRUNKS....it is my new Thrift store hunt...Love vintage trunks...

My sister is crazy, she said they give her the creeps...How could trunks give you the creeps?

Anyway, while I was at Michaels, I went down the bead aisle, I am so ready to learn how to bead. I bought some stuff to play around with. Baptiste is scared, because he said I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head, he's probably right, but I love jewelry, and if I can make it for cheaper than I buy it, then its worth it, right?

Well, I am off to bed....

I am dog tired!

Ok, if you know me....

You know when I take these long HIATUS' , it's normally because something is going on in my life....


and yes.....

It is...

I have been under a TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRESS LATELY...
and damn, I so feel like saying F%^& IT!!!!!

I am at my wit's end!

I have been trying to be the good wife, the good daughter, the good mother, the good sister, the good friend andI am freaking TIRED!!!!!!!

I just wanna DO DANA!!!!!!!

for once, I wanna break out and do whatever THE HELL I wanna do!

I am just sick of COMPROMISING and settling for LESS...

I am tired of JUSTIFYING the BS that goes on in my life....

I am tired of being THE GOOD GIRL!

I am tired of being MISS NICE GUY!

I am just PLAIN TIRED.....

I have just been taking time to BE ALONE, alone with my thoughts.....

And I have found, I am an ANGRY PERSON, right now....

I have so much BUILT up, that I feel like I am going to EXPLODE.....

I try not to bring it here, because I don't wan't my somewhat perfect image, to be blown, but as of right now, I don't care what "PEOPLE" think anymore.....

at some point you have to live for yourself....
and stop living for or through others....

I am just outdone.....
and I am almost ready to throw in the FREAKING TOWEL!




Dana

Guilty Pleasures.....

Hold on to your horses, because this is going to be a long post!
You've been warned! LOL

I have so much on my mind and so much I want to share and one of the things is my guilty pleasures:

1. Bad girls club: I so love this show! I can't miss an episode! Tanisha is so crazy, yo!
2. Butter pecan icecream- I can eat an entire gallon, by myself....
3. Shopping: this is soooooooo my element! I feel so good when I go shopping, whether it's grocery shopping,shopping for the perfect outfit, with a hot handbag, and some sexy shoes, hunting down the perfect accessories ( I am the design on a dime queen), shopping for vintage handbags and hats, the perfect thrift store find, I can literally turn trash to treasure, this is my gift... The perfect example of that is, I usually go to the club every Saturday, with dh, where he dj's, and I bought an expensive House of Derreon Jacket, but it was gorgeous, Paired it with the jean and shirt, and some timbaland heels, some mid expensive jewelry and accesories, and yes I got tons of compliments, HOWEVER, I went to the thrift store and bought some jeans, paid 90 cents took them home, bleached them, ripped them, added some bling, bought a regular v neck tee added some bling, and did the same with a inexpensive jacket, and I got more freaking compliments on that, and everyone wanted to know where I got it, at most the entire outfit, including shoes and accessories was $50 at most! Crazy huh!!!! I am the queen of flea markets and discount stores, Hey, I have 3 children, with expensive taste, a gadget freak for a husband, and tons of pets, we have to be thrifty.... I love going to the scrapbook stores and craft stores, like Michael's and Hobby Lobby, I even like the hardware store, I am the queen of Sam's Club, I plain love to shop!!!!!!!!!!
4. Dancing, I have to learn all the latest dance moves. So I am the queen of watching videos!!!! When Shakira, came out and was doing the hip roll, I had to learn how, and it took me less than a day to learn. I love dancing!!!!!!
5. Coloring: Jaree and I sit and color for hours, yes in a coloring book. We have coloring contests in my house!

6. Jerk Catfish: Oh my god! I love jamaican food!
7. Mexican food: While it's probably not good for my 33 year old digestive system, I eat it anyway! LOL Especially Steak Tostada Suizo's (shout out to Manuel at El Coyote in Alsip, you make a the best Tostada's in all of United states .....LOL)
8. Fuzzy Peach Mystic, damn!
9. Panera Bread's Southwest Chicken Sandwich!
10. Food in general, because I love to eat!!!!

11. Pens, I am very fond of pens. I probably have a million pens.
12. Shoes and handbags...YOu can never have enough!
13. Mediatakeout.com (Gotta have my daily dose of celeb gossip)
14. Soap operas (AMC, OLTL, and GH)
15. Victoria Secrets Appletini showergel, lotion, and body mist! (my current flavor of the month)
16. hand cream, I am always in search of a good hand cream, can't stand crusty hands or feet
17. Blistex (I can't stand crust, so lips are no exception
18. Fleece blankets ( i have to have my blankie, just call me Linus)
19. Sucking my tongue ( I know it sounds perverse, but I have been doing this since I was a child and it brings me comfort, and I only do it when i am lonely, worried, or scared)
20.Pogo (word whomp) I know I am a nerd, but don't tell anyone....

21. Long drives- Sometimes I will get in my car and just drive...... even with the rising gas prices, I feel so at peace behind the wheel of my car...
22. Apple store- Ever since my dh bought the macbook, that you may as well say, he bought for me, because I have just abandoned my poor dell, and I am always using his mac, I love that store. I am eyeing the Imac and the ipod touch, and every time I go downtown Chicago or to Orland Square mile (which is minutes from my house) I have to stop in the Apple store.

23. Starbucks Vanilla bean Frappuchino is my weekend treat!!!!! Dh and I always stop by and get our fraps before we run our errands....

24. Borders: I honestly have to go to Borders atleast twice a week for absolutely NOTHING, I just like to go. I don't have anything in mind to buy, but that never stops me, I just love the atmosphere. Makes me feel INTELLIGENT! lol

25. Sunflower seeds , I can crack on those things all day long.... dh hates it!!
26. HOt and Sour pickles with peppermint! I am old school!
27. Flaming HOt Munchies!
28. The View! I had stopped watching after Star Jones left, picked back up to watch the war of worlds between Rosie and Elizabeth, and now I love Sherrie and Whoopi, shhhh don't tell anybody!

29. Maury........YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER! How many times would you GO to find out if some man is your BABY'S DADDY, I say after the second time, just let sleeping dogs lie....Why humiliate yourself like that.....

30. Judge Mathis, I think he's kinda sexy! LOL

As you can see, I have quite a few guilty pleasures, what are yours?

Speaking of guilty pleasures, I got a chance to venture out yesterday like I said and while Target,Hobby Lobby , and Mike's were on the list of places to go, things don't always go as planned. I did go to Target (to get one thing) and it turned into a gazillion things, and I did go to Michaels, and found some great new stuff by My mind's eye and a new company called Amanda Blu, and I finally got some watercolor pencils, I had threw all that stuff away or gave it to my daughter, because I wasn't using them, and I recently read an article on dressing up your stamps and guess what popped back up watercolors, but I also bought them for things I plan to do with my art journal, and then I went to Office Max and bought two types of white sharpies, the sharpie poster paint pen and the sharpie mean streak. Has anyone used these? Any tips???

I did some MAJOR and I mean major CC damage guys! Dh is going to flip out, when he get's the bill, but I haven't splurged like this in ages.....Those stupid watercolor pencils aren't cheap, and I didn't have a coupon!!!! And I got a multi pack of the Poster Paint Sharpies, because they didn't sale it individual so I also got yellow, red, blue and black .....

I can never go to the store and stick to plan. Why is that? I managed to find some great organizational items. I got a bunch of wicker and ratan baskets, that I am going to spray, (you guessed it) Red, I did not find that lazy susan rack, but I did find a two tired stainless still rack, that I like just as much, I bought a red tote with a chalk board on front, a bunch of new post its, and even some scrapbooking stuff from Target!

I will take pics later today and show you what I bought...

So stay tuned!

I am tired after this long post!

Until next time...

TGIF....

Ok, this song just sums up how I feel sometimes....

Back in the day,
when I had no responsibilities, no worries, no bills.....

We don't realize it when we are young, how blessed we are....

We want to grow up to fast!!!!!

And now I wish I was a kid again...

You are but a child for only 17 years, your adult life lasts so much longer...

So to the youth to day...

Enjoy your childhood!

Two fingers!!!

Almost at full throttle(disclaimer:it's a long post...LOL)

Guys,

I am almost back. I am still coughing. But, just a little! However, that cannot get in the way of a WOMAN ON A MISSION. What is my mission, you may ask? SHOPPING!!! For what? Organizational items for my scrap room. Today, I am going to go to two of my favorite places. 1. SuperTarget 2. Michaels and I cannot wait! Right now, dh is in Pharmacy class and he won't get home until later this afternoon. You better believe, I am going to bundle myself up and GO!

When I get something in my head, it's no STOPPING me.

Right now, I have baskets on the brain, white sharpies, red spray paint, and this:Bonnie you are such and enabler, I don't know if I will keep the lime green color or spray it red, my mom who is the interior decorator queen, said that I should keep it green, she said even though my theme is red, black, and white, hints of lime green and even turquoise and brown, would be make the room pop! LOL

She would know, her house looks like a museum! LOL
I don't even want to sit down! I feel like I am going to mess something up!

I am also on another mission, to buy every white pen on the market, paint pens, gels pen, opaques, metallics, you name it. I was wondering how I can dress up my stamps and older patterned papers and I loved the article by Jennifer McGuire!!!!

I love to write my journaling in white ink on colored cardstock....It looks so hot! I also like to outline images, but sometimes my uniball skips....

I want something a little more broad tipped and am so in search of that WHITE SHARPIE.

Michaels and Hobby Lobby are going to think I am a freaking mad woman!!!!!!!

Plus I love Target's "REal Simple" Office supply line, their post its, index cards, cute notebooks, I use a lot it in my scrapbooks, and I have altered a lot of their notebooks.

I have become the alter queen!!!! I think I love to alter things, more than scrapbook!!!! And that is really MAKING A STATEMENT, because I LOVE TO SCRAPBOOK.

I am about to venture out, and take a Jewelry class. I used to bead when I was a child, but that was simplistic, compared to beading now. You know why? I fell in love with this bracelet with these SPARKLY odd shaped crystals, and I could not see myself paying the price the lady wanted for it. I went to Michaels, and something caught my eye, the same crystals.....
WEre 14.99 and the same bracelet was hanging on display..... I mean they were identical. You wouldn't believe what the woman wanted for this bracelet that would have cost me at most 25 dollars to make myself. She was $235 for this bracelet and guess what? I contemplated buying it. I was so unique. So I am going to get some books and mags on beading and you guessed it, that is going to be my new crafty thing....


Lets see, to date, I scrapbook, mixed media artist, rubberstamp, paint, abstract art, draw, write poetry and short stories, crochet, decapouge, read, bake.......

Now I am going to start beading....

I always wanted to learn how to make jewelry anyways...

What are some other things I would like to do:
Learn to sew
Learn to knit
and relearn how to quilt ( I used to help my grandmother)


I get my craftiness from my maternal grandmother and my father:
My grandmother was a phenomenal seamstress, she did embroidery, she knit, she could crochet very well, I still have tons of her blankets, she would quilt all the time (mostly from our old clothes), and she was a BEAST IN THE KITCHEN, I get my baking skills from my grandmother ...

My dad is an ARTIST, period. His work is PHENOMENAL, he is really sitting on his talent. He can freehand draw like no other, his abstract art hangs on my walls of my house, and he does alot of work with yarn.....Boy does it give it detail. He is going to draw Sponge Bob on my boys wall, why do teenagers like spongebob is beyond me, and Jaree want's a unicorn. I cannot wait!!!! And I am going to get him to draw some stuff on the walls of my scraproom....

This blog has turned into a hodge podge of my random thoughts...

My mind is always racing and it never slows down...
I am always a day ahead of myself...

And when I get excited about something, there is NO STOPPING ME...

Well, it is almost 10AM and I have only gotten in the shower, I still need to check emails, fix breakfast for myself (aka coffee and danish), put on clothes (still in my bath robe and slippers), and clean my room and scraproom!

So that means, I am signing off the computer for now....

Until next time....

A rare occassion

This is a rare occassion...

Baptiste hates to take pictures....

But, he sent this to me on my phone and I was like whoa!

What a damn hottie...

I guess that is his serious sexy look.....LOL

But that's my hubby...

Love those lips....

Dana

Great article..

I really love the whole doodling thing....
Waaaaay before Elsie...
Rebecca Sower and Heidi Swapp, originally started this whole doodling thing...
Do you remember Bumper crops????? LOL
People like Rhonda Soloman, used to doodle too..
Hey, whatever happened to Rhonda?

Elsie just took it into another DIRECTION...
People like Adrienne Looman, Celine Navaro, and Jennifer Pebbles are great at it too..

One of the things that makes a doodle look great, is the use of a white pen...



take a look at this from stamped image by Jennifer McGuire

what a difference, just by using a white gel pen.

I love the bling too!

You can read the whole article here


Now I am off to buy every white pen I can find...
I am going to need atleast 3 of each, just like toilet paper, you can never have enough...

Now Dana is off to be a naughty girl with the cc....

Shhhhhhh don't tell Baptiste....

I HAVE TO HAVE THAT WHITE SHARPIE.....lol




Love it!!!!!

Sniffles, Coughing, and Chills....oh my!

Yesterday was a really bad day for me....

Fever of 103.5
Chills
Hot flashes
body aches
chest burning coughs
headache

I felt like a MACK TRUCK ran into my body. So, I decided to go the ER. My doctor won't be bacn into her office until the 29th and she doesn't have anyone covering for her. Bummer right?

Well, I get there and they told me it will be a 2-3 hour wait. I was miserable already, but decided to wait it out. While in the emergency room, there was a group of teenagers, that were there and I guessed one of the girls had been involved in a fight and was hit with a pair of brass knuckles.......

Baby, I was ready to choke those kids up.... They were LOUD, CUSSING, TALKING VULGAR, just acting like little buttholes OK. And guess what? There parents were right there, right freaking there.

I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! I was growing more and more annoyed by the minute! Do you think security came over to say ANYTHING, to these little JERKS.....no!!!!!!

The language was just UNBELIEVABLE....

I have a soon to be 16 year old, If I thought he acted in that manner, he would be GROUNDED FOR LIFE...

I was a TEENAGER TOO, but I never acted like that in Public. I am not going to act like Miss Polly Perfect either, but I was atleast respectful to my ELDERS....

My mom would kill me if I wasn't....

Anyways, the three hours wait turned into 7 hours and guesss what, I went HOME!

There was no way....I was going to endure those little ignorant jerks one more minute...

There were elderly people in there trying to be comfortable, children, they didn't give a care.

I was so HOT! I think my temp went up 3 more degree's...

I came home made some tea, ate a little something, took two advil pm's and called it a night!

I was gone....

I just woke up at noon....

and I feel better than I felt yesterday......

I am not leaving my bedroom today....

Another lazy day...

I am happy to report that the kids have been taking good care of the house....

The kitchen and bathroom were SPOTLESS when I got home, I wanted to check their heads to see if they had a fever ....

And Jaree, my baby, made my bed for me....

And Jariel rubbed my back until I fell asleep...

Bee missed school, and I was too tired to take him, so he just got up, cooked breakfast for Bonnie and Clyde, got them ready for school, and layed back down...
He kept them quiet and out of the way...

Baptiste had to work, so my mom is dying to get over here...

I told her to take care of my daddy, because he is sick too.

They found that he has an aortic aneurysm of the stomach as well as spots on his lung for lack of treatment of pneumonia. My dad is almost 74, my mom needs to take care of him.

I will be fine! I guess I will never stop being her BABY! lol

I have been reading, somewhat!!!!! Gathering inspiration for my next project!!!

Love you all



Signing out
2 fingers

**Cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle, cough****

You guessed it! I am sick! And boy do I feel bad. I have a TERRIBLE COLD. Thanks to Miss Jaree, who was sick and decided to sleep in my bed. You know when our babies are sick, they want to sleep with mommy and daddy. I allowed it! And now I am paying for it. I need to sue, the vitamin c tablet corporation and lysol..... I STILL GOT SICK!!!

My throat is dry and itchy, on it's way to be soar....
My nose is running ( and I am not complaining, because atleast it cleared my sinuses, I am usually congested)
I am sneezing so much I think I am going to have to put on some DEPENDS....kwim? LOL
And I have the chills and aching muscles....

Dh has been taking care of me, but I think I need my MOMMY now....LOL

Well I am off to drink some tea and try to get comfortable...

Needless to say, this will be a LAZY day for Dana
I am not coming out of my pj's .....

Until I feel better.....

You already know....

what time it is.....

Ok, Let me say this song was for young and old.....

My grandmother would get up and do the dog....LOL

But, my brother Marcus Pledged Omega Psi Phi aka Q-Dog and this was his crew's national anthem....

He would walk around with his purple tshirt and spray painted Gold boots.....their colors

and STEP his butt off....

Does anybody remember step shows?????

Well, I learned how to step with my brother and even got to dance at one of his step shows at CArbondale, IL where he attended Southern Illinois University....

they loved it!!!! I had on a little purple and gold skirt, with a purple halter, and gold shoes...

That was one of the most fun and happy days of my life .....I was in
8th grade. I thought I was the shiznit.....LOL

I was around all of those college kids....cough cough college men....LOL

Didn't know what to with myself...

My brother and I still remember the routine, and everytime we hear this song, best believe, we jumping up and doing it...


So sit back and relax,


and DO THE DOG CATCHER,DOG CATCHER, DO THE DOG CATHER.....

Until next time

Without further ado....

Okay, let me say these pictures really suck.....YOu cannot see the richness of the colors....

I really went all out with this album, expensive ribbons, charms.....I am so proud of myself

I love thickers, this is my advice for my baby

This is the intro, don't know why it looks crooked, but anyways, I did not add the note yet, because I am wondering if it should be handwritten or typed

this is the back cover

This is one of my favorite pages...

Okay, that is a seperate booklet with Jaree's story on it, and it folds out into the story of her life!
Do you see the pins holding it together and the ribbons....


This so has a meaning and I hope you can see it. Words can't bring you down...
The words has holes in it, I wrote a bunch of mean words and covered them some with white acrylic paint....and I chose a bolder font for for CANT....

lOVE THESE PHOTOS OF MISS RAY RAY

I will type out the journaling later and tell you what it says....But these photos crack me up

For some reason I forgot to scan the opposite side of this page. It says be silly...and doesn't she look silly with all those missing teeth. Her teeth grew in totally wacky.....LOL

She looks so sweet on here. The Be kind page, flips up to reveal more pictures and journaling, but you guess it I didn't quite finish it yet....LOL


Again I did not take a picture of the opposite page, but it says don't be afraid, it's also a seperate booklet that unfolds.... see below


I love this last page....I plan to include more....

I am not done with this album, but wanted to share with you what I have done so far...

I hope you enjoyed it...

The pics really don't do it any JUSTICE....

Dana

Disclaimer: Blog Overload

Okay, so I have been talking about organizing my scraproom.....Well this is what I have done so far. Those oriental boxes hold kits from Jenni Bowlin, Scrapologie, and Poppy Ink. The smaller boxes hold all kinds of embellishments

So I want to get rid of the plastic carts....It's ruining the look I want to achieve, but not sure just yet what I want to get? Any suggestions???

So I bit the bullet awhile ago and purchased the clip it up. Adrienne and Bonnie are such enablers.....LOL

Recently bought this organizer by MM, should I leave it white or spray it red? What do you think?

My expedit sure filled up fast.....I want things to look nice and neat. I hate CLUTTER!!! I probably could have filled up 2 of these easy......LOL

I got this little bookshelf from dh's job. But I am going to switch it out for something, you guessed it red.....lol

Okay, my shelves are kind of empty, but NOT FOR LONG.....I am going to buy two ladder bookshelves to lean next to both sides of these shelves.....

I am thinking of hiring a carpenter to build my Pottery barn inspired desk.....
Because I want it to be a little longer. The desk is too short, I am going to see if my brother in law can make it. He's pretty handy.....

I am getting excited!!!!!!! I will keep you updated......

Stay tuned, the next blog will be my grand reveal of Jaree's "you are beautiful album, and I will be posting it for sure TODAY!

Until next time....

Long overdue....

Bare with me...

I have a lot to share with you guys...

First of all, I am so Happy to report that BAPTISTE AND I have decided to work things out and get marriage counseling.

I couldn't be more HAPPY!!!!

i LOVE THAT MAN SOOOOO MUCH, it's just that we lost our focus on WHAT was IMPORTANT and WHAT REALLY MATTERS...

We have been going on dates like we first met or something....

I have been soooo busy!
Let's see dinner, concert, museum, lunch, breakfast, walks, breakfast in bed,

I am loving this!

Don't get me wrong, my husband and I always go out! There is nothing NEW about that, but it FEELS BRAND NEW... kwim??? Maybe not! But, I know what I mean....LOL

I was tired of all the BICKERING AND FIGHTING, and now all of that is DONE!!!!

We vowed to NEVER let our RELATIONSHIP take a turn like that AGAIN...

For the record, I vow to never allow it to get like that AGAIN...

i VOW TO BE MORE...

Patient,
Understanding
Loving
Forgiving
to listen more
to give more

To do WHATEVER it takes to make it work...

And he has gone beyond what I could ever IMAGINE....

We are doing BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.....

Adrienne, did you hear that girl!!!!! LOL

What have I been doing besides COURTING MY HUSBAND....lol

let's see....
I have been CREATING, CREATING, CREATING....

I took some pictures from the mac of "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL ALBUM, they did not come out like I wanted, maybe Adrienne you can help me flip the pics.... The words are backwards....

I want to show it, but I want you to get the full Picture.

I must toot my own horn and say I TOTALLY OUTDID MYSELF with this...

This is PUBLICATION WORTHY ....

I have never submitted anthing in my life, but THIS IS AWESOME....

I went allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll out!

I wished I had a better camera! I didn't know I had it in ME.....lol

I am going to email my buddy Adrienne and see if she can help me out with this...did you hear that Adrienne....LOL


Also, I have been painting. This is second nature for me, because I used to paint all the time. My dad is an artist and I took my creative side from him. I do mostly abstract art, but am going to dibble and dabble into some freehand drawing....


What else have I been doing....

Baking, Baking, Baking. .. Melissa and I have a lot in common in our love for baking. I bake mostly cookies and brownies, but plan to venture out into other things. I will tell you I make some mean cheesecake and sour cream pound cake. I am a regular Betty Crocker...LOL


What else Have i been doing?

Writing....I love to write more than ANYTHING...even SCRAPBOOKING, can you believe that? I am very fond of the pen and pad. I love to write .... short stories, poetry, journal.....
It's my outlet.....


What else have I been doing?
Reading, mostly magazines,but I plan to finish a book I started months ago. This is so unlike me, I can read a book in day, but I know why? My mind wasn't right? Kwim?


What else have I been doing?

ORGANIZING....
and guess what?

I have waaaaay too much stuff!
I feel the need to SIMPLIFY MY LIFE....

I have soooo many purses with tags still on them, clothes, shoes......and why? I will never be able to fit a size 7/8. And if so, the crap will be so outdated!!! Why o why am I holding on to this stuff.

I AM A BINGE SHOPPER, there I admit it.

I am in No way as bad as my mother, but I AM BAD.....

Same with scrapbooking supplies....

I probably have more stuff than Archiver's, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby combined and I was sorting through and realized I need more ORGANIZATIONAL STUFF, and less toys.....LOL

So I bought the following:
Clip it up
Storage Baskets
and my new favorite the desk organizer circular thingy by Making Memories. Got it with my handy dandy 50% off coupon for Michaels....
I want to paint it red though....what do you think?

Am i running with the red theme too much!

My scrapbook room is red,black, and white...with small hints of lime greens, yellows, and orange.

Dh thinks I have a problem.....LOL He's right?

But, atleast I admit it...

I am going to take some pics of what I have accomplished......

Keep in mind I am using a crappy camera, the mac, and a camera phone as I still DO NOT HAVE MY CAMERA, booohooo. Everytime, I go to get it. Some catastrophe happens that takes my money....

Like 500 dollars worth of work on my car......I started to let the damn car sit and buy the camera, but how would I get to go shop for more stuff....I need my car! My trunk is my secret hiding place for all of my new purchases! Can anyone relate? Maybe not!

I have missed you guys soooooo much!!!!!!!

I think about you guys everyday...

A lot of you have become my family and I value you so much....

Thanks again, for all the well wishes, the prayers, the words of encouragement.....

Guess what?


IT WORKED!!!!!


lOVE YOU....

MORE LATER

I went to see them in concert

Have I ever told you that I LOVE SILK!!!! And when they sang this song I almost fainted! Do you hear me. They did the damn thing!!!!!

It was a Lady's Valentine's night special, dh took me. I had to catch myself. I almost threw my undies on the stage...well not exactly, but you know what I mean!!!!

Lil G wasn't there though! I was sooo angry. But they did good without him.

It was Atlantic Starr, Angelo Winbush, Silk, and Keith Sweat!!!!

And baby.....Keith Sweat is still begging and still looking good!

but I have to say, Silk stole the show!!!!!

I needed about 10 cups of water to cool down!

Those are some sexy brothers and they can move!
Man can they move....


One of the members touched my hand, and I felt like a damned teenager. I wouldn't allow them to pull me on stage. I wasn't trying to get my neck POPPED OFF!!! LOL

Angela Winbush still has it. I didn't know she had stage 3 ovarian cancer, but SURVIVED. Man not only did she put on a good show.. She gave us her TESTIMONY and took us to Church!!!!

Atlantic Starr-Killed it with Play another slow jam and No Parking on the dance floor, they have been together over 30 years and they still can move. Especially the girl....

you should have heard me and my husband saying "beep-beep, beep-beep, beep/beep-beep, beep-beep" I don't have a voice!!!!

Now Keith Sweat did his thing of course! One of the highlights is when he went into the audience to search for a girl and he chose this BIG girl, I mean she had to be atleast 300lbs. I am not talking bad, because I am no slim jim, but damn. He sang "I will never do anything to hurt you", and he lifted her up and carried her across the stage...

ENOUGH SAID!

I WAS LIKE DAMN!!!!!!!!

When he sang "How deep is your love, I had to jump out of my seat" The room suddenly became 250 degrees hotter.

I think I conceived off of a Keith Sweat Song....LOL

He sang "There's a right and wrong way and Make it Last forever and I was about ready to faint.

We partied too, when he sang "Don't stop the Love"

But again, even though KEITH SWEAT was the Headliner, SILK stole the show and ran with it!

I am still fanning....

hehe

Throw it back baby.....

Ok, the year was 1990.....

This new boy came to our school....

He was all the talk....

He was soooooooooooooo fine.....

I wanted to date him so bad, but I was not the type of girl that would EVER APPROACH a boy.....

I went to a party.......

He was there.......


This song came on........

We danced........


And now 18 years later, we are still in love and have 3 children.....


This was the first song my dh danced off of....

This was OUR FIRST dance at our wedding....


I love Guy!!!!!

(baby, baby).....LOL


Enjoy!!!

Sit back relax....

and CHILLLLLL!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Love Day!!!!!!

Promise to be giving a great big ole post soon...

stay tuned..

Dana

You already know what today is....

OLD SCHOOL FRIDAY BABY!!!


oK,

I was in my first year of college when this came out....

and I was dating my husband....

We had 1 child....

Bee.....

and I was getting tons of attention by all of these new men......

But I was in LOVE .......


so I had to keep passing them by......



LOL

I loved this song....

It's still a club banger...

I will get up out my seat and dance...


I will stop my car, pull over and jam to this....


LOve it..

Hope you enjoy....

Until next time

Feeling refreshed and renewed...

This is me today!  Feeling refreshed and renewed. 

The sun is shining down on me and I know everything is going to be ok.

I took awhile to just collect my thoughts and CREATE..

And boy have I been creating....

I will share some of that with you later today.

Baptiste and I are talking...

Taking things VERY SLOW....

Things have it's way of working itself out....

I LOVE my husband GOD KNOWS I do....

but, sometimes things get in the way ....

I took the time to work on Dana first.....

Now we are working on us....

We have been talking and just putting our cards on the table....

It's definitely fixable...

and I definitely miss this man....

He has been looking so damned good lately too!!!  

Makes it hard to stand firm, but I have....LOL

Well, stay tuned I will be posting news about the rak challenge and giving you a sneak peak of my "You are beautiful album I made for Ms. Jaree. 

Remember, if you are participating THE LAST DAY IS FEBRUARY 11TH, at 11:59 PM cst, will announce the winners on the 12th.....

Good luck

Dana

Still here....

Just collecting my thoughts...

Doing me...

Enjoying life...

Finding out what makes Dana tick...

Trying to hang in there....

Things have not been easy....

But, I am still here..

Dana