Hello!

I finally created something!  Thanks to my girls via the virtual crop who inspired me to make something.  I have an Oscar like speech but I’ll spare yah.

A little bit about this layout…. so Kathy is my only other Asian friend in town.  I’m sure there are lots out there (especially at Sarasota Memorial) but she’s the only one I hang with and boy do I love that girl.  So creative too!!  I chose to create an 8 1/2 x 11 layout because the lovely and ever so talented Clouds Shadler inspired me.   Honestly I prefer it over 12 x 12 now.   I didn’t feel like I had to fill up the massive space.   Plus I just love the shape.  So Clouds..thank you…mwah!  The ginormous doiley is an overlay from Hambly that I purchased from twopeas.  Amazing isnt it??

So while I was editing these pics… Amir was cracking up to some very obnoxious noises.  He just downloaded a new app on his IPad… wait for it…. “Fart Cushion”.   I won’t lie…. we laughed hysterically for the next couple of minutes.

BTW I’m starting something new…. everyday whether I post or not… I’m going to challenge myself to find 5 things I’m grateful for during my day.  So what about you?  Want to join my challenge?  You don’t win anything but you slowly build a happier life and appreciation for even the littlest things.  See mine below…..

cardstock: su kraft, su very vanilla
paper: pink paisley, fancy pants
overlay: hambly
tape: washi tape from etsy
letters: ac thickers, addornit
stamp: unity KOTM, hero arts
ink: pti black, pti dark brown
punch: fiskars
typewriter: local thrift store

Mwah,

5 Things I’m Grateful for Today:
1.) The weekend break that left me rejuvinated 2.) Fart Cushion App 3.) Ms. Philippines making Top 5 4.) For my friends RSVPing to my bday 5.) Amir buying me Panera for dinner

Happy Friday!!!  Yey the weekend is almost here!

Ok so my friend Michala will probably disown me after she see’s this.  But here’s the deal.  I love showing the true side of people.  The good, bad & hilarious!!!    I’m by no means a photographer.  I would just like to know how to use my expensive camera and lenses and take awesome pictures of my life…friends included.

I look at photog blogs everyday and I save pictures upon pictures of images I love.  I love Ali Edwards and how she depicts her family’s life.  Its so real it’s as if I’m in her house when I see them.  Karen Russel….wow If i ever learn how to take photojournalistic shots like she does of her family…..I will never ask for anything else in this lifetime (with the exception of the hermes vert anis birkin 35cm bag…haha).  Sarah Rhoads…I love how I can almost feel what the subjects are feeling in her images.  Apertura…. those two guys are amazing.  The drama, the lighting, editing, style etc etc (I could go on and on about them) are so original and out of this world.  I can’t even wrap my brain around how those two think.  I’m sure you all have seen Mac’s work…. Ashley and Mac’s images are breathtaking.  Natural talent!!! Every time I see pictures from Boldlifetyle I always feel like I’m looking at a fashion spread.  Oh and Amelia Lyon and Jasmine Starr….. holy crap their compositions and creativity…blows my freakin’ mind away!!!  I love and admire these photographers (and many more) and hope that one day I too can be just as great as they are.  Hopefully leave a mark one day.

But anyway….. my point is that…I’m drawn to the wacky side of things.  In everything that I do…I hate taking things so seriously.  Life is so short…I don’t ever want to omit a thing.  What makes me laugh about my husband, thats what i want to remember…and same goes with my friends.  The little things in life that we cherish…. like the way my dog sleeps… all contorted and stuff…i love that.  Amir sleeps with his mouth open… I’m sure he will argue that he looks like an idiot… but I love it!!!

So in this layout I highlighted the different faces of Michala.  I mean I went through all of the images I had from that night and all I had from her was the different faces she was making…. intentional and unintentional.   Again… I LOVE THEM.  To me this is why we are friends.  If she was normal… I think I would have already ditched her.  Hahahah!

I guess the way I view it… we only live once … why strive to be normal?  That’s too boring.  I say strive to be different!!!

BTW she was dancing to MC Hammer’s Hammer Time in the B/W images.  Hahahah!!!

happy 27th
paper: making memories & my minds eye
embellishment: american crafts dear lizzy
misc: uniball white gel pen

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  Well crap I think I just realized my style in photography…. the side that people usually don’t like to show! I’m striving to be different again…. why am I such a rebel? Why?

hello!  Part 2 of 3 new layouts from my friend Alyssa’s bday.  So after Ceviche we all wanted ice cream so we headed to the nearest Coldstone.  So PV (pre vegan) I used to order the strawberry ice cream with strawberries & choco chips….with extra chips.  I loved their chocolate chips… they weren’t the chunky type they used the mini kind.  soooo good!  So that night I ordered the sorbet… i think it was either raspberry or strawberry.

Again…awesome expression Amir!  I can always count on my husband never smiling!  Love Alyssa’s shot…. both pictures in this layout!  Hahahha!

That’s my girl!!  I can only be surrounded by people that can eat.  Weird I turned Vegan…. hey I still eat alot.  More than I ever had!!!

PS:  I scraplifted the way the pictures are laid out on this layout.  I’m sorry I don’t remember where I saw it.  But I still wanted to say that I took that Idea from another scrapbooker out there.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

bday ice cream
cardstock: su kraft
paper: american crafts dear lizzy & botanique
stickers: studio calico & october afternoon
rubon: studio calico & lilybee
letters: ac thickers

punches: fiskars upper crest
misc: stitching using brother sewing machine

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  restaurant’s realizing that serving organic clean food is good for business…. meaning i and all other vegan peeps will continue to visit.

I changed the above pic to this new one…. the other one sucked!!

Hello!

I finally got some layouts finished last weekend.  So for the next 3 days you are going to see pics of my friend Alyssa’s bday dinner at Ceviche.  Yum!  Lots of vegan friendly dishes too.  But that another post.

Don’t cha just love the maya road envelopes?  I opened up the sucker and used it like it was just another paper.  Everything else is AC Dear Lizzy.  Cute cute line!  I don’t even think it matched the colors on my pictures but really I didn’t care… I just wanted to finally use it.    I’ve been hoarding them and I really don’t want to end up on the AEN show.

I love that picture of Matt and Alyssa!  And I love my typewriter…. just sucks that it doesn’t have a backspace button that I can use when I spell something wrong or forget to hit the space bar!

See yah tomorrow!!

happy 27th
cardstock: su soft suede
paper: american crafts dear lizzy
embellishment: american crafts dear lizzy
stickers: studio calico & october afternoon
envelope: maya road
misc: typewritter from the thrift store

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  My gym buddy Michala.  She kept going because she didn’t want to disappoint me…. I kept going cause I was thinking the same thing.  I’m not thankful for the step climber though included in the circuit training…Im skipping that!

Finally finished our wedding album!!!!  Yey!!!

I was aiming to get this completed before our 6 year (dating) anniversary in June.  I’m weeks ahead of schedule!  I’ve been working so hard on this.  Hopefully Amir will like it.  I just placed my shutterfly order and I’m looking forward to seeing what it looks like in person.

This album was 3 years in the making.  Then I started over again in January of this year.  My photoshop skills have are much better now than before.  My style has also changed . . . I scrapped the scrappy look and went for a more minimalist design.

Let me know what you think.  Major post processing skills went into this as I wasn’t too happy with the photographers work.  Please ignore my upside down ring.  :)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  Terry!  For giving us scrappers a 2nd home to scrap (or digi scrap) our hearts out.  I’m so grateful for you my friend!!!!

Hey there!

I finally got to do some crafting today.  This is the first layout I’ve done since November 2009.  I went home early from work….530pm…thats early for me trust me.  A co-worker said that he was shocked I was taking a half day.  Hahah!

So today I wanted to talk about how I finally decided to become a vegan.  I’ve been “flirting” with the idea for sometime now.  I’ve always wanted to eat healthy and be healthy but I just didn’t know how to do it.  Plus I’ve always struggled with my weight… I could never maintain a weight that I was happy with.  I think a lot of people can relate with me on this.  My weight always would go up…up…up then I’d freak out and then lose weight.  Then gain it again.  I was such a yoyo dieter.

I’ve done every diet that you can think of…. and nothing worked.  I just wanted to reach a weight that I was happy with…. still eat good and tasty food that I enjoyed and not gain the weight back.  I just love food sooo much.  Mostly the bad kind though.

So last March I stumbled upon a book that caught my attention… I saw Alicia Silverstone on the cover.  I picked up “The Kind Diet” and started reading it.  2 hours later I figured…ok time to buy this thing.  I read the book in a day and a half.  I was intrigued by it and loved how Alicia made it so easy to understand.  After reading the book I really felt like I could do this.  I also loved how she described the food and how enthusiastic she was about being a vegan/macrobiotic.

I’ve been a vegan for almost 2 months now.  All I can say is that I love it.  I wish I started earlier.  I eat whenever I’m hungry and I have not gained weight since I started.  In fact I’m actually losing some weight without any kind of effort.  I’ve lost about 3 lbs so far.  Oh and I’m eating carbs.  I love carbs…. but the good kind though like brown rice, barley and quinoa my favorite.  More on that in a later post.  But for me the biggest difference that I feel is when I wake up in the morning.  I don’t feel sluggish anymore.  I wake up with so much energy.  Also (warning….this might be TMI for you) ever since I was 8 I’ve always had trouble digesting food and as I got older I became so dependent on using Tums too.  I could eat about 6 or more of those things in day.  It was so bad.  But for the last two months I havent had any issues digesting my food and best of all I havent had Tums either.  It’s so strange and amazing.  Who knew that eating good, clean and organic plant based food would fix all of my problems.

Just know that I’m not an expert.  I continue to read about this everyday.  I hang out every now and then at bookstores to read about it and search for cookbooks.  I stalk Alicia’s blog and forum as much as I can.  Everyday I just seek to learn more about this.  My ultimate goal is to know what I put in my body.  My rule of thumb “if you don’t understand the ingredients, then don’t eat it.”  Also I’m cooking more now and making sure that I buy organic vegetables from our local farmers market here in Downtown Sarasota and Whole Foods.  I know you’re thinking organic? Expensive!  Not necessarily.  I believe that it is all relative.  Some things are inexpensive and some things are a bit pricey.  But all in all I’ve noticed that I’m paying a bit less in groceries now compared to before.

If you have any questions for me feel free to leave me a comment.  I’ll try to help you as much as I can!!!!

BTW off the vegan topic… I purchased a typewriter at a local thrift store for $20.  It was in such good shape.  I was so happy to get it and I just purchased the ribbon online.  I love it!  I hate my handwriting so …. I see typewritten journals in my future.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Im Vegan
cardstock: su kraft
paper: american crafts dear lizzy and botanique
embellishment: american crafts frames & thickers
rub-on: studio calico
misc: manila tag from office depot

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  Amir…. he’s doing so much for me!  I really appreciate him and miss using my left thumb.  I’ll post about this tomorrow!  Don’t worry I still have a thumb.

Hello!!!

Just finished doing some work.  Currently watching Teen Mom.  Have you guys seen that show?  Its a spin off of 16 and Pregnant.  I’m addicted for some reason.  Random I know.  It’s pretty late but I felt like blogging.  I still have not had the chance to make anything.  But I did make some stuff during the holidays.  I made some necklaces for my co-workers in Charleston.  Totally inspired by Miss Ruby Sue over at Etsy.  Check em out. . .

Let me know what you think….feedbacks are always welcome.  I want to make more…. I’m thinking about joining the Etsy bandwagon if I do make these cute suckers.  Will you buy them???  Price range suggestions?

The Bridget:  I love the green on this cutie!!!

The Allesandra:  Plum….who doesnt love this color!!!

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  My new office!  I love the privacy!

Hello!  Hows everybody doing???  I’m home for my lunch break and I wanted to just post this and share my newest creation with you.  Isn’t this airplaine just freakin’ cute????

That airplaine stamp is from the Sept KOTM from Unity.  I used some yellow zing on the Hero Arts Background image.  The Navy blue cardstock is from SU and that matching ribbon is from Offray.  I’m so loving that Navy Blue color.  I have got to buy more!!!

BTW eeek I got picked as one of the top 6 for Embellish Magazines What’s hot Challenge I sent in this Owl Card.   Check out the others that got picked…they are so awesome too.

Ok gotta go now peace out!!!

cardstock: su navy, crushed curry, riding hood red
stamp: hero arts background stamp, unity sept kotm, pti mega mixed messages
ink: versa mark
embossing: zing
punch: fiskars upper crest
misc: offray ribbon, uniball white gel pen

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  Vegetarian Lasagna for lunch….I made it last night and it only has 300 calories!!!

Hello!!!  Happy Friday the 13th!!  Anybody out there dislike this day?  I guess i just treat this like any other day..maybe i like it more because its a Friday I dont know.  So I’m still here in Jacksonville.  But this is my last day here and we are heading out this afternoon to go back home to hot and humid Sarasota.  I’m crossing my fingers its cold there right now like it is up here.  I’m loving it so much.

Last night was fun…. got to hang out with everyone and we ate at a seafood place.  I forgot the name… but it was awesome.  I always like the last night out of town because its when everyone lets their hair down and just enjoy each others company.  Like I told my GM (who was wearing jeans…rather than his usually dress pants)…. he looked human.  Hahahahah!!  He got a good laugh out of that.  It’s also pretty cool how we all just talk normal….different from the usual corporate demeanor.  Anybody else out there work for Corporate America like I do?  Do you feel the same way??   I also love the bonding time I get to have with my team…face to face rather than over the phone.  We’re pretty lucky that our department gets to see each other at least twice a year.

Anywhoo…. ok about my card.  Tricia if you are reading this…. this is what you are going to get in the mail as soon as I get back.  Sorry it’s not a surprise anymore.  But I just had to share it.  Trust me it will be better in person.  On this card I used a hero arts background stamp and PTI’s new giga basics.  Finally i got to use a Christmas gift from Julie last year.  My Martha Stewart glitter.  I have the 30 pack.  i think it came out great and the image wasn’t compromised at all.  The glue pad is awesome!!!

A little background about Tricia.  She is a newly wed, a fellow blogger friend and a friend.  Love her to death.  We have so much in common.  Check out her blog HERE.  On my sidebar you can find her under Tricia Blanco.  She is an awesome cardmaker and scrapbooker too!!!

Talk to you all soon!!!  Have an awesome day!!

cardstock: su kraft, pti dark brown & rustic cream
stamp: pti scattered showers & giga basics, hero arts background stamp
ink: versa mark, marth stewart glue pad, pti dark brown
punch: fiskars lace
misc: kaiser craft pearls. martha stewart glitter, twine from walmart

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  the last night out of town with my team and the rest of my coworkers across our region.  good times…good memories  I’m thankful I got to know you all better!!!

Hi!  Greetings from Jacksonville, FL.  Great day today…. I’m with all of the Managers in my region and with the Geek Squad …my fellow research team.  Fun fun fun!!!  just got back from dinner.  We ate at a place called Wasabi… hibachi style food.  The chef squirted a bottle of ketchup on me… but it was fake.  Just weird brown cloth like stuff came out.  He got me good because I shrieked.  Haha!!

I’m a tad bit tired here.. it’s been a long but fun day.  So I’ll  get right to the point.  I used Nutmeg from Cosmo Cricket once again These are actually the same strips from my card yesterday.  I wanted to reuse the leftovers.  The “hi” was from one of the sheets with several journal cards on them.  I saw the hi and loved it so I cut it out and designed the card around it.

Ok that’s it from me today.  Hope everyone is doing good!!!

cardstock: su soft suade, pti rustic cream

paper: cosmo cricket nutmeg

punch: fiskars lace, we r memory makers corner chomper

pti: button

misc: twine from walmart

Mwah,

Today I’m Grateful for:  my job and the people I work with.  They are all so wonderful.  I’m pretty lucky!!!