Creative Memories

I started out with Creative Memories years ago. And for a while I was a consultant. I still use their albums and tools but had started to back away from their paper products. Well Creative Memories is making a turn in the business and soon they will have True 12x12 albums, refills and page protectors ( as a matter of fact they will be cranking out 12x12 sideloading pages later this year ). I can't wait to see all of the new products. Now if they would just create a couple of new CCS tools.

Cosmo Cricket

All I can say is wow! I love the blackboard albums and lots of the colorful papers and embellishments.

OK, so I have a sore throat, sneezing, water eyes, chills, runny nose and body ache (no fever). Which means I am in bed resting (well if you don't count the books and laptop at my feet...lol) so I have lots of time today to check out blogs, message boards, etc. So guess who is living my dream right now? Keisha Campbell....she lives about 10 minutes ( or miles) away from Heidi Swapp....so today she posted a sneak peak at some of Heidi's new products. Well that girl can turn anything into a beautiful page ( if you have never visited her blog you have to now). So just imagine what she has done with Heidi's products!

By the way , anyone have any home remedies they would like to suggest?

Heidi Love

Oh my goodness did you see the yummy papers by Heidi Swapp? I have to get my hands on some!

My Top Ten Winter CHA Favorites

So I have been so busy with life, and staying in Focus that I have been missing all of the hoopla about Winter CHA! So far I have seen a few of my favs coming out with some "must-haves" for my 2008 wish list ( Lifetimemoments always seems to have the best pics and reviews).

1) MM ( notice the layout by my friend Laura ?)
2) Technique Tuesday
3) The Crop-A-Dile Big Bite ( I am hoping eventually it will be in different colors ).
4) I would love to give the stitch rub on tape form Daisy D's a try.
5) And I have been drooling over the My Mind's Eye Paper ( can you ever go wrong with them?)
6) Now what ribbon lover do you know that will be able to resist the clear ribbon by Maya Road?
7) Three Bugs in A Rug has some cute paper that would look great in a beach layout.
8) I love the look of the albums and ribbon by American Craft that Monique posted on Scrap Etc.
9) So you all know how much I love tools. Well while surfing the web I found this by Glitz Designs. Should be interesting to see what the reviewers say about it.
10) And did you see this video from Cosmo Cricket (LOL) ?

Bonus: Cherry Arte Paper ( gorgeous)!

While we are talking scrapbooking. Just wanted to stop and congratulate two friends of mine who were recently picked to be DT Members for Heather P's new scrapbook kit. Congratulation's Melita and Virginia. I can't wait to see what you do with the products.

I Have A Dream (What's Your Dream) ?


Its been about two years since we last visited The Martin Luther King Memorial. As I watch the special by Oprah Winfrey " The Dream Lives" today I realize that we have come a long way, but that we still have a ways to go. I can't say that I am as strong or brave as those who have come before me. But this I do know..........if we don't learn to stand together ( all races ) , to show love one for another and to come up with ways to teach our children , and our children's children how to be sisters and brothers together then we shall all parish.

Dr. King talked about how alike we are more then we are different. His dream was that one day we would come together as a nation, as a people. At times we seem to get the message and then just like the wind,....its comes and then is gone. So many of us live in a world where we only come in contact with our "brother's and sister's" of various nationalities when we are at work. But on Sunday morning when we go off to church we are separate, when we gather with our friends to socialize we are separate. When we watch TV how often do we see "us" ( I mean African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, etc) together as one group hanging out together? I too have been guilty of this. And it saddens me because this was not the way I was raised or the way Marc and I raised our children.

Sometimes it just seems as if we get comfortable....to comfortable in our own little bubble...... and are not willing to seek out others that appear different from us (maybe because we have been hurt, or misguided or even because we have been just plain ignorant). How much longer will we judge each other by the color of our skin and not by the content of our character? Now I am not saying to just go out and befriend someone just because they may be of a different race, but the next time you are walking down the street look someone in their eye and smile, say hello. Or perhaps you are at an event....speak to someone you may have felt uncomfortable approaching before. Make it a point to show your children different cultures ( through festivals, heritage trips, etc) and not just your own. It starts at home and it can't be changed if we are not willing to change.

Do I think we are where we were 40 plus years ago? Of course not. Do I think we have room for improvement? Of course!

So what is my dream? My dream is that one day we will come together (all of God's children) and become one....free from bigotry, separation, hate, and discourse. Of course none of this can happen if we don't start to make a change in our hearts, in our minds and with our actions.

Snow Pics


So I had given up hope of seeing snow Saturday ( especially after half of my family and friends had called or emailed from far and wide about the snow they had) when around 12 midnight I just happen to look out the window before going to bed.

Some of it had started to accumulate on the shrubs.

And on the tree's and grass.

But by the morning this is all that was left.

Living With Purpose

So a lot has been going on since I last posted. The family is doing fine. Nicki has an agent now, and has been recording a few songs. Quisha is seeking to find a job out in the “Real World” and Marc's recovery is going very well ( he has been preaching every Sunday since the last week in December). TJ is still TJ ( he is even looking into going back to school in the fall……Hallelujah!).


I have started doing a daily devotional each morning. So I am re-reading the “Purpose Driven Life” again. Ever have a great idea and not follow through? Well that was me the first time I was introduced to the book, so this time around I plan to be more focused. I am also reading my “Daily Bread” and my girlfriend and I are signing up for the bible study series “Daniel” by Beth Moore. It’s on Wednesday mornings at my son’s church and I am really looking forward to this class. All of these things are being done in order to stay in “Focus” with God’s plans for my life.

I’m also getting smarter about how I organize my photos. Last week I finally moved them off of my laptop to an external drive and I am trying to print more pics out rather then leave them on my memory card. I plan to buy the new book by Stacy Julian ( isn't Addie just the cutest little baby) that is coming out and I also plan to buy some photobooks so that I can keep my photos more organized once they have been printed out (I love my Epson Photosmart printer, and can’t wait to give the new one a try). Speaking of photobooks did you see the photobook my friend Laura did? She totally convinced me to do this with my Hawaii photos (and maybe even with a few of my Disney Trips….gasp!)

Today I woke up ready to work on some projects that I have been putting off because of Marc’s illness. He is doing a lot better so today was to be my “Me” day. My sinuses were given me a fit and as I stepped away from my desk I was overcome by severe pain over the bridge of my nose. Not being able to take sinus medicine because of my hbp can be a real pain sometime. And so I have to sometimes just muddle through and focus my attention elsewhere. Marc had just come in from getting the mail and to my surprise there were two packages waiting for me. One was my free stamp from Inque Boutique and the other package from my favorite scrapbook store.

A few weeks ago Monique asked us to post our favorite layout from 2007. She then picked a random name from the bunch and it was me! Now, I know Mo probably didn't choose everything based on my favorite scrap products. But she did not do bad at all. Of course everyone knows I love Heidi Swapp products, but I am not sure anyone noticed that my Treasured Creations logo has a butterfly as a symbol (it’s also the symbol for the Minister’s Wives Organization I belong to). Now the crown goes without saying…..they don’t call me the Disney Queen for nothing (lol). The box was filled to the gills and I just had a great time sitting in my bed and pulling each item out. I can’t wait to use them. And I will be using them this year. No more hoarding for me (still in line with being focused).

Look at all of these goodies!


And I have been very productive in the last few days. You can look at my desk and tell I have been working on some projects. It has not been this messy in ages!

Well hope that holds you all for a while. I am trying to keep my internet exposure down a bit and be more active with God, Home, Family and Business. All of the while keeping my “Focus”.

So my word for this year is Focus :

- Focus on my relationship with God
- Focus on my Family
- Focus on my Business
- Focus on my Health
- Focus on Me

I got the idea when I saw the album that Noell did. I knew I wanted to do a word this year just as Ali suggested but nothing was coming to me, until Monique asked what our goals were this year. The more I thought about it the more I kept coming back to the same 5 things. Then I saw Noell's album and the word focus and I knew that was it. At times, the last few years have seemed like a blur. I am determined this year that it will be different and that I will actually focus on something and accomplish ( which for me means to finish ) what I set out to do. If I can get my act together I plan to create the album and fill it with thoughts and pictures each month pertaining to my 5 focus issues.

My Favorite Top Ten Layouts from 2007

My version of Heather Preckels Clipboard Album

Me at the Scrap Etc Event where I met Stacy J

A page I did for an album for my girlfriends daughter's graduation party

I love this page I did for a Valentines Album for Marc

I love the paper in this page.

My girls, I always love doing pages with them in it (lol).

This is the mini album I learned in Kristina Contes class. It gave me a fit because it was so far outside of my box, but in the end I made it my own and I loved the finished results.

These two mini albums ( Nicki's trip to DC and an album with some of my favorites in it ) came together way to easy. Plan to do a few more minis this year.

Cheryl posted 10 of her top favorites layouts from 2007. Thought I would participate and post my favorites. I didn't do as many layouts last year as I usually do ( plan to change that this year).

New Years Eve and New Years Day



New Years Eve was spent at church celebrating.

New Years Day was spent celebrating!

I can't believe my last post was on December 26th! Well actually yes I can. Life has been mad crazy for so long that I am having a hard time keeping up with the days. Still trying to except that we are in the year 2008. New Years Day we spent celebrating with our family.....a tradition started by my grandmother years ago, that now my cousins and I try to keep going ( its actually three of us who host each year....me along with my mom's brother's youngest daughters...hope that made some sense). This year we also celebrated Quisha's graduation. All in all it was a good way to start the New Year.

I don't usually create goals for the new year, and I still don't have anything set in stone but I am hoping to spend more time with my family, spend more time with God, and spend more time scrapping. I don't plan to put any pressure on myself so I won't be submitting just to get recognition or trying out for any DT unless I really feel a connection to the group. I do want to begin teaching this year so hopefully that is one dream that will come true. I plan to just take a day at a time and see where the road leads me, that way everything else will be a surprise or just icing on the cake.

Marc has a few more weeks of recuperation ( thanks so much for asking about him ) and hopefully after he gets back to work I can get back to a set schedule. Especially with my scrapbooks. I have a ton of projects that I need to get started on but right now my job is to just be his helpmate.