New Motto for 2010

A Poem About Our Girlfriends

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it.
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
The most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
The richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the clothes might be lonely.
And the Word says, "If I have not Love , I am nothing." So, again, Love you.
Love who your are...
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
"I'm too blessed to be stressed,
And too Anointed to be Disappointed!"
Winners make things happen ~~ Losers let things happen!
Be "Blessed" Ladies and pass this on to encourage another woman.
To the World you might be one person , but to me You are SPECIAL!

New Year, New Resolutions

Well, it's took a while for me to find time to post but I've finally found it at 2:30AM in the morning. As most of you know, last year was a time of major changes and loses in my life. The biggest one being the lost of my best friend, hero and most important person in my life - my MOM. After a 13 month battle with Ovarian Cancer, this sweet lady closed her eyes to this world and opened them in the presences of our Lord. Everyday without her is a challenge but I am slowly getting a handle on how on what it's like to be the matriarch of the family. I'm even learning how to best handle my Dad and that one is a handful. I don't know how she did it all.

During the latter stages of her illness, I had to give up designing all together and left a few projects just sitting in a file on my computer to finished at a later date. Well with a new year I've finally got the mojo back to go back to these files and begin pulling them back out a little at a time to bring you more freebies. The first of these is a QP made out of the kit that is closest to being ready for release. It is from my Elegance Kit. I hope you like it. I plan on having a set of 4 QP's and maybe a set of Brag Book pages along with the Kit. Plans are to have the Kit go live the last week of the month.

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With this new kit and new year comes a new set of resolutions. While not has many as last year - which I did not keep even through I tried my best - these resolution are simply based on two words - Believe and Change. The dictionary defines Believe as to have confidence in the truth, the existence or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. That is a mouthful. Change is defined as to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone; to transform or convert. Another mouthful. So without further delay here are my resolutions.


1. To Believe in Myself - I am the perfect person God designed me to be. I do not have to make excuses for myself. I am fully capable of accomplishing anything I dream of. I may not be perfect but I am the Perfect ME.

2. While I am the Perfect ME. I can still change some things in my life. While I've learned that setting goals like I will loss 50 pounds this year normally lead to failure, I can keep moving forward. Rethink those goals and restate them. I can change my eating habits to ensure that my family eats a balanced healthy diet. I can change my lifestyle to include more activities in each day. And while change this way may be slow it will be change none the less.

Now for the 5 steps to a great new blog for 2010:

1. I will design at least one new kit every other month for a total of six new kits this year - more if you're lucky.

2. I will post something at least once per week including a freebie.

3. I will continue to hone my skills as a designer through classes and tuts.

4. I will continue to promote the designers I CT for each month here on my blog.

5. And finally while I do not have the time to thank you for your comments regarding my freebies, I am very appreciative and grateful for each download, especially those of you who come back time and time again.

Happy New Years

I know it's a little bit late but I've been stressing over my New Years Resolutions to create one layout per day (that's 365 this year) as well as scrap a pic a day, journal everyday, create at least one kit a month for you guys and at least one freebie per week. I'm starting a class on digital design later this month so maybe my kits will start improving. It is my sincere desire to become a full fledged designer by this time next year but it's a goal for the future - not one that has a deadline. Anyway about Resolutions, here's my top 10 in no particular order.

1) To scrap 365 layouts this year.

2) To blog at least twice a week.

3) To take at least one pic a day and journal that pic everyday.

4) To join at least one blog train a month - so I will create at least one kit/mini kit each month for you guys.

5) To produce at least one freebie a week for the blog.

6) To become debt free.

7) To go on another Cruise.

8) To lose 50 lbs.

9) To spend more quality time with my family.

10) To call a friend at least once a day and visit a friend at least twice a month.

I'm asking that you guys help keep me accountable with this. As part of creating one kit a month/joining one blog train per month, I've joined Twisted Convoys and will be uploading a Winter Convoy kit later month as well as a Valentine's Convoy. I'll keep you updated on these.

And here's a few layout's I've been working on since Christmas.

This was the last Christmas we spent with my grandparents on my mom's side. Although this is not the pic I wanted, it was all I had on my computer (scanner on the fritz). Papa is standing. Mama is in the blue. Aunt in middle. Journaling: Christmas 2005 was special to me because it was the last Christmas I would spend with both of my Grandparents. My Mama Lannie and Papa Horace were Special people and embodied the true meaning of Love for me. They were married for 74 years at their death and I believe my Papa loved my Mama more with each passing day. For as long as I can remember he brought her flowers every day, even if they were just wild flowers he found growing somewhere on the farm. When she got sick, he stood by her side everyday, even after he was diagnosed with cancer and the pain was more than most people could have stood. That last Christmas, we shared together as a family with all the siblings and cousins will by cherished in my heart forever. Papa passed away the following December 21 and Mama joined him in Heaven 7 days later. In the 74 years they had been together they had never been apart for more than 7 days and they would not be in death either. Amanda Thorderson Bordeaux Xmas paper and ribbon, Shawn Walters Taryn crystal heart (re-colored) - both available at Digitals and Digital Artist Guild December Member kit.

My grandson had been so good about not messing with the gifts until Christmas Eve. He just couldn't stand it any more and found his rubber boots in a gift bag under the tree and opened them. After that the neighbors brought him a present over and he was in heaven. He was so excited about getting open his gift. Nini's Notions AITF kit - available through Digitals.

What started out as a sketch challenge got flipped every which way to get this layout. I wanted to try some elements that looked real and thought this sketch was the perfect starting point. Pic is of Bryce the first time we turned the lights on the Christmas tree before any ornaments were put on. Credits go to Maddy Fernadez's Home for the Holiday kit (poinsettia paper, stardust, ribbon, card, ornaments) - available at Digitals, the Waterlo Project, and myself. This is my favorite one this Christmas.

Glenda's Wordart (I cut it up a bit to make it fit the ATC better and added some glitter), Amanda Thorderson's Christmas Cracker paper, Dede Smith's Nativity TearZ - all available at Digitals.

Pic of grandson getting ready to go to school one morning. Credits go to Amanda Thorderson's Falling into School - available at Digitals.

Pic of my daughter at 12 months.Credits go to Amanda Thorderson Nanny Garden - available at Digitals