Who watched the Oscars last night

....I did! I did! I found out that the Oscars are VERY BORING....I only care about, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best film, all that other crap best costume, best cinematograpy, is sooooooooooooooo BORING, to me! I was really proud of Jennifer Hudson, wow that girl has a VOICE. Did anyone else get the feeling that Beyonce was trying to outsing her during their performance, maybe I read too much into it, but it was like "I'm Beyonce, and I can sing too, don't you forget it"....LOL

Felt kinda bad for Eddie,I thought for sure he was going to win. He really deserved it! He was snubbed out of this Oscar as far as I am concerned.


Congrats, to Forrest Whitaker, he has been in the game for years, and it is about time, he was recognized!!! I saw the LAST KING OF SCOTTLAND, and while it was brutal, it was a very good movie depiction (Idie Yamin, sp). He was a MONSTER! Wooo!

I was screaming to the top of my lungs when they said "JENNIFER HUDSON", her and Fantasia were my top 2 on American Idol, so I would have been Happy either way! I am just so thankful that she got the chance to show her talent to the world. She is soooo awesome. She is the girl next door, and that is why she is sooo loveable. So many doors are going to open for her now, and I couldn't be more happy!

Ellen is too funny! She did a wonderful job as host. I thought it was so hilarious, when she had Stephen Spielberg take a picture of her and Clint Eastwood. Too, too funny!

What was your thoughts? Interesting in knowing. Dana

Who watched the Oscars last night

....I did! I did! I found out that the Oscars are VERY BORING....I only care about, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best film, all that other crap best costume, best cinematograpy, is sooooooooooooooo BORING, to me! I was really proud of Jennifer Hudson, wow that girl has a VOICE. Did anyone else get the feeling that Beyonce was trying to outsing her during their performance, maybe I read too much into it, but it was like "I'm Beyonce, and I can sing too, don't you forget it"....LOL

Felt kinda bad for Eddie,I thought for sure he was going to win. He really deserved it! He was snubbed out of this Oscar as far as I am concerned.


Congrats, to Forrest Whitaker, he has been in the game for years, and it is about time, he was recognized!!! I saw the LAST KING OF SCOTTLAND, and while it was brutal, it was a very good movie depiction (Idie Yamin, sp). He was a MONSTER! Wooo!

I was screaming to the top of my lungs when they said "JENNIFER HUDSON", her and Fantasia were my top 2 on American Idol, so I would have been Happy either way! I am just so thankful that she got the chance to show her talent to the world. She is soooo awesome. She is the girl next door, and that is why she is sooo loveable. So many doors are going to open for her now, and I couldn't be more happy!

Ellen is too funny! She did a wonderful job as host. I thought it was so hilarious, when she had Stephen Spielberg take a picture of her and Clint Eastwood. Too, too funny!

What was your thoughts? Interesting in knowing. Dana

Congratulations Jennifer Hudson!!

YOu go girl! She is such an inspiration! NEver give up on your dreams. I bet Simon Cowell is choking on his words. Isn't she beautiful? I think she is even more beautiful on the inside. Very humble. Very appreciative! This is going to do wonders for her career. My congrats to Jennifer Hudson. Dreams do come true!

Dana

Good news and bad news...

Good news is we finally got our cable, internet, and telephone installed. Feel like a human being. Lightening fast internet, instead of trying to get mediocre service with linksys or going to panera bread to get online...... Both computers are up and running now. So no more sharing of my laptop......

Bad news....can't find my freaking card reader so that I can post pictures.....Isn't it ironic that all while I didn't have internet service the card was right on the computer .....now I can't find it. But, that's life. I guess that is God, saying "Dana are you nuts, your house is no where near done and you want to show it off.......LOL I don't care that is not finished yet, I just want all of you guys to see it .....before and when I get all decorated. To me it's beautiful unfinished......LOL

I am going to search high and low for my card reader.....since i lost my cords a long time ago, that hooks straight to the camera and then to the computer...

the boys room is awesome. At first I thought it was going to be freaky, because my son put all of his XRAYS on the wall (lets see two broken wrists, one broken collar bone, and a broke foot. He put white paper behind the exrays and then he has two black lights in his room, which makes the x-rays glow.....reallly cool. Then they have an energy ball, my mom spoils the boys to death. Their room looks like some type of fun house.....LOL. But really cool and really neat! Poor Jaree, her room is not nearly done, furniture is still not here and she's living out of boxes....but I really want to take my time and do a really prissy room for her. Fit for a princess. My room is still not totally done, most of my furniture is in there.....dh still hasn't brought up the nightstands and the headboard....but mostly everything is done. I am about 75 percent done unpacked.....I don't know where the boxes are coming from....LOL I think I am slow, but I swear I unpack about 5-10 boxes a day!!!!!

Why o why, do we hoard? I thought I had purged alot of stuff before I got here, but man o man am I throwing away even more stuff............ the question is why did I even pack this crap????LOL I must have been nuts.

I did not realize how much scrapbook stuff I had until I moved. Man o man, I still have boxes of stuff at my mom's and my dining room is almost full......LOL If I don't go scrapbook shopping in the next 10 years, I will still have tons of stuff....but that would never happen. YOu know us scrappers, we love to shop!!!!!
Speaking of shopping Its three things I cannot wait to get: Elsies new stuff, the new fancy pants acrylic stamps, and I am in the market for some more stamping up stamps, (my latest addiction, thanks to Ali E. lOL)

Guys, I am so in love with my new house and I know it may not be built from the ground nor does it have a gazillion rooms, but It is something that I love. I am so proud and I thank God, everyday that he has blessed us, to provide a HOME for our children. It has been less stress...I can do as I please, I don't have to ask for permission to change things in my home, I just love it! It's been along time coming. But, hey I am still young and I can enjoy it. NOw dh is about to buy a 2flat building....he is on a roll. His goal is to retire in 10 years and have his family living comfortably. We do not want to be rich, just comfortable......

I wished that you all could come over and play......LOL
I can't wait to get my room ready, I am going to host crops regularly.
Finally, I have something to be proud of......
KWIM?

I know you guys are probably sick of hearing about this house, but I am just sooooooo stoked!!!

LOL

It's still all brand new to me....

I LOVE IT!

Dana

Found my camera!!!

You know what that means...... Pictures. I am going to allow you into my home later today! It is not done, but I want you guys to get the before and after affect......OK.

Well, I don't think we spoke since Valentine's day.....LOL. But mine was great! Dh and I had breakfast and then he went to work.....I KNOW! BOOOOOOO! But I surprised him on his job with balloons, a teddy bears, candy, and silk boxers....and a naughty note......LOL When he got home, I left a trail of hershey kisses leading to the bathroom, where he went into Dana's house of therapy.....I had aromatherapy going on.....candles around the sink and tub and nice hot bubble bath, I undressed him, put him in the tub, gave him a complete pedicure, exfoliated his total body, well not everything....LOL and then proceeded to rinse him off, got his robe and slippers took him into our room where he had candles burning, more aromatherapy, soft music, and I gave him a full body massage......all in my my cutesy red get up.....lol. The rest is history. He will never be able to TOP THAT ONE......

We are so competitive.......It's crazy. He is going to try to out do me for something else.....LOL My valentine's present was awesome too! He bought me a single rose, with a note explaining why it was one, and he said that it symbolizes our union, and that we are one and inseperable and thought that was cute. We had breakfast and he gave me a little card, that said it's all about you on Friday, choose your pleasure and it had a 200 dollar mastercard gc. We went to Archiver's and Hobby Lobby and I bought tons and tons of stuff! I should have gone to Windy City, but I am trying to wait on all of Elsie's stuff first, because I have to get everything, kwim?

I can't wait to show you all my goodies.....

We got some good news too.....My sil is pregnant, and engaged! She is 27 years old and recently was told she would never have children and is now very much pregnant and I couldn't be more happy for her..... My mil is a little upset, because how she told her, (in an email), but hey maybe she was nervous. She's a grown woman for crying out loud, she has her own house, she pays her own bills, and very much a independent woman. I give her, her props for that. She finished college and has a great job with the City of Chicago as an accountant. So what, she's not married, they were already engaged, now they have to move the date up.....big deal!

I told her I would love to babysit, while she's at work, I really don't believe in daycare until after the age of 1. She is going to go back to work and I wouldn't mind caring for the baby at all. I would be honored. I love children. It was my dream at one time to have 9 children, like my grandmother. However, my body said, "Are you crazy", and I was only supposed to have 2 children, but was determined to have a daughter, so I was told by my doctor for "health reasons", that I should not bare any more children. It was very hard for me to make the decision I made, but I had 3 children, that I needed to raise and if I died, dh would be raising them alone. So, I made a very painful decision, and had a tubaligation. I regret it most of the time, but having another child could be fatal for me, so it's not worth it, kwim? I did consider adopting, for awhile, because it's so many children out there that need good homes and some one to love them, but I think dh is settled and content with our family compostion. Afterall, children are not cheap and he is the only one working.....LOL

I have been having a blast! Looking at home decor books, taking a gazillion trips to home depot and menards! Going to Target, and right now, I am just LOOKING! Went down town to the container store, looking at different things for my scrap room. It is so exciting, but even more OVERWHELMING. Everytime, I think I got the perfect room idea, I see something else I like better. Maybe I will be like my mom, who changes her Furniture every 5 years.......LOL She also changes every room in her house around. She will reposition furniture, she loves change! So does my dad ! They just don't always agree on how it should be! LOL It's too funny. They love to disagree!

AS you can see I am ecstatic! I feel so good! It is totally different to OWN something than to RENT! I can do what I want, when I want. I don't have to abide by anyones rules! It's just GREAT! I love it!

Can't wait for it all to come together, my mom keeps telling me to slow down! She tells me to take my time, that this is my house and I need to pace myself. It's funny coming for her, because when we moved to Lynwood, when I was 14 years old, our house was fully furnished, before we even moved in.....LOL New living room set, new dining room set, new kitchen set, new bedroom sets for everyone, even new carpet, was all there before we moved in. But, we don't have it like that, so I don't have a choice but, TO TAKE MY TIME....lol!!!


I am so frantic, that the kids laugh at me all the time, but they know I am happy, and it makes them happy. My youngest son said "Mommy, you love this house don't you?" I said " you can tell huh", and he said " I am glad you are happy mom, you deserve it" He made me bawl! He is soooooo sweet and loving! That's my baby!

Well, enough about me....
Stay tuned for pictures later today of my new home and my goodies ......

Also had some great mail days.....

Got my Scrapologie (Feb kit), Jenni Bowlin (Feb kit) and my Poppy ink (Jan kit, forgot to give them my new addy and I just got my forwarded mai...LOL), The Feb kit for Poppy ink will be here Tuesday......

Well have fun ladies

Until next time!

Dana

Found my camera!!!

You know what that means...... Pictures. I am going to allow you into my home later today! It is not done, but I want you guys to get the before and after affect......OK.

Well, I don't think we spoke since Valentine's day.....LOL. But mine was great! Dh and I had breakfast and then he went to work.....I KNOW! BOOOOOOO! But I surprised him on his job with balloons, a teddy bears, candy, and silk boxers....and a naughty note......LOL When he got home, I left a trail of hershey kisses leading to the bathroom, where he went into Dana's house of therapy.....I had aromatherapy going on.....candles around the sink and tub and nice hot bubble bath, I undressed him, put him in the tub, gave him a complete pedicure, exfoliated his total body, well not everything....LOL and then proceeded to rinse him off, got his robe and slippers took him into our room where he had candles burning, more aromatherapy, soft music, and I gave him a full body massage......all in my my cutesy red get up.....lol. The rest is history. He will never be able to TOP THAT ONE......

We are so competitive.......It's crazy. He is going to try to out do me for something else.....LOL My valentine's present was awesome too! He bought me a single rose, with a note explaining why it was one, and he said that it symbolizes our union, and that we are one and inseperable and thought that was cute. We had breakfast and he gave me a little card, that said it's all about you on Friday, choose your pleasure and it had a 200 dollar mastercard gc. We went to Archiver's and Hobby Lobby and I bought tons and tons of stuff! I should have gone to Windy City, but I am trying to wait on all of Elsie's stuff first, because I have to get everything, kwim?

I can't wait to show you all my goodies.....

We got some good news too.....My sil is pregnant, and engaged! She is 27 years old and recently was told she would never have children and is now very much pregnant and I couldn't be more happy for her..... My mil is a little upset, because how she told her, (in an email), but hey maybe she was nervous. She's a grown woman for crying out loud, she has her own house, she pays her own bills, and very much a independent woman. I give her, her props for that. She finished college and has a great job with the City of Chicago as an accountant. So what, she's not married, they were already engaged, now they have to move the date up.....big deal!

I told her I would love to babysit, while she's at work, I really don't believe in daycare until after the age of 1. She is going to go back to work and I wouldn't mind caring for the baby at all. I would be honored. I love children. It was my dream at one time to have 9 children, like my grandmother. However, my body said, "Are you crazy", and I was only supposed to have 2 children, but was determined to have a daughter, so I was told by my doctor for "health reasons", that I should not bare any more children. It was very hard for me to make the decision I made, but I had 3 children, that I needed to raise and if I died, dh would be raising them alone. So, I made a very painful decision, and had a tubaligation. I regret it most of the time, but having another child could be fatal for me, so it's not worth it, kwim? I did consider adopting, for awhile, because it's so many children out there that need good homes and some one to love them, but I think dh is settled and content with our family compostion. Afterall, children are not cheap and he is the only one working.....LOL

I have been having a blast! Looking at home decor books, taking a gazillion trips to home depot and menards! Going to Target, and right now, I am just LOOKING! Went down town to the container store, looking at different things for my scrap room. It is so exciting, but even more OVERWHELMING. Everytime, I think I got the perfect room idea, I see something else I like better. Maybe I will be like my mom, who changes her Furniture every 5 years.......LOL She also changes every room in her house around. She will reposition furniture, she loves change! So does my dad ! They just don't always agree on how it should be! LOL It's too funny. They love to disagree!

AS you can see I am ecstatic! I feel so good! It is totally different to OWN something than to RENT! I can do what I want, when I want. I don't have to abide by anyones rules! It's just GREAT! I love it!

Can't wait for it all to come together, my mom keeps telling me to slow down! She tells me to take my time, that this is my house and I need to pace myself. It's funny coming for her, because when we moved to Lynwood, when I was 14 years old, our house was fully furnished, before we even moved in.....LOL New living room set, new dining room set, new kitchen set, new bedroom sets for everyone, even new carpet, was all there before we moved in. But, we don't have it like that, so I don't have a choice but, TO TAKE MY TIME....lol!!!


I am so frantic, that the kids laugh at me all the time, but they know I am happy, and it makes them happy. My youngest son said "Mommy, you love this house don't you?" I said " you can tell huh", and he said " I am glad you are happy mom, you deserve it" He made me bawl! He is soooooo sweet and loving! That's my baby!

Well, enough about me....
Stay tuned for pictures later today of my new home and my goodies ......

Also had some great mail days.....

Got my Scrapologie (Feb kit), Jenni Bowlin (Feb kit) and my Poppy ink (Jan kit, forgot to give them my new addy and I just got my forwarded mai...LOL), The Feb kit for Poppy ink will be here Tuesday......

Well have fun ladies

Until next time!

Dana

Found my camera!!!

You know what that means...... Pictures. I am going to allow you into my home later today! It is not done, but I want you guys to get the before and after affect......OK.

Well, I don't think we spoke since Valentine's day.....LOL. But mine was great! Dh and I had breakfast and then he went to work.....I KNOW! BOOOOOOO! But I surprised him on his job with balloons, a teddy bears, candy, and silk boxers....and a naughty note......LOL When he got home, I left a trail of hershey kisses leading to the bathroom, where he went into Dana's house of therapy.....I had aromatherapy going on.....candles around the sink and tub and nice hot bubble bath, I undressed him, put him in the tub, gave him a complete pedicure, exfoliated his total body, well not everything....LOL and then proceeded to rinse him off, got his robe and slippers took him into our room where he had candles burning, more aromatherapy, soft music, and I gave him a full body massage......all in my my cutesy red get up.....lol. The rest is history. He will never be able to TOP THAT ONE......

We are so competitive.......It's crazy. He is going to try to out do me for something else.....LOL My valentine's present was awesome too! He bought me a single rose, with a note explaining why it was one, and he said that it symbolizes our union, and that we are one and inseperable and thought that was cute. We had breakfast and he gave me a little card, that said it's all about you on Friday, choose your pleasure and it had a 200 dollar mastercard gc. We went to Archiver's and Hobby Lobby and I bought tons and tons of stuff! I should have gone to Windy City, but I am trying to wait on all of Elsie's stuff first, because I have to get everything, kwim?

I can't wait to show you all my goodies.....

We got some good news too.....My sil is pregnant, and engaged! She is 27 years old and recently was told she would never have children and is now very much pregnant and I couldn't be more happy for her..... My mil is a little upset, because how she told her, (in an email), but hey maybe she was nervous. She's a grown woman for crying out loud, she has her own house, she pays her own bills, and very much a independent woman. I give her, her props for that. She finished college and has a great job with the City of Chicago as an accountant. So what, she's not married, they were already engaged, now they have to move the date up.....big deal!

I told her I would love to babysit, while she's at work, I really don't believe in daycare until after the age of 1. She is going to go back to work and I wouldn't mind caring for the baby at all. I would be honored. I love children. It was my dream at one time to have 9 children, like my grandmother. However, my body said, "Are you crazy", and I was only supposed to have 2 children, but was determined to have a daughter, so I was told by my doctor for "health reasons", that I should not bare any more children. It was very hard for me to make the decision I made, but I had 3 children, that I needed to raise and if I died, dh would be raising them alone. So, I made a very painful decision, and had a tubaligation. I regret it most of the time, but having another child could be fatal for me, so it's not worth it, kwim? I did consider adopting, for awhile, because it's so many children out there that need good homes and some one to love them, but I think dh is settled and content with our family compostion. Afterall, children are not cheap and he is the only one working.....LOL

I have been having a blast! Looking at home decor books, taking a gazillion trips to home depot and menards! Going to Target, and right now, I am just LOOKING! Went down town to the container store, looking at different things for my scrap room. It is so exciting, but even more OVERWHELMING. Everytime, I think I got the perfect room idea, I see something else I like better. Maybe I will be like my mom, who changes her Furniture every 5 years.......LOL She also changes every room in her house around. She will reposition furniture, she loves change! So does my dad ! They just don't always agree on how it should be! LOL It's too funny. They love to disagree!

AS you can see I am ecstatic! I feel so good! It is totally different to OWN something than to RENT! I can do what I want, when I want. I don't have to abide by anyones rules! It's just GREAT! I love it!

Can't wait for it all to come together, my mom keeps telling me to slow down! She tells me to take my time, that this is my house and I need to pace myself. It's funny coming for her, because when we moved to Lynwood, when I was 14 years old, our house was fully furnished, before we even moved in.....LOL New living room set, new dining room set, new kitchen set, new bedroom sets for everyone, even new carpet, was all there before we moved in. But, we don't have it like that, so I don't have a choice but, TO TAKE MY TIME....lol!!!


I am so frantic, that the kids laugh at me all the time, but they know I am happy, and it makes them happy. My youngest son said "Mommy, you love this house don't you?" I said " you can tell huh", and he said " I am glad you are happy mom, you deserve it" He made me bawl! He is soooooo sweet and loving! That's my baby!

Well, enough about me....
Stay tuned for pictures later today of my new home and my goodies ......

Also had some great mail days.....

Got my Scrapologie (Feb kit), Jenni Bowlin (Feb kit) and my Poppy ink (Jan kit, forgot to give them my new addy and I just got my forwarded mai...LOL), The Feb kit for Poppy ink will be here Tuesday......

Well have fun ladies

Until next time!

Dana

Getting used to my new home

......Here is where it gets a bit hairy.....or did I mean scarey...LOL I am home alone. All of the children are at school and dh is at work. No one here but me and Goldie..... He scares me to death, because he barks at anything moving, so I always think it's someone near the house. I have to get used to sounds of my house too. The furnace came on and I thought someone was breaking in on me.....LOL Shhhh....don't tell anyone. I am a big scaredy-cat! I let my imagination run wild and it seems as though I hear alot more crap when I am home alone, than when everyone is home. I got the ears of a dog! I can hear everything. Dh calls me RADAR....lol.

I am going to work in my room together. Dh still has not put the head, foot, and sideboards up to our sleigh bed. What he is waiting on is beyond me. Was it me or did he not have 9 days vacation, while we were moving, and the boys put together their own beds, so what is his deal. Don't get me started on this man, he has been rooming with Goldie for quite some time now! Yes, he is in the dog house with me ...... I guess I should feel sorry for him, he only works 70-80 hours a week......LOL I guess he deserves a little vacation huh? LOL

I am really itching to scrap. I really want to get going on some projects I have been putting off. Just don't have any where to scrap......LOL But that will all be resolved in a few weeks when we get out income taxes.........can you say IKEA 10 times really fast......LOL There will also be a trip to Windy City Scrapbooking. Boy, am I in trouble.

I also really want a new camera. I am thinking of getting the Cannon 20D, need something more reliable and to take better pictures.... Also in the market for a new laptop, since dh totally took mine over.........LOL

I want a really nice desk too! Since this is one of the focal points of the house, my scrapbook room has to look really chic....ya know. I am really excited about shopping for it. don't know exactly what I want it to look like, kwim ....I know the color scheme is going to be red, black, mocha, and cocoa brown. Now finding storage and furniture to match is going to be my challenge. I am really picky too. I don't want anything cheesy, kwim? Will definitely take my time on this one.

Today, I have to take the boys to the dentist, in a 100 feet of snow. Yes, we are being clobbered by the snow today! I mean clobbered. I was so shocked my kids school was not closed today. They are freaking nuts. Then watch they will call me later and say that the lights went out or pipe busted and I need to pick the kids up at noon or something.....I hate driving in inclimate weather. It is really nasty out. I want to just retreat to my bed and don't come out until its all over.....LOL

When I was younger, days like these I would curl up with a good book, a blanket, and some comfort food and stay in bed. That was before 3 children and a husband.....LOL I still read all the time, but I am interrupted a gazillion times.....LOL Hey, I wouldn't have it any other way, I love my family....

I sure wished I was my mom right now, she is having a blast in sunny Acapulco, Mexico for two weeks.....She's living it up.....It must be nice! LOL

Well, I gotta go unpack some more things in my room and Jaree's room. Do tons of laundry and watch The view......LOL

Until next time

Dana

I love me some.....

KATT WILLIAMS.... He is hilarious! So real! So down to earth! He crackse me up. I love his voice! The first time I laid eyes or ever heard of Katt Williams was when he played as "MONEY MIKE" in Friday After Next. He was sooooooo funny, that I almost p'd on myself..... Recently I saw him live he is so short! He recently did a stand up hour on HBO, called the Pimp Chronicles and i was on the floor rolling around....... He is too much. My stomach was litterally hurting from all the laughing. I love him to death! I also like , Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker, Eddie Murphy, and Monique..... I have to give a shout out to some of the comedic greats like Richard Pryor and Red Foxx.... and don't forget BeBe kids "Robin Harris". I love a good comedy and it has to be things I can relate too and say hey " I do that or I know someone like that and Katt Williams is someone I can totally relate too. He is TOOOOOO REAL!!! Check him out!

Dana

ETA: How could I forget MART- IN ...... i LOVE MARTIN LAWRENCE TOO!!! Am I tweaking or what.....LOL

Dana

Almost there

Update, things are slowly but surely cominng together. I am not as overwhelmed, but I still have tons to unpack. Today, I am taking a break from it all....I am stepping away from the boxes....LOL. You never realize, just how much stuff, you TRULY DO NOT NEED, until you move. I thought I purged alot while I was packing, purged even more stuff, once we moved in. I just want to live a CLUTTER FREE LIFE. Less is truly more. I want my house to be more space efficient. We decided to put only one sofa in the living room, one cocktail table, one lamp, and one silk flower....... The family room is going to have quite a bit in it, because it is the largest room in the house 32x22 . Huge! So I am putting a black leather sectional, the computer, two cocktail tables and book shelfs. That's alot but it is still nice amount of space. Our rooms are clutter free now, Since I have my own scrapbook room! YOu guys don't know how excited I am about this.....Hey BonnieRose, I know how you felt now, I need to do an unveiling huh! LOL I don't know about , but I do plan to have some crops once in awhile. I am so proud of my house. It was so worth the wait! I plan to start showing some pictures, now that it is all coming together! I got to get off my butt and take some....

I can't wait to start scrapping, which means I can't wait for our income taxes to finally get here....YOu know what that means.... A trip to IKEA!!!! Expedit books cases here I come. I decided to decorate it like a dining room/slash scrapbook room, which means I am looking for space saving and neat and tidy appearance. Any advice??? Would love to hear some. The room is a nice size, so I want to utilize it my space, but I don't want it to be too cluttered. KWIM?

Today, I am going to a baby shower today and just taking it easy. I took my first bubble bath, surrounded my candles and chai tea yesterday. I was in there an hour, felt soooooooooo damned good! The kids were asleep, dh was at his gig, and I endulged my self. I got out to fresh clean bed and climbed under the covers and went to sleep soooooo fast, I got scared! I am so pleased with everything! I am soooooo BLESSED! Jesus,has truly blessed us, and now dh is thinking of gettting into real estate he got a pre-approval letter for 275K, so he wants to buy a 2 flat.....So, I am proud of him, he is such a GO-GETTER, and being that he has never had a FATHER, or no one to show him how to BE A MAN, he does A DAMNED GOOD JOB. His father was murdered when he was just 18 months, his mother never remarried and my hats off to her, because she RAISED A GREAT MAN! KUDOS TO DH!!! wOOOOHOOOO!

I have truly missed my bloggin' sistahs and I plan to get more involved on my blog real soon. I feel a shoppin spree coming on soon....LOL

Dana

Can Dana come out and play?

.....I am taking a break from the rat race. I have worked my fingers to the bone, for the last few weeks trying to get things up and running, but I am still not done!!!! Gosh, I wished I was a genie! I did manage to get it presentable, but everything is still not unpacked. I am sad to say, my Baby's room (Jaree) is not even done. She's got a brand new bedroom set and bed and we have yet to put it together. Sad isn't it? We have been in here for almost 3 weeks and Jaree is sleeping on the air mattress..LOL. She loves it though. It's not a matter of laziness, it is a matter of being Perfect. I ordered Jaree's comforter set, and it is GORGEOUS. She has more pillows than bed space.....LOL. I don't want anything to go up until that comes. Cost me a pretty penny too! But, hey I only have one PRINCESS, LOL. I couldn't imagine if I had two daughers, I would be filing bankruptcy right now.....LOL

I saw the cutest shadow boxes at Target for 16.99 in hot pink, white, and red... I have plans to do something special with it for Jaree's room! Can't wait to get started on it! All of my walls are eggshell white, I was thinking of painting Jaree's room a pastel color, maybe pink or lavendar, but I am undecided....Maybe I will dress up the wall with accents and paintings. We decided to keep the walls all the same color .....I know boring! But dh loves the stucko ceilings and that would mean I would have to change all of the ceilings on the main level. Family room is white paneling.....boring....but he wants to keep it. Bedrooms are a different story.... I have been to Menards and Home Depot 7 million times and have not come home with one single can of paint! LOL Too hard to decide. I have Hardwood in all of the bedrooms and in the kitchen, the rest is carpet and tile Carpet in LR/DR/FR. Utility rooms are tile! The carpet is a champaign color, really nice carpet too and hey it is brand new, when we moved in....The house was a total rehab, and the owner had fixed the house for herself, but decided to do something different and we fell in love with it. It's not a MTV cribs HOUse, by any means, but is suitable and more than enough for our family. The family room is massive! The LR is big, the DR/Scrapbook room is huge, the bedrooms aren't too small, but not super big either! I have tons of closet and storage space, which was a problem in our townhome. The garage is massive ! Then I have full attic, that is massive. It must be nice if my MOTHER likes it, because my mom is very Particular....LOL.

I love it! I am excited. It's been a long time coming, I am 32 years old. I am finally a homeowner, and not a renter! That alone feels good! I just can't wait to get it picture perfect! I like nice things! But I am not rich, so I have to things in spurts, KWIM. We bought new furniture for the family room, we bought a massive Black Leather sectional, in which we bought all kind of animal print throws and pillows. Now I have to work on more accent pieces and wall art! This is the fun part for me!!! LOL The LR is bare, I want a red sofa, so bad, but I have to wait untill money permits, in the mean time, I have my cream colored leather loveseat in there with red throws, I plan to get a red slip cover in the mean time, until I can afford the sofa I want. Kitchen is coming togheter nicely, all I need to do is get all of my red appliances.....Doing it slowly but surely.....LOL

For those of you who asked, please contact me for my new address via email. I do not want to post it on my blog. Too many weirdos out there, KWIM? I am not speaking of you, but my blog is not private, its open to the public, I don't know who is checking in.....LOL

The kids are loving their new home, Goldie too!!!!! They are taking the initiative to clean more. They are so proud, I don't have to fight with them to do chores, they all do their part, even Jaree. I hope it lasts! LOL

My oldest Bee is so HELPFUL! He is very neat, very neat. He is also a slave driver.... He stays on Jari, and Jaree's butt! LOL He makes sure they are pulling their weight and keeping it tidy!
I hardly do anything, cleaning wise, I just unpack, do all the laundry, and cook. My son delegated duties between the 3 of them. I like that! LOL

Basically things have been going well, we had a tragic and unfortunate situation in our family, no one died, but someone was VIOLATED, in the most horrible way possible, last month, that is why I moved back home with my parents for awhile, not my mom or dad, thank God, but my sister! She needed all the family support we could possibly give! So, it's been a roller coaster. Plus other things going on too, but I don't want to get into it all, because I am UP....don't want to be down.....KWIM? Will bare it all later though....YOU KNOW ME, I wear it all on my sleeve! LOL

Well, I just wanted to touch base, let you know I am still alive and kickin.....

Until next time.
Dana

I am still here....

We finally moved completely in ........Woosh. Still got tons of boxes to unpack. We had some major setbacks, but the good thing is we are finally moved in! I am totally excited! I am happy to report that I will have my VERY OWN SCRAPBOOK ROOM! I cannot wait to get it all up an running, but I learned from my dear friend Bonnie Rose, to take baby steps. My house is so big! It's big to me anyway, it's a lot bigger than my townhouse, that's for sure! LOL I gained 4 more rooms. A living room, a dining room, a utility room, and a full attic and let's not forget a huge yard and a two and a half car garage. We are truly blessed! I am so excited! Can you tell?? I took tons of pictures, but I want to give you the full affect of the Before and After. My kitchen has beautiful oak cabinets with oak pergo flooring, so I decided that my color scheme would be red, all of my appliances are going to be red, I already got red rugs, dishes, staineless steel and red garbage can, dish towels, decorative towels......I carried this color into my dining/scrapbook room only red, black and white, and also into my living room, which is red, cocoa brown, and mocha brown....... My Family room or Safari room, has leopard,zebra, giraffe, and cheetah prints..... tons of elephant, giraffe, and cheetah figurines....Not quite finished, to be honest I am a long way from where I need to be, but it's coming along. My most treausure room in my bathroom.....I chose lavendar, white, and grey, because all of my hardware is nickel/ my flooring and tile is a grayish white pattern, so it looks DIVINE! I go in there and just stare. Jaree's room is going to be gorgeous, we spent tons on just her room alone. She has white rattan furniture, her color schemes are fuschia, pink, lavendar, and purple. I can't wait to get it all finished! The boys are BOYS....they had me buy all kinds of black lights, stop lights, locker dressers, it's definitely a boys room, but it's very Nice, I wanted to do it my way, but the boys PROTESTED! lol My room is Lavendar and seafoam greens, mixed with a splash of Purple, my favorite color. I still have to get Jaree's room painted! Stay tuned, I hope to have everything done by the end of this month, or very early MARCH! I am giving myself a somewhat realistic deadline. I still do not have internet service, so I am just using the wireless on my laptop. I will have everything on the 12th.

I have to honestly say I missed you guys tremendously and I hope you guys did not forget about me. I wish you all well! I plan to start blogging atleast 3 times a week, but once I am done it's ON AN POPPIN' lol

DANA

Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

WE CLOSED!!!!!!! FINALLLY!!!!!!!! YEA BOI!!!!!! IT'S A DONE DEAL!! IT'S A WRAP! I AM OFFICIALLY A HOMEOWNER...... THANK YOU JESUS!!!

OK, I am calm now. LOL I am reporting live from Panera bread, because I don't have any internet hook up yet.....LOL I will post all pics later. Just wanted to keep my bloggin' sistahs posted!

Why didn't anybody tell me that I was going to have arthritis in my wrist because all of the signing....I felt famous yesterday.....LOL

It took a long time! The closing took over 2 hours! Well worth the wait though!!! We all went out to eat yesterday and I am still with my mom. The pod will be delivering my stuff on Tuesday, ughhhh! So I will be with my mom until then. HOwever, we spent the night last night! Just because it was FINALLY OURS. My back is aching though, I am not used to sleeping on the floor......LOL

Goldie knew he was HOME, he ran right into the dog run and was frantically running and barking. We all laughed, he already claimed his domain!!! Jaree is so sweet, she kept thanking us for the new house. I can't wait to do her room and my scrap room. Notice I said nothing about the other parts of the house. LOL

Well, I am so excited to be able to post some good news for a change! Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and words of encouragement. I am super ecstatic! Can you tell??? Am I that obvious?

I don't know when I will be able to post again.....
I will try my best to atleast post twice a week...

Love you guys...

Dana

Good news, but......

The Good news first! I close January 5th Finally. Thought I was going to have to kill someone.....LOL Here is my cute little house. It's a 3 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 baths, LR, DR, FR, Eat in Kitchen, with 2 1/2 car garage. Much more than what I have here. I have a full finished attic too! The yard is a nice size. Hard wood floors in all the bedrooms and kitchen (yes!!!) However we have carpet in LR, DR, and family room. The rooms are nice and spacious! We have nice rooms here too, but this is a HOUSE! The kitchen is totally remodeled! Love the HUGE FAMILY ROOM! We decided that I can turn the dining room into my scrapbook room. I was really looking forward to having a 4th bedroom, so that I can turn it into a scraproom, but ds insisted on having his own room, so I would still be in the same boat, didn't work out for us on the 4 bedroom house, but this one is too stinking cute. Can't wait! I get to go in and take measurements, Saturday.....Will take plenty of pics!

Now for the bad news. My landlord needs us out by this Saturday, which means no blogging for me....I have to put my stuff in storage and live with my mom. For a few days..... I love my mom, but she can drive me NUTSO, sometimes!! She is extremely bossy and likes everything her way. If it is one thing out of place, she KNOWS!!! She is a total NEAT FREAK!!! lol So is my dad! This should be fun! There house is like a museum. Doesn't even look like it has been lived in. I am not a junky or nasty person, by any means, but if there is one SPOON in the sink, I don't have a problem with it sitting there until nightime, I always wash dishes before I go to bed. Not my mom, breakfast dinners, after breakfast, lunch after lunch, dinner after dinner, any in between, after the in between. Nothing can sit in her sink!!! Also, she has a had a dishwasher for 17 years and I think she has only used it twice. She likes to wash dishes by hand!!!

She also doesn't like anything to sit on her kitchen tables or any of her table for that matter, but her accent pieces....Please do not ever sit anything on those tables or she will go into Kathy Bates mode...you just may lose a limb.....LOL

Her bathroom, must shine! From the toilet to the floors! She is so particular about her stuff and NO ONE can do it better than she can! She mops the floors and then turns around and windexes them so that they will shine! She does not mop with a mop, she gets on her hands and knees and washes the floor with a towel, each individual ceramic square. NOT ME!!! I aint doing all of that crap......LOL

This should be an adventure, I haven't lived with my mom in almost 10years, this should be fun! LOL

Pray for me guys....LOL

Dana

Merry Christmas!!!!

From our house to yours!!!! Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas. Be safe! Have Fun! Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season!!! Eat good! Be kind with one another! I love you all dearly!

I am off to my mom's! We weren't able to put a tree up this year, because of the moving situation and what's Christmas without a Christmas tree? LOL

My mom is such a sweetheart and she is allowing ALL 3 of her children, their spouses, and all 8 of her grandchildren spend Christmas at her house. This is going to be so much fun. It is the first time, that we all spent Christmas Eve and Christmas together since we were younger.....

So for that much I am excited! Wishing you all the best! For those of you who are traveling. God speed. I pray for a safe destination and a safe return.

Peace be unto you!

The Brooks Family

Calling on the saints

There is a quote by Rienholdt Niebuhr better known as the Serenity Prayer, that I keep in mind and it goes:

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I Cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can ...
And Wisdom to know the difference…

Lately there has been so much drama unfolding in my life. It almost seems that there is one thing after another... YOu know...when it rains, it pours! I, sometimes let things affect that should not. I give people and situations too much Power over me... and what I mean by that is I get angry, hurt, disenchanted, all over things that are beyond my control. I cannot control people or situations that I encounter in life, however I can change how I deal!

I am about to share with you some things that I don't talk about often. I suffer from Depression! I have since I was in the 8th grade. There were some things that happened in my childhood and teenage years that I really should have sought out couseling for, but I kept it hidden until I had a mental breakdown, at the age of 13. I am not going to go into that situation, but I endured some terrible things in my past. Nothing with my immediate family.... but with a family member. I didn't know how to handle what was going on and I shutdown. I was admitted to the hospital in the psychiatric ward, for 41 days of more hell. I was released, I learned how to tell the pscychologists, nurses, etc... what they wanted to hear. I was on Haldol and Melarin and soon stop taking them, because I didn't like the way they made me feel. When I got out, I was still the same inside, but kept it hidden. Then I found God! I got saved at the age of 13! God was the only doctor, nurse, psychologist, therapist, etc... I needed! Fast forward to today, I still suffer from it, but I turn to God. I can feel it when it comes on, like a heavy wait on my chest and a dark cloud that hovers over me.

That is why I decided to major in Psychology and Mental Health. The mind is a wonderful and precious thing! But what the books don't teach you is that you have a self healing ability, that God gave to all of us.... I often meditate and pray. I will myself well. I am still human, and things can have their way of getting to you, but I always drop to my knees and go to God the father.

I, said all of that to say this: There is nothing that you are going through that our Father can't fix. He is the beginning and the end. HE is alpha and omega. He is all knowing! He is wonderful and glorious. Sometimes you have to GO THRU to get THRU. He won't close a door without opening up a window. No matter what you are going thru, continue to praise him and remember how truly blessed you are....BECAUSE their are zillions of people far worse off than you are... just be THANKFUL and remeber to keep him FIRST! The rest will follow. Walk and talk with his name! Pray without ceasing! and remember DELAYED does not MEAN DENIED. Alot of time we want a quick fix, sometimes God will take the long way instead of the shortcut...LOL

After reading my dear friend Bonnie's blog today, it made me breakdown and cry. It made me realized how truly blessed we are .... OUr lives could be so much worse.

No this house isn't going the way I want it too, but everything happens for a reason. I wanted to move out before Christmas and have our first Christmas in the new house, but if the Good Lord is willing, I will have that Christmas, it might not be in 06, but it will be in 07. I just had my mind set on being there ....but it's not the way it worked out! I just gotta wait, another week...

turns out the broker who did the loan, license expired......I CALL BS! however, this is what I am being told. However, he faxed everything over, but no one wants to do anything over the holidays...so basically I am s.o.l until after Christmas...

Everything that is worth something ....is worth waiting for .....RIGHT!

I gotta a little winded. Something about the Lord just fires me up everytime and I am compelled to speak on it....

Until next time....

Today is supposed to be the day!

Let's see what bag of tricks they will pull out of their a$$es today! I really hope they finalize whatever they need to finalize so that I can get the heck out of here before Christmas. If it does not go thru this week, then I will definitely contacting my attorney, because we were supposed to close twice already and it did not materialize. I am getting really impatient and even more angry at the fundamental disregard, this homeowner has for my time, my money, and taking kindness for weakness. I have to vacate my townhome by December 30th, which is right around the corner, which is basically around the corner. I will keep everyone posted, but this has truly been a NIGHTMARE and a LEARNING EXPERIENCE for both my husband and I. We are first time buyers and I think that because of that we are being taken advantage of ..... My mom has been a homeowner FOREVER....lol and always tells me what to do and say next....GOTTA LOVE MOMS....LOL

Some times you gotta be a BEYOUTCH for people to take you seriously.....

Dana

What would I do without my bloggin' sistahs

When I first started blogging, it was something that I thought would be cool and fun! I loved to journal anyways, and I thought of it as an online journal, that could be shared with others with whom I can relate to and vice versa. Fast forward to today, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would have met the most wonderful group of ladies, from all over the world (literally), from various backgrounds, that would become my sisters' not my FRIEND. I have but one, biological sister Tracy, but through my blog I have many more.... I truly appreciate all of you guys. I have been going through some rough times and you guys have always had my back. Whether it's a comment of encouragement or receiving a rak in the mail, I am very lucky to have you all as my sistah's!!!! I woke up with this on my heart! I truly love you guys! It's amazing, how you can truly love people whom you never met, well I do. I wish all of you the best. I am excited with your accomplishments and good happenings. I truly share in your joys,we share laughter, we share tears, we share our joys and our fears. We share alot with one another.

It was funny when Adrienne announced that she was going to start her own photography business I was so ecstatic, I scream "YES!" and everyone in the house looked at me, as if I was crazy.... When Toya shows off her sewing creations, I am already thinking to myself, now when is she going to open up her own boutique "Fashions by Ms. Toya", or when Bonnie had her unveiling, I think I was more excited than she was.....LOL I just love my blogging sistah's, Brown English Muffin aka Melanie, makes me laugh until I am crying sometimes. Cheryl, Heather, Gina are always offering their word's of encouragement and advice. Melissa is the cute little sister of the bunch, so young and successful. YOu guys surely made footprints in my life and my heart and I hope we will continue this friendship or better yet, this sisterhood forever and my dream is to meet each of you one day!

I love you!
You are appreciated!
And thanks for being there!!!!

Mwah!

I am off to do some last minute Christmas shopping, I am trying so hard to get in the spirit, I woke up feeling refreshed this morning. Took the advice of my very good friend and sistah Bonnie, who says " There is nothing that a good cup of tea can't cure", I love her bubbly personality, such a positive person, such a real genuine person! I took a hot bath and drank some very good Peppermint tea and boy did I go to bed in a good mood. I changed my linens, gave myself a facial, and hit the sheets early. I slept all night! I feel so good this morning. So thanks Bonnie, you are right, nothing like a good cup of tea, some aromatherapy, pampering yourself, fresh linen and a good night's rest! Dh, said I slept like a tank. He wasn't too happy, he thought he was going to have a little fun last night.....LOL NOT!!!

Until next time
Dana

ughhh......

They pushed back the closing another freaking week again....

I am getting really angry. They wanted 1000 dollars Ernest money they got it. They wanted a a higher appraisel they got it.... I am doing everything I am supposed to do on my end and these idiots are not keeping up with their end of the bargain. It's not the reality company, it's the owner of the house that is screwing everything up. I am trying to be really calm about this whole thing, but it's almost been 2 months, ya know! I can't even get in the Christmas spirit, because of this thing. By now, I would have my entire house inside and out decorated! Christmas books for the Children spread about, Christmas music pipin'.... Now I feel like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Sorry for the vent, but it's really starting to get the best of me guys.
My mom is taking me out to dinner later tonight, to get my mind off of this crap.....LOL
Next time I post, it better be some good news already......LOL

Dana

The N-word.....

do you think it should be stricken from our language? I have to admit, I have used the word alot, but it was never used to demean or hurt someone. It's sad to say in my case, it's a term of endearment or just an adjective. I guess you are wondering why I am bringing up such a toucy subject...well I was watching the Real World and a white guy called another black a NIGGER! He said it in a way that was to hurt and demean and it really pissed me off. However, I use the word myself from time to time. Don't use it as much as I did in my teenage years....but it made me really examine my life.

I get so sick of people blaming alcohol on their actions. Basically, I think your true colors come out when you are under the influence. Their are no inhibitions. This kid blamed alchohol for him calling him the N-word. I was soooooo angry, that I wanted to jump thru the television and slap this kids face completely off... and then I thought to myself, I use the word, maybe I need to stop too! It's such an ugly word. Especially when it's used to demean someone. So from this day forward, I am not going to use it in anyway...because it is truly an awful word. I know people may say that "sticks and stones crap", but words DO HURT! Sometimes they hurt more than if someone had physically come up to you and smacked you in the face!

I have been called the N-word plenty of times, especially in high school! I went to a predominantly white high school and you had that handfull of kids who went there. Back then, I had zero tolerance, and got plenty of fights over this very thing. Needless to say, those who I fought, never fixed their mouths to call me that again, but they didn't learn their lesson, because they started to pick on other children. I hated going to my high school, then one day we had a MEDIATION group, in which, 7 peer counselors, and 4 counselors came to the school and put us into groups. We each got a chance to say how we truly felt and that opened up the door. Two of the girls, that called me the N-word are good friend of mine to this day! Our children play with each other and we broke down that wall that stood between us. We found that we had more in common than we once thought! We enjoyed a lot of the same things, and even changed her parents mind about African Americans....Alot of people are afraid of the things unknown, scared of difference, scared of change, that is why racism exists...
If you truly get to know a person for who they are...and not what they look like, you may just find a friend for life...

I honestly don't look at people color first ( I am color blind), we are all God's children, and the only race of people is the HUMAN race. We need to look at animals. Does a black dog care if he mates with a brown dog? Does a black cat care if he mates with a orange tabby? NO! We need to be the same way in our interactions with each other. God is LOve and he Loves all! We should too!

I hope I didn't offend anyone in my post today! I am a real person, and I share with you my real feelings.... No masks, no faking, just keeping it real!

Until next time...
Btw, what are your thoughts about this?

Dana