And we have another Winner!!!!

WE had so much fun this weekend at TTS.. there were awesome make and takes, fun games and lots of challenges and people winning prizes everywhere... I even issued a challenge here on my blog and the winner of that one is:
Trish!!!!!! congrats gal... I will be sending you out a prize with your other winnings.

WE also have had a great sale going this weekend for the store.. It will end tonight at midnight EST so dont forget to come shopping!!!
40% off all orders over $10
use the coupon code of : HAPPYBIRTHDAYTTS at checkout...

Don't forget to come and see all the new things happening today as well!!!

Did you Know

It is TTS' Birthday Crop this weekend!!!!!!! whohooooooooo!!!!!
Make sure that you come and check out all the fun, chats, challenges and PRIZES gallore!!!!! You wont be disappointed, there is something there for everyone and did I say there are tons and tons of PRIZES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you leave a comment here on my blog you will be entered into a drawing for a prize!!!!!! ehhehehhhe I am giving them out left and right!!!!
The prize will be drawn at the end of the crop on Sunday Evening... Good luck and have fun!!!!

Did You Know

It is TTS' Birthday Crop this weekend!!!!!!! whohooooooooo!!!!!
Make sure that you come and check out all the fun, chats, challenges and PRIZES gallore!!!!! You wont be disappointed, there is something there for everyone and did I say there are tons and tons of PRIZES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you leave a comment here on my blog you will be entered into a drawing for a prize!!!!!! ehhehehhhe I am giving them out left and right!!!!
The prize will be drawn at the end of the crop on Sunday Evening... Good luck and have fun!!!!

CT call you should check out!!!

A couple of great designers that I have had the opportunity to work with are having a ct call.. check it out, their designs are fabulous and they are so sweet!!!
You can find their products at DigiScrapShak.com and their names are Fotosusu and Juniana.

TTS blog challenge

So the challenge today is about your first job!!!!
My first job was being a lifeguard and swim instructor at the local pool... I anxiously waited for the opening of the new pool and was so excited and first in line to jump in on the excitement.. it was so awesome.. The pool actually became my sanctuary during highschool and a place to get away from the real world. I dont know where I would have been without that place!!!
Soooooo... what is your job gals..

personality test for Blog challenge at TTS

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts. You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary. But you sure can beat a good drum. "Kill! Kill!"

The Muppet Personality Test

update finally!!!!

Seems the last week has been a whirlwind.. so not been able to get to the blog as needed but, I am here now.....

soo....

TTS NEWS:

Sizzlin Hawt GDT competition has begun... oh my you do not want to miss this one.. go and check out all the fun and show us your SIZZLE!!!!

A new set of challenges and a new way to do them is also on the agenda this month and so far it all looks great and seems to be awesome... so go and challenge!!!

I am finally starting to catch up on some layouts and now have lots more to share in my gallery...

The site is really rawking .. there are so many new features added that it is great fun and I just got a sneak peak at the new pm system... oh my is it awesome.. I have never seen such a wonderful system and this is going to be such a terrific addition to TTS..

Todays Blog challenge was to blog about something you have only done once...

I am having a hard time thinking of stuff sooooo... one I did come up with is:

doing my dream business of owning a scrapbook store and website..

Here is a couple of layouts to share today as well...

REALITY IS SINKING IN!!!

OK.. I HAVE BEEN FINE.. REALLY FINE!!!! PROMISE, JUST FINE!!!!

UNTIL NOW!!!!!!

My baby is graduating in about an hour.. what the heck.. where did the time go.. holy cow.. she was just a 3 pound miracle yesterday wasnt she... now look at her..

I think it is time for me to have a nervous breakdown now!!!

What a week!!

Well... this week has been crazy crazy of course as usual...
Lots of Dr appt. Dentist appt. and last of the school year activities have kept me busy.
The online store at TTS has been a major priority for me as well and I have been using a task force to help me get it all organized and more user friendly.. My goal is to have it completed by next weekend. Wish us luck!!! Special thanks to all the gals helping out as well...

TTS has come through some major updates and we have some great new additions and helpful for everyone.. We are excited about all the new things and hope that you will all enjoy them.. It has been alot of work for Chris and he has definately proven how great his skills are as a web designer. Thanks so much for your work Chris!!!!

We are winding down the month of HS reunion at TTS and going to start some new things in June. I am excited to see the new things that we will have to share with you and hope that you will like the new things as well..
A special thanks to our Sponsors this month at TTS.. they have been wonderful and we are looking forward to a chat on the 30th of May with Doris!!!!! 8 pm EST.. make sure you visit the chat room and see who the lucky winner is, she will be announcing during the crop.

Last bit of news.. I was tagged by Di!!!! We are to share 6 summer month goals we have ... so since I didnt have any.. this is what I have come up with..

1. Survive!!!!!!! My kids are going through some major changes this next couple of months and Yes, I need to just be able to SURVIVE!!!! Kacee graduates from Seminary on the 30th and then the 31st she graduates from H.S. It has been quite the adventure with her lately and I am not sure if I am looking forward to her facing reality or not..so.. definately going to need lots of prayers and well wishes for her.
Bug, is going to be home a total of 2 weeks this whole entire summer... He will be touring Europe all of July with the Ambassoders of Music, He has 2 different training camps for Student Body Officer, and he has just been asked to be the main role in The Martin Harris Pageant.. He will be playing Jimmy and it is a big big role (the main one for youth) and will be hours and hours of work as well.
Kassi will be slowing down a bit this summer and only has one class in dance. Josh will also be slowing donw as well.. so those two will be keeping me more busy because they will be bored!!!
Savana and Trevor, hopefully will be able to get the transplant during the summer.. They are on the list as of June and Trevor will be starting dialysis on June 6th. We are hoping and praying for a donor soon. Definately will be a trying summer keeping Trevor healthy and the rest of the family upbeat!!

2. Try to get a layout Published... this has been a goal that I have set before and though I was thrilled with my layout being put into the Basic Grey gallery, I really have a wish for a layout to be published in a magazine.. Problem.. I never try to submit!!! soo... I am going to face my fear and start submitting some of my work and see what happens... So.. whip those whips and get me going gals!!!

3. Keep up with my TTS duties.. it seems that sometimes I get so far behind I am unable to catch up with the site.. I am almost caught back up again and need to spend some serious time organizing and planning my schedule to keep up with the site better.. so this is a big time goal for me.

4. Be happy... more and more this year I have let myself get down.. little things and some big things have really got to me and I am having a harder time staying positive and happy with myself.. not letting others getting me down.. I am going to work on this more.

5. Keep my house clean... I have been diligently working on this goal for several months and I am determined no matter how hard it gets this summer to keep it a priority..

6. Enjoy my DH... as the kids are becoming older it has been harder for Jeff and I to spend time alone together and I am really seeing how much that it is needed.. I am going to work hard to spend more and more time rekindling us.. we deserve it!!!

whew... ok.. finally ot through this one...
now who am I tagging..... hmmmmm if you are reading this ... you are tagged!!!!

About a Boy

I finally sat down and scrapped today.. seems that doing one layout a day is a major accomplishment to me with all the other things going on and trying to keep up with just life itself..

We were challenged for our blog today at TTS to write about what we do before leaving the house... well with 5 kids that are now pretty much able to get themselves ready it isnt such a drama as it used to be.. hehe somethings change and I am not sure if that is always good as the chaotic life I once had sometimes is something I miss... My kids growing up has been pretty hard on me the last couple of years and I am finding myself wondering if I did okay more and more while raising them.. They seem to be doing ok for the most part, and yes everyone has struggles, I guess as a mom your struggles include wondering if you did enough for them.. My advice.. if it is worth anything... Sit back and enjoy the things that seem to stress you out with your little ones.. soon they will be teens and not home as much and that is such an empty feeling to me sometimes.. I find myself trying to figure out what my roll is more often than not...

Here is my layout I did today...

credits are:

About a Boy 3-5 years, Misty Cato, SBB

It is a great kit and so many fun elements to play with in it.. as always, Misty does a wonderful job with her kits and I am so lucky to be one of her CT members..

Changed Lives

We were challenged today at TTS to write about something that has changed our lives significantly.

Mine by far was adopting Kassi and Josh.. what a turning point in our lives.. A life long dream finally came true when adopting them and we definately started parenthood over again. We are now realizing even more just how much that decision changed our lives.. Bug our youngest biological will be a senior this next school year.. Kacee is graduating in 15 days and turning 18 on the 19th this month.. Savana is married and has her own little family to take care of and if it were not for adopting these two little kiddos we would be definately at a different time in our lives..

I don't regret the decision one bit but, I do seem to be reflecting from time to time about what would be different at this time in life if we were not blessed to have these two 8 year olds in our home.

so..... here is to another 10 years of raising kids and keeping me young!!!!

Here is my latest layout that I did over the weekend.. You can find the kit at SBE by Brenda Johnson called A New Life and the template can be found at DSS by Jennifer Konarkowski.

Welcome to my new nephew!!!

My brother Lamar and his awesome wife Heather just had their little one and I was able to go to the hospital while he was being born... I was so excited to be able to hold a new little one and share in this awesome experience... I really needed to have this experience!!!

welcome little Kyden James to our family.. He was born on 5/8/2007 weighing in at 7lbs. 15 ou and is 20 inches long. He looks just like his big brother Zakk!!!

Kassi decided a few days ago that she wanted to have braids in her hair.. all over, little ones!!!! I kept telling her that I would do them for her but, it would take a long time to get them all done... I am ok with sitting that long, momma, she said.. so we began the process.. about 2 hours into the braiding I noticed her head to start to bob... Kacee came in and caught these photos of Kassi holding her head up fast asleep while we were braiding.. Isnt she just adorable!!!! Great pics Kacee... you did a great job catching these photos!!! watch for more on pages soon to come... I am off to scrap now!!! Don't forget to join me at TTS for the fun HS reunion day!!!

Welcome to my new nephew!!!

My brother Lamar and his awesome wife Heather just had their little one and I was able to go to the hospital while he was being born... I was so excited to be able to hold a new little one and share in this awesome experience... I really needed to have this experience!!!

welcome little Kyden James to our family.. He was born on 5/8/2007 weighing in at 7lbs. 15 ou and is 20 inches long. He looks just like his big brother Zakk!!!

Kassi decided a few days ago that she wanted to have braids in her hair.. all over, little ones!!!! I kept telling her that I would do them for her but, it would take a long time to get them all done... I am ok with sitting that long, momma, she said.. so we began the process.. about 2 hours into the braiding I noticed her head to start to bob... Kacee came in and caught these photos of Kassi holding her head up fast asleep while we were braiding.. Isnt she just adorable!!!! Great pics Kacee... you did a great job catching these photos!!! watch for more on pages soon to come... I am off to scrap now!!! Don't forget to join me at TTS for the fun HS reunion day!!!

NSDhappenings at TTS

WE are having soooooo much fun this weekend at TTS... Make sure you come and check out the NSD challenges and win some awesome prizes this weekend.

There is an online chat in about 3 hours and I will be announcing the winners of the game last month as well as tons of prizes and challenges will be issued throughout the evening.

I will also be debuting the new kits for May in the online store and I even have a sneak preview of the 2 that I did this month...

oh and PS...... Please welcome Kassi and Bella as our newest TTS DT members ... Kassi is my 8 year old DD and will be sharing layouts with everyone tonight. Bella is the proud DD of Nancy and is 4 years old!!!!!! welcome to the team Kassi and BELLA!!!!!!

Most Recent Layouts I love

I have really had fun doing these layouts the last month and am proud of the way that most of them turned out.. the contest I was in really helped me become a better scrapper.. not to mention the help from all the gals at TTS... Thanks gals!!!! you know you RAWK out loud!!

I have really had alot of fun doing sketches for Di, that she has been putting on her blog.. This is the latest one that I did for her. I love love this kit by Manuela Zimmerman you can find it at Digital ScrapSpirit. the kit is called Beauty in Bloom! make sure you go see all the rest of the layouts that are on Di's blog and see the awesome talent she has shared!!! Thanks Di!

OMG it finally happened!!!!!!

I finally got published for the first time ever!!!! I am soooooo excited.. I decided to put this layout up for the BG gallery and got an email back with in a couple of hours that it was selected for their gallery... It was a very special layout to me as I did it for Kacee who has been struggling a bit the last little while as encouragement for her.. I am just so excited I can't believe it!!!

here it is!!!

I have been tagged... twice!!!!

ok first I was tagged a couple of days ago by Susan.. and just not got around to it.. so here is this one..

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I am terrified of dentists
2. I own a yellow bug and my license plates are Crazy T.. and I love it!!!
3. I am a tinkerbell fan
4. I am addicted to Pepsi
5. I think I need a 7 step program for my internet habbits!!
6. I love to feel accepted and part of a group
7. I am a worry wart.

ok.. people I am gonna tag are:
Wendi, Dawn, JustTrish, Di, Nancy, Robin, Shannon

Now here is Di's my second tag:
1. I love the show Mash!!
2. Sean Connery is a sexy sexy Man!!!!
3. I really want to get published with one of my layouts one day
4. I own a tanning bed
5. sweedish fish are the bomb
6. My Mum was from England
7. I love to travel

My Fear faced again...

As some of you might know, I am terrified of the dentist.. This is not just a little fear, it is a complete and total paranoia that I have..
My teeth have become so bad that I had to come to a decision of what to do with them.. I have gone as far as pulled my own teeth out to keep from going to the dentist and it is getting to the point that smiling is not something I like to do in front of people anymore.. this is saddening in itself.
So.. about a month ago, I got a horrific tooth ache and I was just going to pull the tooth myself.. Jeff told me that if I would deal with the dentist, not pull the tooth out he would set it up for me to get the teeth I have wanted for so long, get them all fixed and white and straight. I decided that I needed to face my fear and get it done..
I have endured yet another root canal which now is the last of two teeth that have not had it done, or been pulled. The experience sends me into a mental state that I really cant describe, I start to have nightmares, anxiety and extreme fear. But, it is time for me to face this and get it over with... Today I finished another step of the rootcanal tooth. They put the temporary crown on and tomorrow I was supposed to start the bleaching process. But, the front tooth is now in trouble and we might have to put the bleaching on hold and try to figure out our options of the front tooth before getting it done.
I guess to some this might seem like a really stupid post, but, to me.. it is a successful story and challenge that I have had to face for a long long period of my life and now, I am getting the courage to face it.
so.... to me... another success for today!!

Thanks everyone!!

Wow... look how loved I am!!!! 12 comments on MY BLOG!!!!! whohooooo thanks gals.. you made my day!!!
Today is a busy day, Trevor is starting some injections for his eyes that is actually a new cancer drug treatment that they have found sometimes helps the swelling in his eyes. I have been on the phone with Medicaid all morning trying to get them to help the kids get things going, it is amazing to me the loops you have to go through for help. Pray for them, it is getting to be so hard for all the things to get accomplished they need. We meet with the transplant team on April 25th and hopefully that will be the next step to get the kidneys and pancreas transplant on its way. He is needing it desperately and everything that can go wrong seems to be.

TTS news:
The game is absolutely out of this world right now.. what fun this month is turning out to be and I have just been overwhelmed at the talent and support the teams are giving each other. This week they are working with Misty Cato's wonderful template she did for us and they are just really having a great time with that. The bonus challenge for this week is scraplifting their partner.. all I can say is WOWOWOWOW... what talent there is... make sure that you go and check out the awesome gallery.

Ok, have a great day everyone, and remember as my good friend Dawn tells me take your 15 minutes for yourself today... do something just for you!!!