I remember when...

I was a child ....

Things were less complicated...

More simple.

I remember not having a care in the world...

I remember when my only responsibility was cleaning my room and cleaning the bathroom...

I remember when my biggest worry was what I was going to wear to school...

I remember the first day I could walk to the store by myself without a parent, THAT WAS A BIG DEAL...i was 9 years old...

I remember when we could sleep on the back porch with the just the screen door and all the windows open....(didn't have to worry about  anyone breaking in)

I remember when my grandmother would sing to me and read passages from the bible...

I remember when my grandmother would kiss all my boo-boos and make them better, God I miss my grandmother...she had a way to make the best out every and any situation ...

I remember long nights of hide n seek and jumping double dutch with my cousins and friends.

I remember when the only man in my life was my DADDY....he still is my Hero!!!

I remember the first time I found God....I was 13 years old!

I remember long rides in the car with my parents and siblings, not knowing where we were going, but excited anyways, because I knew it would be somewhere fun!!!!

I remember my Good old sticker album, I had THE BEST STICKER ALBUM on the block!  I remember going to Chicago Ridge Mall, to the STICKY sticker store and blowing most of my allowance on stickers...

I remember sleeping in my grandmother's bed when I was scared...

I remember faking sleep in the car so that my dad would carry me in the house and right up to my parents bed!!!!

I remember racing home to watch Specrtreman....I never missed an episode...

I remember wanting to look like MARSHA BRADY.....as if.....LOL

I remember the first time I kissed a boy.....it was so odd! LOL

I remember my first pair of underoos.....It was Superwoman!!!  I thought I was the stuff!!!

I remember fist fry's on Fridays....My grandmother and my mom would fry loads and loads of catfish and perch and make spaghetti and cole slaw .... and my family would come over and they would play cards, and that meant "us kids" could get into mischief, because our parents were tipsy and playing cards....LOL

I remember Big Sunday dinners!!!!!  It was like Thanksgiving every Sunday.....My grandmother would cook a 8 course meal, with all the desserts....and again family would come over.  I would be so mad when she cooked fried corn, that she took right off a fresh cob of corn....I didn't want anybody to touch her corn.  It was tooooo good to share!  LOL

I remember the first time I learned to ride a bike, my brother Marcus taught me, I was only 5 years old.  

I remember sneaking and watching Benny Hill ....it was forbidden in my household...LOL

I remember laying on top of the car at the Drive in Movie Theather boy do I miss that...

I remember going skating every Saturday with my best friend Monica...I am quite the skater...I can do all the tricks, crazy legs and all.....LOL

I remember when I thought I was going to dig my way to CHINA, I got the whooping of my life for tearing up my grandmothers grass.....LOL

Of all things, I remember Having fun, with no worries, I remember when life was less complicated and less dramatic.....

I always tell my kids to ENJOY BEING A CHILD....you are only a child for a mere 18 years....and after that is Adulthood and it lasts a whole lot longer.....

I would give anything to go back to less responsibility and a less complicated life...

Children have it made in the shade, but as I did, they all want to grow up too fast...

I am grown....and  "it's not all what it's cracked up to be people"  LOL

Enjoy life!!! 

And take a little time to reflect back

Me today

America' s Next Top Model...

Well maybe not!  But I think I look beautiful...

I have always felt that my eyes and cheekbones are my best features...

I really favor my grandmother on this picture and she was Native American, and that is where my facial structure comes from...

the slanty eyes....I have no Idea...

All I know is my mom said when I was born an Asian man, was pointing to the glass and talking in his own language.  He was pointing at me....LOL  He was smiling and showing me off to his family.   My mom said she walked over to him and says " I don't know what you are saying, but  that little girl right there is MINE....

funny story, but really true...

I have been having so much fun with this Mac...

Love all the things I can do in Iphoto...better than Photoshop, well not really, but a whole lot easier....

I went to Mike's today in search of the new border punches by Martha Stewart..  There were three I wanted, because of this post on twopeas.   I was only able to get two.  The other one was not there.

I got the doily lace and embossed zigzag.   The one that looked like the fiskars treading water punch was not in stock.  Boohoo!  Because I had 3 50% off coupons to Michaels!!!  Bummer.  I ended up giving one to a lady in line with me, she was buying a MM embellishment center.  She was so thankful!!!  So I did help a fellow scrapper out!!! LOL

I bought some new chalk markers by CHALK INK, can't wait to try them.  It comes in a pack of 4 and I got two white, one black and one red, you know I am always on the prowl for different white pens....

We went to Verizon Wireless, because the Envy 2 just came out, and I went to look at it....I like my phone better, but guess who came home with a new phone....Baptiste!!!!  He just had to try to do me in....we are so competitive....LOL.

But my IMAC is waaaaaaaaaay better then his Macbook!!!  Plus I have Leopard to his Tiger...Now take that Baptiste

To000-shay!!

LOL

UNtil next time...

It's Friday baby.....

and you know that means...

It's time to throw it back...
Ok, I was in my car and this song came on yesterday and I about lost my mind.

The kids thought I was NUTS...

They just don't understand, my JODECI ADDICTION...

I was sooooooooooooo in love with Devantae Swing...

Yes, I was a groupie...
I think I went to every single concert from Chicago to Indiana...

Yes, I was a HUGE fan of Jodeci....even froggy aka KC

I just close my eyes and feel their music...

And this was on HEAVY ROTATION in my Toyota Corolla when I was 19 years old....LOL

But who didn't LOVE JODECI????

Today, I am going to work out!!!!! I have been so dedicated to getting in shape. I have a ways to go, but I am determined!!!!

I can't wait until I lose these final 30 lbs!!!! Once those are gone, I will be tooo hot to trot...LOL

Well gotta go, I have so much to get done today.

Until next time

Life before internet

One of the blog challenges on yesterday was: What did you do before internet.

Awesome challenge..

I came to the conclusion that everything I did before internet, I still enjoy doing now..

One thing that I don't do as much is handwritten letters, because of email. I used to write friends and family all the time. I still do, but not nearly as much!

I still enjoy going to the library ....
I still will look up things in Encyclopedias and books...
I make my children do this too...
The internet is too easy, so I challenge them to look things up the old fashioned way as well as using the internet...

An example of that, would be, Jariel had to do a report on the Komodo Dragon. I allowed internet, but I still made him use 3 more sources for his research.

I do think that things have become less personal since the internet..

We have become a "click of the button" society.

I enjoyed life before internet..

I listened to the radio, played video games, enjoyed playing outside, I had pen pals, watched televison, enjoyed going to the movies, and I still do all of that now...

The internet has made things less complex..
If I miss a televison show, I can watch it online, don't have to wait for reruns....LOL

If I need to find an address or how to get some where, I can mapquest. even though I have gps on my cell phone.....

I can find out the latest news, without waiting to watch the news..

It has it's perks, but it has not stopped me from doing anything that I normally would have been doing otherwise...

Until next time

It's Wednesday and I have lots to say...

Meet the newest member of the Brooks Family....NIBBLES!!! Jaree the animal lover, wanted a guniea pig for her birthday and since she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, her wish is his command.

She reminds me of that little girl on the Wild Thornberry's!!!! She loves animals!!!


Ugh....it looks like a furry rat to me!!! But she's just a baby! She will get much bigger!!! Jaree lets her crawl all over her. I couldn't do it! LOL

Finally my Romantical kit came in from Scrap in Style. I love everything in this kit....Though light! I love it!!! Love those hambly silhouette rubons...


Cute glitter

Love the lace ribbons and pearl hat pins

Loving the black board chipboard letters

Look at the cute key

Individual shots of each piece of paper, we got 2 sheets of each




This is by far my favorite piece...Love that vintage couch in the left corner


Here is the kit as a whole! I love it!!

My order came in from Just let me scrapbook and here are my Tim Holtz crackle paints in all of its glory, bought doubles of each color

More Hambly....



Had to get these Hero ARt tree stamps after seeing an Article in Creating Keepsakes...
I got some Jenni Bowlin stuff too, don't know why I didn't take pics, but it was just some tickets, some journaling rubons, and some shaped journaling cards...
Oops found the pic, it was at the end I just cut and pasted it up here...Can you see the tickets and the journaling cards and rubons??? This was not a good pic!!

Finally some some pics of the kids in their Ed Hardy

Bee is so in love with himself....He said mom don't forget to get a pic of my fresh Mikes (aka Air jordan gym shoes, he is soooooooooo vain)


Jaree didn't want to cooperate, and I was in no mood to fight, but you have a small glimpse of her jacket




Jariel was soooo full of his self on this day baby. He thought he looked so good. The kids went to my little cousin birthday party and baby he thought he was the FRESHEST thing there. He was!!! LOL

He told me to make sure I got the J'S too! that's slang for Jordans in this case "Jordan ones"

He likes the back of his jacket, can you tell?


Bee with his good friend Andrew

And last but not least MOM!!! My mom looks damn good for 64 years old doesn't she!!! We look so much alike it's frightening. I tell my dad all the time "you have NO GENES"....lol I did get his long finger, his toes, and his curly hair!!!

Yesterday, I got a chance to swing by Borders...I picked up the latest copies of Scrapbook Etc and Simple Scrapbooks. I already bought the latest CK. I was in search of the latest copy of the Artful Blogger, but was unsuccessful. Guess I will have to try next week!!!!

Today, I have to get some laundry and cleaning done. I told dh to take the power cord to my IMAC with him and bring it home on lunch and here I am on my dell!!! I have to stay away from the computer!!! I have to clean my room, mop all floors and wash 4 loads of laundry...

All because of that dang blasted IMAC!!!

And guess what , I can't wait until 1pm, so I can get my power cord!
I am pathetic! LOL

Until next time!!

First video blog

I am so in love with my mac!!!

Happy Monday!!!!

Wow,

I had a VERY FULL weekend!

Let's see, Friday was Miss Jaree's birthday!  She celebrated 9 years on this earth.   We didn't do anything big, we just took her out to eat and we are doing something Saturday with the family.

Didn't go to the club with Baptiste, because Miss Jaree says "Mommy are you going with daddy tonight?"  I said "Do you want me to go?"  She says "Ugh, Mommy isn't today April 18th?"  I said "So, because it's your birthday you don't want me to go out?"  She says "No, but Mommy's are supposed to know that?"  

CHECK MATE!! LOL

Saturday, we were SUPPPOOOOOOSSSSED to meet up with my cousins because they couldn't make it to my mom's birthday celebration.  But, my sister got stuck in traffic (so she says) for 3 hours and made us miss our reservations....and she never called my cousins, so they were there waiting all that time, and when we called ....they were less than thrilled and said "we are going to have to reschedule".  

Mom was PISSSSSEEEEEEED!!!!  Because she was on time! I don't know what the hell my sister was doing and we will never find out....LOL

So the day was not a total loss, I took mom to Red Lobster.  It wasn't  Pappadeux 's, but it was still good!

Later that day, I went to my cousin Tonya's house to drop the kids off for her daughter Keyah's birthday party.  I was suppppoooosssed to just be dropping the kids off and my mom and I stayed!  Mom left before dark, but I stayed until 1am!!   We had a ball!  All the girls were present.  I have 17 female cousins who are all in the same age bracket.  We are VERY CLOSE!   Like sisters, instead of cousins, close.   

When we were young, we all lived in the same vicinity.  Actually 9 of us lived on the same exact block and the others were 5 minutes away.  Walking distance.  So needless to say, WE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS growing up.  It was too many of us...

My grandmother's last name is Kennedy.  So we were dubbed the "Kennedy Killers".  In my youth,  I had a really quick temper and was a real hot head and got into numerous fights.  Mainly, because my brother Marcus would 'KILL' me if I ever backed down and my sister Tracy wasn't short stopping....LOL

People learned really fast to leave me alone....LOL

I was NEVFR  a bully and I despise bullies.  Children are CRUEL.  

They try to find anyway they can to break you down, and they used to always pick on me about my height and my butt!   I am short and I have a really big butt....

And even as a child, it was big, so I used to get teased all the time...

I used to see red when I was called "an AFRICAN booty scratcher ......

silly but  it really made me upset....LOL

Anyway, we had a very good time. We talked.  We got our grown and sexy on, and I was feeling no pain, when I left.  

Baptiste didn't stay, so he picked me and all the kids up...

Sunday, was kinda a slow, but I like slow....LOL

Got up late, went to the gym.  Worked out for an hour.  Then we went to have lunch.  I came home and just sat outside for a minute enjoying our 74 degree weather, you know that aint going to last long.....LOL  Not in Chicago!!!!  

I had to shampoo,condition, blow dry, and braid Jaree's hair! Ugh!  I hate to comb hair!  Maybe because Jaree STILL does not know how to sit still.   I am on the verge of a NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, every time I get in that girl's head ....LOL

Today, I am going to sit back relax and enjoy my day.  I am waiting on two packages.

One from Justletmescrapbook and the other from Scrapinstyle Boutique (Romantical kit).  I will be stalking the mail man!!!  

I have been working feverishly in my INSPIRATION journal.  I got the idea from Kelli Crowe!!  I clip unique color combinations from different ads in magazines like Vogue, Cosmo, even sales ads and then I try them in a layout.  It's really helpful!!!  

I am a magazine serial killer ....a magazine mutilator....LOL

It's fun and therapeutic...

Today I am going to get some scrapping done..

Don't have much to clean, because the kids and I did all the major stuff last night, before bed!

Waking up to a clean house is soooooooo rewarding!!! 

Now I can just sit back, relax, and get my scrap on....

Until next time

I am so in love....

......With my new Mac!!!!

Curiosity killed the cat and fantabulous mail day..

 

So, we have been searching for the Nintendo Wii since last Christmas....

Make a long story short, we finally found it!!!  Baptiste called Gamestop and she said, we have only 10 and we cannot hold them.  We were all the way in Orland Park, and we had to go all the way back to Country Club Hills, its not really far...but Wii's have been known to sell out within the first 30 minutes...

Baptiste floored it all the way there and I hopped out of the car as it was rolling and ran in to get the Wii....there were only 2 left!!!  I felt so triumphant....LOL 

Here is a funny pic of Baptiste playing bowling, I so whooped his butt!!!

Here is where the curiosity comes in... We had previously checked the Orland Park Best Buy to see if they had any Wii's,  and it's right next to Archivers, I decided to look in and see what they had.  I had promised myself to only spend the money I made for doing a survery and that was $100.  Why can't I ever stick to plan... Came home with all of this stuff, which, in my mind was 100 dollars worth of product, boy was I way off...like add another 157 dollars more off....LOL  I love these journaling cards, they are so cute...they are by Teresa Collins

I just had to get that opaque white ink pad, and all those embellishments....that is where it got expensive...because I got 5 sets of acrylic stamps at 14.99 a pop...

fell in love with these acrylic date stamps by 7 gypsies...also got another set called journey. I am always on the prowl for new white gel pens and came across something called souffle...haven't tried them yet, but will let you know if they are good....lol

 I love the whole noteworthy line and thought I had bought everything in the line until I saw those cute embellies...

The notepads are from Making Memories too, but they are the new line for baby girls and boys

I had to get all of the new Making Memories papers, and also the new Fancy Pants line, love the new transparencies....more embellies

  When i got home the doorbell rang and had two very special delieveries for me from fed ex....One my April Kotm from Lisa Bearnson....

AAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNND!

 AND THIS BOX!!!!



YOU GUESSED IT, MY BRAND NEW IMAC BABY!!!!!!!  

I am sooooooooo happy!  I have been converted into a MAC HEAD!!!!

Well, I gotta go play with all of my new goodies...

I hope to see you real soon, but if not, know I am playing with all of my new goodies...

Untill next time