12-31-11

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How are you going to spend the last day of the year?

The Story of Me part 21

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Harmony hopped onto her bicycle and rode down the street.

“Look at my bike. My Grandma Pat bought it for my birthday.” She called out to the kids on the corner. “Do you want to get your bikes and ride with me?” Harmony stopped her bike right before she crashed into one of the older boys in the small group of kids.

“Watch where you’re going, you crazy kid. You almost hit me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m still just learning to ride and stopping is hard for me.”

“So, you just got this bike?”

“Yes, I got it for my birthday. Do you guys want to ride with me.” Harmony smiled and looked at the kids hopefully.

The group of kids consisted of three boys and one girl. The girl looked to be about Harmony’s age and the boys were a little older.

“Where’s your Grandma now?” The older boy asked as he looked around and checked the street for adults.

“She’s in the house right now, but she’ll be back soon. You can meet her if you want to ride bikes with me.” Harmony was proud of herself for stepping out of the shy shell she had kept herself in and making an attempt at forming her first friendships.

The older boy smiled at his companions. “Well, we don’t have bikes. Maybe we can all take turns riding your bike. The other boys laughed and agreed that would be fun while the little girl just looked at Harmony and shook her head.

Harmony didn’t know the boys were making fun of her. She didn’t know that they weren’t nice boys. “OK, we can go back to my house and take turns.”

The older boy continued to do the talking for the group. “Which house is yours?”

“It’s right down the street. You can see it from here.”

“Ok, can I ride the bike there? I’ll go slow and you can walk with my sister.” The boy asked as he pointed to the little girl that still hadn’t said a word.

Harmony was so excited that she handed the bike over to the boy, looked at the girl and and smiled. “My name is Harmony. What’s your name.”

The little girl just stood there shaking her head as the other boys laughed and started running after the older boy as he took off on the bike. He was riding in the opposite direction of Harmony’s house.

“My house isn’t that way. You have to turn around now.” Harmony shouted after the boys.

“I’m sorry.” The little girl said before she took off after the boys.

Harmony stood there in the street watching them get farther and farther away with her bike and listening to their laughter as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Nothing, sweet nothing!

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Today was absolutely wonderful cause I did nothing! Well, I did a couple of things, but nothing a responsible adult would admit to. lol!

Luckily, I'm not a responsible adult so I'll tell you all about it. lol!

I woke up early and had ice cream for breakfast. Hey, I made that trip to the store so I had to eat it!

I did a little scrapping.

I went back to bed.

I got up and did a little more scrapping.

I pulled out an old childhood comfort food and had it for lunch ~~~peanut butter and celery. (eating celery totally makes up for the ice cream at breakfast, right?)

I played on the internet.

I played on the wii.

I took a shower and then put on a pair of clean pajamas. (I had been wearing the other ones all day.)

I started reading The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown and I totally love it! (I highly recommend that you read it too!)

I discovered that there was nothing on TV and played on the internet some more.

I read more of The Weird Sisters. (I'll probably finish this tomorrow.)

I typed up this blog post.

What an awesome day!

In my next life I want to be rich so I can live like this all the time!

It feels good to be home!

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It feels so good to be in Miami!

I ordered fajitas for dinner and got to see the cute fajita delivery guy. Did you expect any less of me on my first night home? lol!

I had been home for a couple of hours before I announced to OCG that I was headed to the grocery store.

OCG: Why are you going to the grocery store? It's not like you cook and I know you plan on ordering fajitas later because you only sent me 500 texts saying that you would be ordering fajitas as soon as you got back to Miami.

ME: Ummm....duhhh....the cute fajita delivery guy doesn't deliver ice cream! (Men just don't understand!)

OCG: I know you wish he would...

ME: (after staring into space for very good mini daydream!) Oh, that would truly make him the perfect man...

I didn't get to say much of anything else cause I had to duck to keep from getting hit by the magazine that was flying toward me. lol!


I got a new camera for Christmas. It wasn't the "dream camera" I was hoping for, but it's still an upgrade so I'm very happy! I'm even registering for a photography class so I can learn to use it. lol! I'll let you know how that goes.

I also got a pretty good stash of copic markers and I should probably take a class to learn how to use those. Of course, OCGs reaction to seeing those was, "What do you need those for? There's a whole box over there." I tried explaining that these are WAY different from crayola markers, but I'm not sure he got it. LOL!

I am so excited to see that I have so many new followers and that my blog is getting closer and closer to 500 thousand hits. If you aren't a follower now, make sure you are when I finally reach that 500 thousand mark cause I'll have some gift certificates to give away to followers!

Now, I'm really tired and need to get some sleep. Afterall, I've got a long day of doing absolutely nothing tomorrow. LOL!

Heading home

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I should be back in Miami by lunch time! YAY!

Featured designer at Stuff to Scrap

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Starting today IvoryKeys Digital Dreams is the featured designer at Stuff to Scrap and she's celebrating by having a sale!

Make sure you check out all the fun!

Merry Christmas!

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I hope you all woke up and found everything you wanted under your Christmas tree. Unless, of course, you wanted George Clooney, cause he should be under my Christmas tree.

Stuff...

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Hi guys! I'm checking in quickly to give you two bits of information. First, it was pointed out to me that 4shared isn't playing nicely with the QPs I made for the CSD contest. I've managed to get the pages downloaded and placed with box so if you haven't been able to get them try these links...

Download 8x8 QP here

Download 12x12 QP here

The other bit of info I wanted to share with you is that IvoryKeys Digital Dreams is having a CT call. Check out the info below...

Now, I'm heading back to the kitchen to eat more stuff I shouldn't be eating. LOL!

12-24-11

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***Come back tomorrow for the "still in my pajamas" version of this wordart!***

IvoryKeys Digital Dreams grand opening sale at With Love Studio!

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IvoryKeys Digital Dreams is up and running at With Love Studio! She has added her new Xmas Traditions kit and a couple of others that are on my favorite list to her store and they are all on sale! Click on the preview below to go check them out...

The Story of Me part 20

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August 10, 1996

Pat sat on the porch with a magazine and a glass of lemonade as she watched Harmony riding her bike. Harmony was still unsteady on the bike, but she was getting better everyday. Pat was so proud of the beautiful little girl. She had survived so much in her short lifetime. Pat had met other children who had lost or been deserted by their parents and they were angry. They felt like the world owed them something. Plenty of those children lived in this neighborhood, on this street. But not her Harmony. No one was sweeter than her baby girl.

“Look, Grandma Pat, look!” Harmony called out as she turned the bike and rode into the driveway.

Pat clapped and was full of pride as she answered. “That’s wonderful, baby! You just be careful and remember to watch for cars. If you see one coming I want you to move over and stop riding until it passes.”

“OK, I will.” Harmony called out as she turned the bike and rode back into the street after looking left and right and then left again to check for cars.

Pat finished her lemonade and stood up. “Harmony, I need you to come into the yard and stay here while I run inside for a minute. I’ll be right back and then you can ride some more before we get cleaned up for dinner.”

Harmony pulled the bike into the front yard and came to an unstable stop before hopping off the bike and smiling at her Grandma Pat. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.” She smiled as she started rubbing some imaginary dirt off of the bike she loved.

Pat smiled and waved at the little girl she loved with her whole heart as she walked into the house.

Once in the house Pat poured herself some lemonade and grabbed an unopen bag of Oreos. She told herself that it wouldn’t hurt to have a couple before dinner. She was heading back outside when the phone rang and she backtracked to pick it up.

Mary Harrison was on the phone. She was calling to chat and check on Harmony. School would be starting soon and the Harrisons wanted to see if they could help purchase any school supplies that Harmony would need. The Harrisons were always offering to help.

Pat felt guilty for leaving Harmony in the yard because she knew the little girl wanted to ride her bike. But the Harrisons had been good friends to both Pat and Harmony and school supplies were expensive so their help was always welcome. Pat knew that Harmony would wait in the yard like she had been told to do. Harmony always did what she was told to do. So, Pat grabbed the list of supplies Harmony was going to need for third grade, pulled out a chair and sat at the table.

Harmony was in the yard waiting for her Grandma Pat and still polishing the red bicycle she was so proud of when she looked down the street and noticed some other kids from the neighborhood playing. There were only three or four kids and none of them were on bikes, but Harmony had seen them riding bikes before. She just knew that they would get their bikes and ride with her once they saw she had a one.

Harmony kept her eyes on the kids. She didn’t want them go move on before her Grandma Pat came back out, but they looked like they were getting restless and Pat was taking a long time in the house.

Harmony knew she was supposed to stay in the yard. She knew that she should listen to Grandma Pat, but she really wanted friends to play with. She wanted her Grandma Pat to see that she could make friends. She wanted Grandma Pat to see that the bike was worth the money she had spent to buy it.

Harmony looked toward the house hoping to see that Grandma Pat had sneaked back out onto the porch, but she wasn’t there. Harmony looked at the kids playing down the street and decided for the first time ever to break one of Grandma Pat’s rules.

Xmas Traditions by IvoryKeys Digital Dreams

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IvoryKeys Digital Dreams has released a beautiful Christmas kit called Xmas Traditions. The kit has 5 cardstock papers, 10 patterned papers, 42 elements and an alphs. Check out the preview...

There's more good news for Susan of IvoryKeys Digital Dreams! Today is the grand opening of her new store at With Love Studio. That means that now you can find her beautiful kits at Stuff to Scrap and at With Love Studio!

Take a look at a couple of layouts I've made with Xmas Traditions...

Visit the IvoryKeys Digital Dreams blog for more layout inspitation!

12-22-11

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Holiday Hootin' by Nibbles Skribbles & Digilicious Designs

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Hi guys! A very cold Ginger here. (It's 55 outside and the weatherman said it was 80 in Miami. I miss Miami!)

I'm checking in to tell you about the new kit from Nibbles Skribbles and Digilicious Designs. This is a beautiful winter kit called Holiday Hootin' and it's full of wonderful winter animals to use in scrapping your winter memories. Holiday Hootin' has 18 papers, over 50 elements and a full alpha. Take a look at the preview...

Here are a couple of layouts I've put together with Holiday Hootin'...

Now, I've got a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket, a sofa and some DVD's calling my name. Enjoy your day!

12-21-11

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Heading out of town!

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I'm heading out of town for Christmas! Hopefully, everything will post and download while I'm gone. I will have internet access, but no guarantees on how often I'll actually use it.

Have a great Christmas and stay safe!

$2 Tuesday at STS

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Shel has added her Blue Christmas mini to the $2 Tuesday bin at Stuff to Scrap. Make sure you check it out!

December QP contest at CSD

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This month's quickpage contest is underway at Cool Scraps Digital and it's going to be awesome! We were given the Papillons kit by Scrappers Delight and told to make a QP ~ any size!

Just click on the preview below to download the page I made. There is an 8x8 and a 12x12 included in the download so you can use the size that best fits your needs.

Make sure you check out the contest at CSD. There are over 50 people participating this month so there will be lots of beautiful QPs for you to download!


**Would you please take a moment to visit the CSD gallery and leave a comment on my QP?**

Blue Christmas by Shel Belle Scraps

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Shel Belle Scraps has a new mini kit called Blue Christmas. This kit has 13 elements and 7 papers and is a perfect mixture of blue, green and brown. Take a look at the preview...

I decided to make layouts with a couple of my winter pictures. The second layout is the Courthouse on main street in the little town my mom lives in. It always makes for a beautiful picture when there's snow on the ground.

Make sure you check Shel's blog for more layout inspiration and visit the Shel Belle Scraps store to buy Blue Christmas!

12-18-11

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I'm on vacation!

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I'm on vacation! I'm on vacation! I'm on vacation!

(skip around in a circle and repeat the above over and over in a sing song voice and you still won't be as giddy as I am!)

The Story of Me part 19

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August 3, 1996

Harmony was sitting on the porch bright and early waiting for Gene Harrison and his wife. They had promised to come over and help her learn to ride the new bike she had gotten for her birthday. Harmony was excited for many reasons. She thought that learning to ride the bike would make it easier for her to befriend the other kids in the neighborhood. She also thought that once they saw her on the beautiful, shiny new bike they would stop making fun of her used clothing and worn out shoes. Who could tease a little girl that was riding such a beautiful bicycle?

“They’re here! Grandma Pat, they’re here!” Harmony yelled into the house before running off the porch and into the yard. She threw her arms around Gene Harrison and hugged him tightly before he had time to completely exit his car.

“Harmony, be careful. You’re going to knock the poor man over.” Pat said laughing as she walked out the front door. She was happy to see the girl excited about something for the first time in her life, but she didn’t want the Harrisons to get hurt.

Gene returned Harmony’s hug and held onto her hand as he walked around the car to open the door for his wife. Harmony let go of Gene’s hand and threw herself into Mary Harrison’s open arms as soon as she stepped out of the car.

“I’m so glad you came. Thank you for helping me.”

“Oh honey, we’re happy to help.” Mary said as she held onto Harmony and looked up at the smile on her husbands face.

“Harmony, you let the Harrison’s come in and sit for a minute before you guys go bike riding.” Pat called from the porch as she held the door open for everyone to enter.

Harmony ran ahead of the Harrison’s and hugged the lady she loved and called Grandma. The lady who had clipped coupons to save enough grocery money to buy the beautiful bike. The Harrison’s smiled and exchanged quick hugs with Pat before following Harmony into the small neat house.

The grown ups settled around the small kitchen table as Pat poured glasses of cold lemonade for everyone. Harmony ran to her room and returned carrying a picture she had drawn and one of the Barbie dolls the Harrison’s had given her for her birthday.

“I made this to thank you for my birthday present and also for helping me to learn how to ride my bike.” Harmony held the drawing out to Mrs. Harrison as she held onto her Barbie doll. Pat watched and smiled with pride.

Mary Harrison took the picture. Her husband stood up. “Harmony, what to you say we leave these two ladies here to talk while you and I go outside and start riding that bike.”

“Let’s go!” Harmony exclaimed and ran for the door. The adults laughed as Mr. Harrison followed Harmony out the door.

Sad stories?

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Someone came into my life recently who is a real downer. It's part of the reason I've been so grinchy lately and can't think of anything but vacation.

I'm sorry that bad things happen to people and if it were within my power to stop them or to fix them I would. But, honestly, we've all got a sad story to tell. We can walk around and constantly tell it, bringing ourselves and everyone around us down even more or we can consider it a lesson learned, pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on.

Trust me, no one knows better than I do that moving on isn't always the easiest thing to do. Some days will be harder than others and you will backslide. The important thing to remember is that life goes on and you need to move on with it.

This person has talked non-stop about their story and used it as a reason and/or excuse for everything. This person doesn't know my story and they never will. They also don't know that if I put my sad story up against theirs in a contest I would win. Well, maybe it would be more appropriate to say that I would lose because my story is way sadder.

However, I will never enter that contest because I don't want the sad/bad things to define who I am.

What do you think?

I'm really, really trying....

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Is it Friday yet? I am so ready for vacation!

Christmas Wishes by Nibbles Skribbles

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Check out this beautiful kit called Christmas Wishes by Nibbles Skribbles...

This kit has 32 elements, 12 papers and an alpha. Check out the Nibbles Skribbles store for matching goodies and an awesome bundle deal!

Take a look at some layouts I've made using this pretty kit...

Every year I make "Good List" certificates for the kids in my class and this kit was a perfect match for what I needed. Check it out...

That's right---I'm on the good list! lol!

If you would like a free copy of this Good List Certificate, just become a fan of the Nibbles Skribbles facebook page.

I will survive!

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I will survive this week...I will survive this week...I will survive this week...

I just have to make it to Friday and then it's Christmas vacation time!

I slept and slept and slept.....

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I didn't wake up at 4am today!

After falling asleep a little after 10pm I slept until almost 8am. It felt so good and my body really needed the rest!

8x8 Quickpage freebie

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I've got a quickpage freebie for you that I made using Christmas Magic by Gail Cook. You can buy the kit by clicking on the preview below or you can get it for free by joining the quickpage collection game at DigiScrap Station.

Just click on the preview below to go to 4shared for the download.

Don't forget to check out the forum at DigiScrap Station to collect any other free quickpages that are available!