I should be sleeping!

It's always so hard to get back on schedule after having time off from work. By the time I get back on schedule the weekend will be here and I'll be staying up late again. LOL!

The rain finally came and boy did it rain hard! Now, Let's hope it helped to clean my car a little. It's supposed to rain more today. I really hope we'll be able to take the kids outside. Mondays are bad enough as it is, not being able to let them outside for awhile makes it a very long day!

Today was the last day of hurricane season. I'm glad we didn't have a storm here, but I could have used more than two days off from school because of the weather. We don't get snow here. LOL!

Talk about snow! Toby sent me this photo of her standing on her back porch in Canada. Anyone want to volunteer to go help her shovel snow? LOL! I wonder how many days of school we would get off if it snowed like that in Miami!



I scrapped the picture using April's Winter Wonderland Kit. It's an awesome kit and it's on sell! Just check out this preview...



By the way, April is the featured designer at Scrap It Sassy! Go check out her store there. She's got an awesome sell going on and you don't want to miss it!



There's no special reason for today's wordart. I just liked it. LOL! You can pick it up here

Now, I'm off to force myself to get some sleep. Have a great day!

The morning after

Well, after too much food, too many bottles of wine, a sunset sail around the bay and a very late night I had painters outside my window at 8:30 this morning. As soon as they break for lunch I'm going back to bed. LOL!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by the best friends a person can have. There weren't even any major food disasters. The smoke alarm only went off once. LOL!

Years ago, when I still lived in North Carolina, one of my friends decided she was going to cook dinner for four of us. Since I am totally hopeless near kitchen appliances, I watched football with the guys while she worked in the kitchen. She was so proud of herself for planning a special meal and wanted so badly for everything to be perfect. She searched for the perfect recipes and set a beautiful table. Most of the recipes she found served 8 people and there were only four of us. So, she very cleverly cut all the ingredients in half and then proceeded to cook the meal at half the temperature for half the time. I'm not kidding! It was way worse than any thing I've ever tried to cook. We ended up ordering pizza.

I hope that your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as mine was and that you've added more special memories into your book of life. Have a great "day after" and make sure you pick up today's wordart here

Another request

I had never heard this saying before, but I like it! We all should laugh at ourselves more.

http://www.4shared.com/file/70465387/2ccb6d1a/Sanity_11-14-08.html?

Laughter

I spent several hours on the phone Saturday with an old friend that I hadn't spoken to in years. It was nice to touch base again. We relived our college days and laughted until our sides hurt. It was a great call and I feel just as close to her now as I did back then.

It's true what they say...there is no friend like an old friend!

http://www.4shared.com/file/70357020/baaa2c89/Laughter_11-9-08.html?

Today I am attending a funeral...

On Thursday, my friend was killed in a car accident. It doesn't feel real yet and I keep expecting him to knock on my door. I have never liked attending funerals and he knew this. I am someone that is always talking but can never find the right words when I really need them.

One of the first conversations I ever had with him was an argument. I knew then that we would be friends. He never wasted a moment of his life and I envied that about him. He made everyday feel like a party and I loved that about him.

He insisted that the catwalk that connects the building we live in to the condos across the couryard was only to be used on sunny days. In his mind, it was mandatory to run across the courtyard to visit on rainy days. One day, I asked him why he insisted on doing this and he simply answered, "Because it's fun." He then went on to lecture me on the joys of walking by the water when it's raining with no lightning.

His death was quick and dramatic as he would have liked. His funeral will be small and private as he requested.

It is supposed to rain today and that feels right because today I am attending a funeral and when I return home; if it is raining, with no lightning, I will walk by the water...

http://www.4shared.com/file/68313479/3cafb7da/Life_10-25-08.html

1 apology and 2 Thank yous

I am so sorry but the Life is a party wordart had a mistake on it. I've fixed it now and reloaded it at 4shared. Thank you Kelsey for letting me know!

You can get the corrected version here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67994131/aaa718f0/Life_10-21-08.html

My second thank you goes out to Christine. I don't always read my email before leaving in the mornings, but today I did and I am so glad! You will never know how much your short message meant to me. My spirit needed a lift and thanks to you it got one.

Here's a goodie for everyone in your honor...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67996441/49248457/Life_10-22-08.html

Life is a party

***If you downloaded this on or before 10-22-08, please check below and make sure you have the corrected version. Kelsey, thanks for the heads up!


Have you ever heard of Lincoln Road on Miami Beach? I live within walking distance of this popular place for trendy shops and restaurants. My friends and I like to go out at least once a week and visit. Ususally we'll end up sitting at one of the outside tables in front of any of the restaurants along Lincoln Road. It's fun to sit there and discuss our day while we people watch. If you've ever visited Miami Beach, you know that we've got lots of people to watch. LOL!

We've been having such beautiful weather here lately that we just had to go out and enjoy it. So there we sat Monday night, drink in hand, sharing stories of everything that's happpened since we had last sat at that same exact table four night earlier. We laughed, we made plans for the weekend, we laughed some more, we walked home.

It sounds like a simple night spent with friends and that's what it was. Yet, it was also so much more than that. It was a party. A small party, but a party just the same and I am so glad that I was invitted. But I'm even more glad that I chose to go and not sit at home.

Will you accept the next invitation you receive or will you let it pass you by? Here's a goodie for you while you think about your answer...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67994131/aaa718f0/Life_10-21-08.html

Life is good!

This morning I participated in the Buddy Walk to support the Downs Syndrome Foundation. I was part of a group walking in honor of my student, Vincent. The three mile walk took place on the boardwalk at Hollywood Beach. There was a nice breeze and the sky was a little overcast so the sun wasn't too bright. There was a breakfast for us and a cookout after the walk was over. They even set up bounce houses for the kids. The Ocean lifeguards were training on the beach so us female walkers had some eye candy. LOL! It was funny how everyone stopped for a break right where those guys were.

As we huddled up for pictures I looked around at the group I was with and smiled. I am lucky enough to have friends that will give up a Sunday morning just because I asked them to. Friends who are honest enough to tell me when they don't like my shoes or outfits. Friends with shoulders that I have leaned on more times than I can count. Friends who let me know when I'm getting just a little too full of myself. Friends who showed up to honor a five year old boy.

I have the best friends in the world and life is good. Now, if only the Dolphins could manage to beat the Ravens...

Here's a goodie for those of you that have found friends as good as mine and for those of you that are still looking...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67435000/b9dd7d88/Travels_10-19-08.html

Weekend Walk

This weekend I am going to walk in the Downs Syndrome Buddy Walk on Hollywood Beach. I have a student in my class that has Downs Syndrome and he is the light of my day. I am not lying when I tell you that my world became a much better place when he became a part of it.

I know that his parents were worried when he was born. They were afraid that they wouldn't be able to meet his needs. They were afraid that they would let him down. Their worries were all for nothing. He has thrived in their care and is the most amazing little boy. Isn't it wonderful the things that love can conquer?

Here's a little goodie for anyone else that has learned the power of love...

http://www.4shared.com/file/66213655/9fc8e5e5/Miracles_10-15-08.html

Attitude

I know someone who is 6 going on 40. LOL! Do you know anyone like that? Here's a goodie for you if you do.

Get the boy here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67080293/290dc020/Boy_Attitude_10-14-08.html

And get the girl here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/67080325/2258d6e9/Girl_Attitude_10-14-08.html

By special request...

I was asked to make this by a friend for some pages she is working on. What a wonderful pledge it is to make to ourselves. We should all make the most of ourselves and of the time we have. Work is important but so are other things. We seem to get so tied up with responsibilities that we forget about all the other things that are important in our lives. Things that we need to make ourselves complete.

You can pick up your goodies here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/65700333/68ca28cd/Pledge_10-12-08.html

and here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/65700357/39fd4b52/Pledge_part_2_10-12-08.html

Rough spot in the road

I have a friend that is going through a really rough spot right now. I wish I could help her but I'm afraid that she must go down this road alone. She knows that we're all here for her and that we're pulling for her. I have faith that she'll be fine and when she rounds the final bend in the road she'll find all of her friends waiting for her.

We've all been down for one reason or another at one time or another. When you're in the thick of things it's hard to see your way out. Just put one foot in front of the other, look straight ahead and keep your wits about you. It will be OK.

Here's a goodie for anyone that's also hit a rough spot or knows someone else that has...

http://www.4shared.com/file/65026285/21310200/Spirit_10-10-08.html

For Lisa...

Lisa, here's the quote you requested. I'd love to see what you do with it. As a matter of fact, I'd love to see what anyone who snags it does with it. This blog could use some decorations and I can't think of any better decorations than your pages with my word art.

Now, here's the goodie for Lisa and anyone that fishes or knows someone who does...

http://www.4shared.com/file/64646679/5778e731/Work_9-29-08.html

Today was fun!

At school we celebrated Johnny Appleseed's birthday with the kids. It was so much fun and it wore me out! LOL!

Today was also the day we gave my friend Betty her surprise 50th birthday lunch. She was so funny! Poor Betty had no idea what we were doing. That's her picture posted above. Doesn't she look like she's having fun?

I have to thank SWC for leaving the comment that gave me the inspiration for today's freebie. I love it so much I just had to use it!You can pick it up here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/64629778/f69e5866/Birthday_revisited_9-26-08.html

A Big Thank You!

Thank you for all the nice comments and emails you've left me this week. It has really given my confidence a much needed boost! I wasn't sure if anyone would ever come to this blog or not, but you have and I hope you'll come back again soon.

I'll be happy to work on the word art requests I've received and any others you may have. Just bare with me, I'm still feeling my way around.

If you use any of my word art on your layouts or projects I'd love to see a picture. I may even highlight your work here!

One of the girls I work with is turning 50 and we have given her so much grief! She's knows that we love her and are just teasing so she hasn't gotten mad at us....yet! Today's freebie was made in honor of my friend, Betty's birthday and you can pick it up here...

http://www.4shared.com/file/63913201/da24a201/Old_Enough_9-25-08.html

Dreams, Enemies & Friends

I have always heard that in dreams snakes represent your enemies. That's upsetting now because last night there were two snakes in my dreams. One snake was about to strike and I hid behind someone that I was with. I have no idea who he was, but in the dream I seemed to know him. The snake bit him then crawled up the length of his body biting him several more times while I ran screaming for help. He finally ran to safety while someone else, a little girl, caught the snake in a plastic bag. I was crying that the bag wouldn't help while I caught the second snake and put it into a plastic bag also. I have no idea where the second snake came from.

The first snake was able to get out of the bag and as it tried to crawl away I killed it with a shoe. When I woke up the second snake was still safe in the bag and I was scared, but glad that I had managed to kill the snake that had bitten my friend while he protected me.

If snakes really do represent enemies does this mean that I have two enemies out there? Am I a bad friend for hiding while someone else protected me? Did I defeat the first emeny? Do I still need to worry about the second one?

I know that I was recently very hurt and disappointed by someone I had come to think of as an online friend. To make a long story short, she took credit for a template I made and then lied to me about it when I confronted her. I wanted to believe that she hadn't done this to me on purpose, but the lie proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had. Now a line has been drawn in the sand and even though our online paths may cross again things will never be the same.

Ok, enough rambling by me! Here's a goodie for anyone that has been hurt by someone they considered a friend...

http://www.4shared.com/file/63761343/73a719f5/Frienemies.html