Wow, isn't life grand!!!!!!

The party was a success!!!!

Alyssa was beautiful, the food was great, the kids had a blast and we are exhausted.

Yup, life is grand.

Every little girl should have a dress like this and have a party to celebrate her life. Our family is truly blessed with an amazing group of people. We are BLESSED!!!! I also want to thank everyone who left a comment for Alyssa, she was so funny picking the person for the RAK. We assigned numbers to all the names and Ms. Alyssa picked the number...it was really cute, you would actually think she was making the biggest decision of her life...too cute peeps. SO THE WINNER FOR THE RAK IS:

Michelle P.

Just let me know when/how you want your RAK. Thank you all for playing. Your comments were very sweet. I appreciate it.

I have a busy week as I am getting ready for the annual Christmas Crop, Holiday programs, dinners, outings, shopping sprees, and of course the decorating. I love this season. It's all good. I wish you all a happy Tuesday and hope you are all enjoying the Season.

HUGS

disclaimer: I so stole this picture from Margie's blog...why download mine when hers are so good? HE, HEE, HE, HA!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!!!!

My beautiful niece Alyssa is 5 today. This little princess is a doll. She is soooooo smart, and is a really cutie. She is amazing.....she really is. She brings joy to all of us and we are so very proud she is our little princess. It is such a great day that I am in the mood for another RAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go on over and visit her mommy's blog here, leave Alyssa a comment and on Saturday (when we celebrate Alyssa's party, she can pick out a name....oh, how fun is that. (You have until SATURDAY 10PM TO LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE BLOG!!!)

(PS: I SOOOOOO STOLE THIS PICTURE FROM MARGIE'S BLOG...HEE, HEE, HEE, LOL!!!)
HAPPY THURSDAY!
HUGS

December 2 already!!!!! Whoo HOOO!!!

Ok, I am really excited that it is Christmas time. I can not wait for all these big events coming up. I am soooooooooo exited. ONe thing I have learned to do is: NOT STRESS during this SEASON!!!!! It is one of the most beautiful times of the year and many of us tend to miss and skip out on some major moments because we are so worried if the tree is perfect, the lights are up, the decorating is done, the shopping is complete. I believe the whole point of the season is to enjoy it!!!! There is a great deal of hustle and bustle during this season, but who cares if you put the lights up the NIGHT BEFORE Christmas....Oh my...what a thought.....LOL...maybe I can get RIos to do that for me this year!!!! LOL...REALLY HARD HERE!!!! Hey honey if you are reading this...the night before Christmas is REALLY NOT TOO LATE!!!!! LOL
Anyway, on this second day of December I am planning on helping out a friend and going to put up my tree tonight. I shall post a pic tomorrow. I am enjoying every day as it comes, because the days are passing by quickly. I am Enjoying the moment.

I had a really hard decision to make, but I had to make one.

The winner of the 4 week submission is:

Sharon Martinelli
Here are her entries:

Submission #1: "Beautiful"

Submission #2: "You make me"

Submission #3: "I am thankful for:"

Submission #4: "I THINK" Sharon: Your basket of goodies is waiting for you here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please call me or email me so I can get your goodies out to you.

Thank you all for participating. I had some amazing entries but unfortunately they were not able to qualify in the end because they did not submit all four assignments!!!! I will be posting the works of everyone who gave me permission to post their work by the end of this week!

Enjoy your day!!!!

HUGS

Wow...it's December 1st!!!!!!!!

I have so many pics to share but it's going to take me a bit to download, so I promise to give you an overload of pics by Wednesday. We had a fantastic Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend.
Now we begin the Holiday Season....WHOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I love this Season. I have begun by getting some serious decorating started here. I went shopping with my buddy Ady on Black Friday....what fun!!!! I had to leave early as my family went camping this weekend but I was able to find some major deals. So glad my buddy and I have this tradition. Too much good stuff going on ... lol.

Tim Holtz has begun another 12 days of Christmas Tags. Isn't this beautiful? Check out his blog as he will be making another set this year. He is truly a great teacher and you will find some great teaching sessions there.

I have begun my 31 days of December album and am so looking forward to finishing this project. (I will share as I go along). I am so excited!!!! In the spirit of the holidays, I will be hosting the holiday annual sale Friday and Saturday. EVERYTHING is 40% off in the PINK ROOM!!!! All merchandise will be available on a first come first serve basis.

The Christmas crop will be held on December 13, 2008. I have 2 spots available.

I have 8 different classes going on December the 20th, and will be sending the schedule via email.

Well gotta go as I got to go and shop for a very special gift today. I hope you all have a fantastic day and I promise to share some great pics with all of you soon.

Have a great day!

HUGS

HELLO my friends....

Wow, I really did not realize how long it's been since I last blogged. The truth is that I was so busy in Ohio and did not have access to online service at times, so it was a bit difficult to blog. I am back home safe and busy. I have so much to share but will kind of skim over some stuff for today. I have 9 kits available and will post an actual picture of the kit tomorrow. I am very sad, but it seems that something went very wrong with my camera and I have seemed to have lost ALL MY pictures from OHIO...(SAD...VERY SAD HERE GIRLS!!!!)
(I so stole this pic from Trish's blog!!!!!) Go check out here blog here. She really has one of the coolest blogs around...she updates almost every single day!!!!!! BLOGGER HEAVEN...he,hee,ha.

I had a fantastic time in Ohio. Met some wonderful ladies and Trish Turay is the bomb. I can not say enough nice things about my friend there.
Here are my buddies: Vanessa, Ady, Trish and me...YES I CHOPPED OFF MY HAIR!!!! LOL!!! ALL (10 INCHES ...YUP... ALL GONE)

Here is the famous turkey....the one I keep teaching over, and over and over...that's it guys....it's retired. If you want one, you can get one here. I think you can purchase whatever class kits were left over also from the Retreat. I loved my classes and am so glad I made the trip. She has some of the coolest banners and SUPER CHEAP...I mean GREAT PRICES!!!! LOL.

I am trying to figure out the camera problem, get a root canal done, finish UNPACKING, get the kits together, get ready for the 4 classes coming up this weekend, get ready for the Christmas crop and unpack 17 boxes of merchandise!!!!!!! YIKES!!! I am sooooooo tired....so what else is new right?
I know I have some pending stuff with many of you. I will post the winner and pics some time before Saturday...I am trying.

Well I've got to go as I am heading out to the camera people to see if they can perform a miracle.
HUGS

Top of the Morning to ya'!!!!

Ok...it's Tuesday morning, and I have been up since 3:15am. I tell you girls. I love trips!!! NOT!!! Really. I am a horrible flyer ok...passenger...(I feel like I'm flying) and a worse scrapper. LOL...hee,hee,hee. This cracks me up as I even write this...(the scrapper part)..you see I have been teaching Scrapbooking classes to thousands of women for over 14 years and I love to teach. Yet, when it comes to me sitting down and going to a crop, well now, that is just a different story. I just love to hang with my peeps, eat, talk, laugh, we even have some of the most deep, philosophical discussions at these crops. The truth is that I love to create. It's the process of organizing all my STUFFESSES to get to the crop that kills me.

I am heading of to OHIO. I am going to the wonderfully talented WIP CHICK (aka) Trish Turay's Weekend Crop. I am so looking forward to this event as Trish is really one of the nicest ladies out there. I promise to post. I do...even with pics..that's for you Michelle P.!!!!

Well I've got to go, as I have to leave at 10am and I still have not packed. LOL

Please pray for me. I really do not like the plane thingy magigy. I mean the plane is fine, the pilot is fine...but after 9/11...I had to get on a plane 4 days after and I tell you gang...it has never been the same for me...so a prayer will absolutely be appreciated.

YOu all have a fantastic happy Tuesday.

HUGS

Family............

I have woken up today, with such an immense feeling of gratitude. I am so very blessed. The truth is that I live for my family. I have the most amazing family in the world. They ground me, keep me in check, in balance and bring joy, laughter and peace to my life. (They also drive me totally insane, can make me angrier than any other peeps out there, and can complicate my life like no one else!!!)

Isn't that the same for everyone? But I digress. Today it's all about MY FAMILY:

Mom and dad: What can I say? These two did the most amazing job in raising five kids.
DAD: was the quiet one, who imparted wisdom and spiritual guidance in each and every one of us. HE would punish you and then within the hour would call you, sit you in his lap and tell you he loved you and why he punished the living noogies out of you. Yup, that's my daddy. His family is the most important thing in the world. No doubts about it. We are the most cherished part of his life. He is still the most forgiving person I know in this world. (I think I got a lot of that from him)...the amazing gift of forgiveness.
MOM: She transformed our home. She was the homemaker, the carpenter, the roofer, the cook the bus driver, the champion cheer leading captain of WHATEVER her kids got involved in. She is just the funniest woman in the world to me. She says the craziest things to us kids and to dad...well, I think it would be inappropriate for me to share the family secrets...he,hee,hee!!! She is hilarious and makes us crack up. Yet, in spite of all the fun she instilled in us, she taught us that family was the most important think in this life. Mom taught me to love. To love without conditions, without reservations, and with my whole heart. She loves my dad. NO matter WHAT!!! It hasn't been easy. She left her family and became one with dad, and build her own home. She build a foundation that has been impenetrable for 42 years. She loves like no one I know. (I got that from her)...the amazing gift of loving forever.
Richard: MY husband. Wow...what can I say. I can actually write a book on you my love. This is the man that makes me whole, makes me wonder at life and can make me the happiest woman in the world with one small kind act. I met Richard when I was 19. We met through church...It was instant for me. We talked on the phone for weeks before we finally met each other in person. He was amazing. I fell in love immediately. I was an innocent girl. HE was my first kiss, my first love. I knew he was the one for me. Today we celebrate 14 years of marriage. It has not been easy in any shape or form. BUt I can truthfully say that I love him more today than when I first met him. I have learned to forgive, to let go, to make do with what I have, to share to understand another point of view, to see more clearly, to be a partner, to stand alone at times and to come together at others. I have a lot more to learn with this man, but it is wonderful to know that HE HAS MY BACK!!!! as I HAVE HIS!!!! He is the sweetest man in the world (WHEN HE WANTS). He is not the most talkative, the most emotional giver or even the easiest, but my goodness, HE IS HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. I know that I can count on him to be here no matter what. He's a fantastic father and his skills as a husband have been fine tuned and getting better everyday...isn't that what it's all about? Growing old together? Yup...I've learned a lot from RIos. He's the love of my life.
I have 5 sisters and they are amazing. I have 2 children who give me a sense of worthiness. I have 5 nieces and nephews, 3 amazing uncles, 6 fantastic aunts, 12 fabulous cousins that I love with all my heart. Our family continues to grow. Today, I am off to church and then to go celebrate Abuela's 91st birthday. This is the family that she built.
Hug your families a little longer today. If you are close to them...YOU ARE BLESSED!
HUGS