Happy Valentine's Day!!

I woke up this morning and got started making Valentine's. This is something I do every year! I gotta admit the kids love it! One year I bought them cards and they were so mad, I was shocked! They said, "you didn't have time to make us cards this year". It broke my heart! I didn't know that they appreciated what I did so much! So this is a tradition in our house.


First I made the boys some really cute mini cards! I included some cash inside, so they will be happy!!!

This card literally took me 5 minutes to make! This is Baptiste's card and I really love it. I took longer to write what I wanted to say inside, than making the actual card. LOL

And Miss Jaree!!! She loves pink and purple, so I made her this card!




Jaree loves some Hanna Montana!!!! So I bought this cute tin purse from Walmart



Added a ribbon....

A huge glittered flower made from a chipboard shape



Punched out some heart confetti using my Martha Stewarts scalloped and embossed heart punches!!! Wrote some sweet sentiments on them!!! And voila!!! You have a cute, unique, AND CHEAP gift that they will appreciate!

Jaree will wake up to this...
Every SINGLE time we went into Walmart she was HINTING that she wanted this cute pink and red catapilar and so I knew just what to get her. LOL Inside the tin is some candies, a Hannah Montana charm braclet/slash watch, Hannah Montana earring set that comes with 9 pairs of earrings, a Hannah Montanah jelly bracelet and ring set, some cutesy socks, some lip gloss, and I think that is it!!!!

Today we are going to the movies...
We never try and go out to dinner on Valentine's day, it's way too crowded....
So we will be going to Hamada House of Japan OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT, on tomorrow.

I already got some of my Valentine's day present. I have been wanting the Blackberry Storm since November and the hubs came thru. Also got me a cute pink hard case for it, car charger, screen protectors and mini sd converter and thumb drive!!! I love this man.


I know he has made reservations for a Manicure and pedicure for me...... I heard that.....LOL Yes, I am nosey!!! And I think he is going to buy me a new watch, not sure about that. I wasn't ear hustling hard enough. Yes, my hubby really spoils me. I love this man!!! I got him $100 gc to best buy, a new robe and slippers, and I am cooking his favorite dinner tonight. Seafood Alfredo!

That is all, I hope your Valentines day is GREAT!
UNTIL NEXT TIME..........

So I had this whole other blog post ready

to go and I read one of my favorite blogs. It happens to belong to my girl Adrienne, who I love so much!!! It's amazing how you can meet a person, you never met in person, only talk on the phone occassionally, communicate through text, blogging or twitter and really form a REAL BOND. I am getting emotional just thinking about it. But this girl is ONE OF THE REALEST people I know! She doesn't SUGAR COAT things. She has a tell it like is, personality and I love that!

She was blogging about being a Work in Progress....
And how she has grown and learned that she had to let certain people in her life Go....

When I read this, the tears started flowing.......

As many of you know I have a sister and 1 brother, and 3 half brothers!
Growing up my brother Marcus were so close.
Just how Jaree and Jariel are .....

We were thick as thieves, despite our 8 year age difference.

My brother was my BUDDY...
He taught me how to FIGHT, how to wrestle, how to play football, how to play baseball with a league ball that is, how to play basketball, I think he wanted a little brother, but got me instead...

We were so close that when he got his very first girlfriend, I cried for WEEKS...
I felt like she took my BIG BROTHER, away from me and he had to MAKE SURE he made time for me....

I hated NICOLLE, that was his girlfriend. I did mean things to her, and made her life hell for the first year, because I was so JEALOUS of her and my brother.

My brother was my protector!
He was my confidant. I could tell him anything.

He used to clean my room for me, so I wouldn't get punished, I think that is why I keep a messy room to this day.....LOL

He taught me to dance!
He taught me everything I know about math, my brother is a MATH GENIUS...

He taught me not to ever take ANY SHIT from a MAN.
He taught me to stand my ground.

He taught me how to jump fences, and how to use a magnifying glass to set bugs on fire in the summer, bad but true....

We had so much fun growing up together.

I remember getting countless whoopings, because I used to cry or try to get in the way, when he was getting punished...

I love my brother so much that I was going to name my son after him, but Baptiste decided at the last minute he wanted him to be named after him....

I am saying all this to say this.

My brother went away to college and he came back different.
We were still close, but he would get so angry over little stuff...

AS the years went by we were still close and thick as thieves....

But he was still very short tempered and just plain mean sometimes...
We found out in 1995 my brother had a drug addiction....

It tore our family apart.

Make a long story short,

My brother does not come around anymore....
The last time I saw my brother it was August, and that was to baby sit his kids while he went to Six Flags.

I have 2 beautiful nieces and a nephew who don't even know me...I mean they know I am their aunt, but they don't come around like Aaron and Aaliyah (my sisters kids).
They are missing out on so much love!!!!

And what's even more sad is he doesn't come around MY MOM either...

That hurts me so bad.

I cry about it all the time!!! So much so, that Baptiste started to dislike my brother, and me being who I am I would quickly defend my brother and it would cause us to get into it.....

I had to learn to JUST LET HIM GO....
GIVE IT UP TO GOD!

Do you know how bad it hurts, to go to your brother's house and hear him inside, see him walking around, and him not even answer the door for you....

This has happened so many times......

And this has been like this for the last 4 or 5 years....
We didn't get into it....

He just acts like he doesn't care about me.

I am his so called favorite sister, but you don't even call to see if I am dead or alive!

Ugh, I am about to break down now...

So I will end this....
Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but this was heavy on my heart, and my blog is CHEAP THERAPY, and I needed to release this....

A very Random Tuesday

Hello all!
Warning this post is gong to be alllll over the place. LOL
Just a few of my random thoughts!

1. I love children and they are a blessing! But why in the world are you getting in-virtro fertilization when you have 6 kids that you can't support! Now you have 14 kids you can't support! This is nuts!

2. Why is it warm outside but cold in my house. I don't get it!
3. My feet are freezing!
4. This guy on the news eyebrows are bugging me. Unibrow is so unattractive

5. I wonder what really happened with Chris Brown and Rhiana
7. I also wonder is this going to ruin his career

8. I had a dream about my ex boyfriend last night! It was kinda crazy.

9. Yesterday we took the kids to Red Robin and it was pretty good. They sell specialty burgers and have endless fries.....The kids loved it!
10. I have the best husband in the world. He massaged my head until I fell asleep last night, I was in tears my head hurt so bad and he took care of me. He always does when I am sick!

11. I went to get my charcoal pencils to start my art JOurnal. I don't know yet, what type of book I want to use. I was thinking of getting and ARtist sketch book and just altering, but I don't know!

12. I have NO SELF CONTROL! Period! I went into Archiver's just to get some clips for my clip it up and came home with a bag full of stuff! Then I went into Joann's just to look around, and came home with another bag of stuff! As Adrienne would say, I didn't need SHIT ELSE!!!

13. I am so happy for my sister and I look up to her so much. She has always been a career savvy person! She's held jobs at Playboy magazine as a editior, Johnson Public Company (Jet, Ebony, Fashion Fair) as a Marketing Research Director, just to name a couple. She has always been an independent woman, who BROUGHT HOME PLENTY OF BACON and then some, and just a few years ago, she lost her job, her home, and went through a divorce, Now my sister is back in business!!!! She is making THE BIG BUCKS, traveling the world, and slowly getting back everything she lost! She is my Hero!!!! I love her so much!

14. I really enjoy having a daughter! I love taking her to get little prissy things for her hair, jewelry, clothes. I love being able to do arts and crafts with her, I love our girly talks. It's awesome. I love her soooooooooooo much!

15. I have the world's most protective sons!!!! If a man come's within 6 feet of me, they are JOHNNY ON THE SPOT!!! This one guy came up to me in the grocery store and he was flirting ( He was kinda cute too...LOL) and Jariel my youngest son, told the guy to "BEAT IT DUDE", I couldn't believe it! Those boys are something else, and they are just protective of her. Jariel told me I needed to "get" Jaree because she said Chris Brown was her husband. LOL

16. I really hate those word verification thingies. I always get the letters wrong, then I am cursing at the computer screen, and everyone in the house thinks I am crazy!

17. Am I the only one who thinks Barack Obama is sexy?

18. Spring time is really ugly at first, it's muddy and wet and nasty!!!
19. Why is it that I get all the myspace stalkers!!!! These guys have no SHAME! Do they read my profile, it clearly states I am married. Sheesh!
20. I really want some DiCola's shrimp! they have the best Shrimp in the world!
21. I wonder what Baptiste has in store for me for Valentine's day. I am very eager to find out!

22. What in the world am I going to get Baptiste for Valentines day! I will take any suggestions!
23. I really love getting comments on my blog, but I think everybody does!
24. I love getting mail! I check the mailbox all the time!!! I love Ups deliveries too! It's usually stuff for me! LOL
25. I just ordered tons of stuff from Mara May's Etsy shop and can't wait until it arrives!
26. I am thinking of ordering all of the new Hambly!!! I gotta have it!

27. I really want to start this art journal. I bought two books yesterday Art Journals and Creative Healing by Sharon Soneff and True Vision Authenic Art Journaling by L.K. Ludwig. I am going to read them today! I also have the ARt Journaling Magazine by Somerset and so far its good!!!! P am Garrison is an amaing art journalist!

28. I really miss my mom and sister! I talk to them on the phone all the time. Mom is in Acalpulco and sister is in London. Can't wait until they get home! Mom will be back on the 18th and sis will be back on the 24th! Can't wait!

29. I love white cardstock and cannot live without. I buy it in Bulk. I love Textured Bazill!
30. I am totally addicted to Facebook and Twitter!

Well I think I have been random enough! It's fun to be random sometimes. I have done it a million times on this blog!

Gotta go, I am off to enjoy this 66 degree weather!

Happy Monday

Happy Monday all! I had a wonderful, very productive weekend. I SCRAPPED. It has been ages since I really got down and dirty and scrapped. I had so much fun! I completed 5 layouts, did 7 but the other 2 are not finished, it is missing something. KWIM? I scrapped for 2 days straight! And I have to admit, I really miss my creative time!


Here are my layouts.


I don't know how I feel about this layout! It's ok. I probably will add something to it! But for now I am leaving it alone!


I had fun with this layout. I really roughed up this paper. Sanded it! Distressed it. This was fun and I am ok with this layout!

This was my first time playing with a HAMBLY transparency and I promise it won't be my last, this was so much fun!!! Love this shot of the kids sleep in the back of the van!!!! They were worn out!


This layout was literally thrown together. I had some paper scraps, and I said I am going to use these no matter what!!! And I really love this layout!!!!
This is my favorite layout of all. I saw this bubble wrap technique on a friend's blog and thought to myself. I wanna try that. This layout literally took on a life of it's own. No pp used on this layout. All me. Painting, bubblewrapping, I had so much fun with this layout!!!


I love the ribbon edge!


And my bubble wrap tree!!!!! LOL

I also made two mini notebooks but forgot to take pictures I will post them later.

I really had fun this weekend and I am going to atleast try to scrap once a week!!!!!
No matter what!!!!

My mojo is back in Full effect!!!

I was reading the latest copy of Artful Blogging and Dina Wakely was featured in this copy, and I was so intrigued by her work. She had a few pages of her art journal posted and I fell in love! There were other people in this edition that had art journals too. So beautiful!!!! I also picked up a copy of Art Journaling by Somerset and I was so inspired I have to start my own. I can paint and draw VERY GOOD, and this is right up my alley.

I have always been fond of Mixed Media Artists and I was just blown away by what I saw. I am going to Mike's Wednesday to pick up my charcoal pencils, and other stuff to start my journey.

I journal write anyway, so this is the best of both worlds, expressing yourself through writing and art.

I am so EXCITED!
CAN YOU TELL?????

Below are some links to some awesome People who Art Journal, Dina Wakely included:

Ponderings by Dina Wakely
Dispatch from LA by Mary Ann Moss

Just click on the name and it will take you to that blog!
And also you can click the layouts to make them bigger!

Mary Ann Moss even has video of her Art Journals, both women are AWESOME!!!

Today, I am going to sit down and write about where I want to go with this art journal.
I am truly excited about doing this!

On the to do list today:
Tackle the dreaded closet! It may be little creatures living in there for all I know...
It's so cluttered
I need to straighten my scrap room after all the fun that took place in there this week
And cook dinner! Which will be stir fry steak! Love it!

That's all folkes
Until next time

iT's Friday

And you know what that means!! Old Schol Friday..
this was and still is the jam. I will still do the Roger Rabbit off this! LOL I lused to have a HUGE CRUSH ON TEDDY RILEY!!!! YUP YUP, sure did!!!! LOL

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!!!!!

A clean scraproom finally and other things...

I will never, I REPEAT ever, let my scrapbook room get that unorganized again...
it was not the cleaning that killed me..
OH NO!
It was the ORGANIZING! THE PURGING!

While I was cleaning, I found out that I had a bag of stuff, that I bought and forgot about




I really llked those stamps seen up above! But they were in a bag. I had completely forgotten about them!

Found that I had many duplicates, was too embarrassed to post them all! LOL
And this was stuff, I really liked!!!! But forgot. Go figure!

So you would think after all that, I would not go out and buy anything else! Not! went to ARchiver's for one thing, and saw the cute love notes notebook, and thought Gee this is cute! Bought some more pins, because they were too cute!
Will explain this purchase later!


Went to Joanns just to browse found the cutest foil outlined chipboard letters, bought some other cute stuff, will post later!!! LOL
Now I went in ARchivers for one reason! And one reason only to get my free cardstock and use my 30% coupon for the Bind it All!!! That was the whole purpose of my trip! So I got it. It's so cute!

but so was the tool accessory kit!!! Look at all the stuff it comes with...

I really am a sucker for things that are "CUTE"
LOOK AT THE CUTE CARRYING CASE!


Now for teh scrapbook room

Love my ladder shelves. Thanks mom!

A peek into what's on my shelves

A very full clip it up, thinking of getting another one!

My happy basket chock full of MM goodies!!!

A very neat and organized and dusted Expedit!



A peek into my shelves!!!!







This has to be my favorite organizational tool ever!




One more look at my ladders! I really love it!!!

So there you have it. I don't have a table in my scrapbook room as of yet, I really want the potterybarn table( seen below), but don't want to pay 1,500 for it. I have a black card table set up for now!
So there you have it!!!!

I will however be making this addition to my scrapbook room! I love this shelving unit! And yes my colors for my scrapbook room is red,black, and white, with just a hint of lime greens, and turqoise!!!!


I had a very good mail day this week. My dozens kit came in! I found that some ribbons I purchased previously go perfect with it!!! I told myself NO MORE KIT CLUBS, but got sucked back in! LOL

That is all for now! Blog ya later!

Self Portrait Thursday

I have to admit I hate taking pictures of myself!
I am always critiquing something!

As my mom always said, I AM MY OWN WORST CRITIC!

I always find something wrong with my pics!
I have always been told that I am a very photogenic person, and that I take nice pics!
But I always find something not to like about them.

But, not in this PHOTO.

I guess it's because I see my Mom! I am my mom's CARBON COPY!
We are identical. I have to post a picture of her when she was my age!
We look the EXACT SAME!!! LOL

Don't get me wrong, I don't have low self esteem at all!
I am very beautiful woman!
Just hate the way my pics turn out sometimes.

Am I the only one who feels this way????

Tomorrow, I have some big things to share with you! So stay tuned.........

Adventure of being Dana

Yesterday, I cleaned, did laundry, cleaned, and did more laundry!!!
I am 95% done in my scraproom! Now all I have to do is put up all the new stuff I just bought!
And put away some other stuff. Maybe I will have some motivation to get in there today! I definitely want to be finish by Friday so I can post the new clean scraproom on my blog!

Yesterday I went to two of favorite places. TARGET and BORDERS!
I had to exchange Jariel's camera for the 3rd time. If he breaks it this time, or something goes wrong. He is SOL. I refuse to go back to Target to exchange that thing. I bought him the Kodak MX1063, it's a 10.3 megapixel camera. It takes really nice pics!!! He loves it!!!

I browsed around, and lusted over all the cute stuff. But restrained from buying anything!!!
If you know me, that was hard!

Then I went to Borders in search of the latest copy of Artful Blogging, was not lucky in my search! I ended up coming home with this Somerset magazine book instead ( Yes, I said magazine book! When you pay more than 6 bucks for a mag, it becomes a magazine book..LOL)

It looks pretty good! See!!!




I plan on reading it later this afternoon when I am done with my work!

Today the kids have a half day. So not much me time going on! That is Jaree and Jariel have a half day. Bonnie and Clyde should be home around noon!

Today, the kids want steak, baked potatoes, ceasar salad, and garlic bread! So that is what what's on the dinner menu for today!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
blog ya later!

Tuesdays Ramblings!

How's about a weekend recap first! Friday, I just stayed around the house and organized my scrapbook room!!!! Saturday morning the same thing! And guess what, it is still not done, I still have to put my new goodies on the clip it up, organize my papers, and dust the last 5 shelves of my expedit! Ugh!

Saturday night I went out with friends and had a good time.

Sunday I went out to eat with my mom, sister and my sister's good girlfriend Katrina. We went to Red Lobster and ate ourselve into a coma. I love their Lobster Fiesta Rolls!!!!!! I had the Ultimate Feaat (snow crab legs, Maine Lobster tail, shrimp scampi, Fried Shrimp) and baked potato and salad. And their famous cheddar rolls! We all look like the abomidable snow man. Winter time is not the time to be cute in Chicago! It's time to be warm, but I still think we look cute, puffy, but cute! LOL

Yesterday, was a a day of organizing my room, because it can get out of HAND fast!!!!!! LOL
It was also Laundry day. I washed 5 loads of clothes, folded and put away! Well I put away my stuff, the kids put away their own clothes. Hey, If I can wash it and dry it, you can fold it and put it away! I cooked a big dinner. English Roast, Mashed Taters and gravy, and corn! I love English roast!!!!!

I read some mags, Glamour, Family Circle, and Essence!!!!
Watched some television: House, Intervention, and Paranormal State.

Had a Berry Pomegranite, Banana smoothie from Baskin Robbins!!!

Took a long shower, drank some Chai Tea, wrapped up in fleece and read some more Eclipse!!!

And fell asleep watching televison!!!

On the agenda for today:

1. Giving Goldie a bath. It's time!!!!!
2. Target run. Have a few thing I need to pick up
3. Trip to the apple store, my Ipod runs out of battery very fast, and needs to be fixed
4. Making doctor, dentist and Optometrist appts for me and the kids!!!
5. Border's trip to see if the new Artful blogging is in.....
6. American Idol and Bad Girls club!!!

Last but not least my kitty Sugar is geting so big!!!! That is her getting her nap on!!! LOL She is so fun and playful!!! Love it when they are rambunxtious little kittens!!! Well, most of the time!!! LOL
So some fun stuff and not so fun stuff planned today!

That is all folkes....