Busy, Busy Bee

Last Saturday was awesome!!! I got to spend the day scrapbooking with my BFF and our closest friends at Scrapbook Central all day!!! Whoohoo!!! It was so much fun. We laughed so hard, we scrapbooked, we ate, we laughed, we ate, we shopped, we sang happy birthday, we ate, we scrapbooked... something like that! LOL!

I haven't gotten all the photos from the girls yet (my camera battery died in the midst of all the action!), but since I'm leaving on vacation in a couple of days I wanted to share some pics with you now...







I got to play with my Cocoa Daisy July kit and I almost finished my 6x6 Tinkering Ink mini album that day. I just need to add some finishing touches to it. I used my photos from the Keys and it came out so darn cute! :-) I want to wait till it's completely done before I post any pics!

As I get closer to my vacation, all I can say is that this week has been so stressful and overwhelming. I have never felt so unprepared to leave on a trip before. I just feel like I still have soooooo much to do (and I do!)... I just don't know how I am going to get to do it all in just two days. HELP! I am neck deep in preparing 2009 budgets and I still have so much to accomplish and so many meetings at work. I'm trying to delegate a lot of things, but man, why did they have to move our deadlines up this year AFTER my vacation was already planned? Couldn't they have scheduled things around my wonderful summer sailing vacation? Yesterday I left the office after 9 PM. I am just mentally drained. Plus, I have to finish packing and do some stuff for my trip. My DH is also overwhelmed. It's after 10 PM and he's still working. During times like these, I am just so glad that I am so busy! After all, busy is good. Life is good. I am blessed to have work to do and the means to take such a wonderful vacation. I can't forget that!!!

I'll post again before I leave this weekend... Hugs and thanks for stopping by and saying HELLO!!!

Lookout! Scrappin weekend ahead...

I'm so excited!!! Tomorrow I get to join my scrappy friends at Scrapbook Central to celebrate Ady's birthday and scrap all day long. Whoohoo!!! After a hectic week, I need this creative therapy and I get to be surrounded by the most amazing women. That's awesome. Of course, the day will go by super fast and before you know it, they'll be kicking us out of the store because they wanna go home, but that's the way it goes!

Anyway, it seems like we've been celebrating for months, but that makes it more fun. Oh no, I've just been giving her gifts for that long. LOL!!! And she even got a cake last week from friends and now she gets another one tomorrow... These are pics from last weekend...




Next weekend, I am going on vacation and I can't wait!!! My DH and I will be sailing on the Cuan Law in the British Virgin Islands for a week. We will visit several of the islands and snorkel, swim, relax and just have fun. Then we will stay on land for a few days in a little hotel with 8 rooms overlooking the sunset views of Jost Van Dyke. Aaaah... :-) This will be so different from our past vacations; it seems more slow-paced than what we are accustomed to and that's not a bad thing. We are adventure seekers and we tend to get up super early, see anything and everything, and return to the hotel at night exhausted and ready for the next big adventure. LOL! We don't ever want to miss a thing! Anyway, my DH told me to even bring scrapping stuff on the trip. Funny, huh? I'll definitely be taking lots of photos and taking my new Real Simple 4x6 index cards from Target. I bought these so I can journal about our adventures every day. It makes putting my vacation album together so much easier.

Well, I'll be back later this weekend with more pics... Peace and happy scrapping!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my BFF

This girl is truly awesome and I'm not just saying that because she's my best friend. Ady (or Yayi, as I call her) has a heart of gold, she's always looking out for others and is so unselfish and giving (I want to be her when I grow up!). She's not only a fabulous confidant and the sister I never had, she's also a great mom to my Godson, D'Angelo, a wonderful daughter, wife, etc. and just a beautiful person inside and out. I really love her a lot and I can't imagine my life without her friendship...

It's become a tradition that every morning, when I get into my car, I call her so we can chat. Sometimes life gets in the way and we miss a few days, but I love catching up and chatting with her. It's funny because when I left on vacation to Spain last year, she emailed me when I posted on my blog telling me that she missed our morning calls. How sweet is that!? Most of the time, we talk about scrappy stuff, and sometimes we share personal stories, goals, plans and other things.

Ady and I met about 15 years ago and now we are married to two best friends (Richard and Jorge grew up as friends and attended school together) so the joke is that there are no secrets between us, but of course, we do keep some things to ourselves... LOL!!!!

We are like two twin souls because we like the same things and, without knowing, we have been known to buy similar items. When we first traveled together to the BVI a few years back, her brother took us to the airport and he laughed and called us the "Bobsy Twins" because we wore the same thing (without planning it!). I tell ya, it's pretty funny and scary!!!

Anyway, Ady, you are a wonderful, beautiful, honest, caring, creative soul and I thank you for introducing me to scrapbooking, for being there when I've needed you most and for just being YOU.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope you have the BEST birthday ever!!! You deserve it... May all your wishes come true.

Weekend update and SCRAP ROOM PROJECT

I hope you are having a great weekend!!!

Yesterday was a loooong day for me. I woke up early and my DH took me shopping for new snorkeling equipment for our upcoming Caribbean sailing vacation (more on that in a future post). Then I went to get a manicure and pedicure (I really needed that!), followed by a quick impromptu stop for a birthday cake, home to change and freshen up, then I went to do my hair (cut, blow dry and highlights), headed straight to my friend Jeanie's apartment for a girls' get-together. How fun!!! And finally, at around 10 PM, I met my DH at my BFF's house for a last-minute gathering... All in one day, but it was oh-so-fun!

Today, I slept in and made waffles with strawberries for breakfast with a Mamey fruit shake. Yum! Refreshing and so summery :-) This afternoon I'm going to visit my Mami. She went back home on Friday and we really enjoyed having her here this past week. After that, it will be on to my in-laws' house for our family Sunday dinner.

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Here's a look at one area of my scrap room. I really want to finish this room without spending a lot of money. I want to repaint, add a few things and be done with it already!



First, I want to get another Expedit from IKEA. I just love these!!!



Next, I received my Pottery Barn catalog and fell in love with the green paint color in one of the rooms... Have you guys seen the new catalog? Here is a photo of the paint color. I LOVE it, but I wonder it it's too dark? What do you guys think?



I'm also thinking of putting up a valance over my two windows to add some more girly flair. I liked this Serafina fabric in the new Pottery Barn catalog as well. I can buy a couple yards of fabric and have someone make the valance for me... Isn't it pretty?



I hope to complete my room by the end of the summer... wish me luck!!!!

Hugs to all and happy scrapping!!!

Fun with friends

Tonight, we got together for dinner at Old San Juan to celebrate Lou's birthday. It was so great to see my scrappy girlfriends. :-)

I think she liked her gifts!




Here's a close-up of the birthday card I made Lou...



And here's a group picture...



Also, last Friday I made this quick layout using a template I purchased from Technique Tuesday so it was very easy to do. I just added a couple of accents, including a few stitches, adhered the photo on an orange mat stack and voila! This is a photo of us at Old San Juan a few weeks ago. Can you tell we really like this place? LOL!!!



I hope your week is going well! Peace and happy scrapping!!!

We spent Saturday...

...in the Keys again!!! And we had so much fun :-)

Richard's family joined us for a day out at Bahia Honda State Park. We swam for hours and enjoyed the day. When I got out of the water, I sat on my beach chair and pulled out my latest issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine and marked a few layouts that inspired me. How relaxing...

Afterwards, we drove around to show Richard's grandma and her sister the other side of the beach and marina, and then we decided we wanted to head to Key West. Thankfully, we convinced the other car full of family and away we went at 7 PM. We had walkie talkies to communicate between the two cars and kept ourselves entertained all night that way, singing, telling stories and just joking around with each other. We even spotted two endangered Key Deer on the drive down!

Once in Key West, we parked at Mallory Square (sound familiar?) and watched the sunset. We didn't have time to change out of our bathing suits so we just threw on some cover ups and clothes and walked around.

Here's a photo of my DH, little cousin Ivan, grandma's sister Felina with her grandson Brian and his mom Judy, Richard's grandma Meri, and my in-laws Mari and Pepe.



Love this photo! A boat cruising along in Key West...



In front of the world-famous Sloppy Joe's restaurant and bar (made famous by Ernest Hemingway)...



It was a long day. We didn't get home till 2 or 3 AM, but it was fantastic!!!

Today, I cleaned up and organized ALL DAY!!!! I'm so exhausted. I had to get my house ready for Mami because she's coming to stay with us a few days. My aunt is having her house tented (for termites) and since Mami is bedridden and unable to take care of herself, we're bringing her over along with her live-in caregiver. The medical equipment company is bringing Mami a hospital bed just like the one she has at home and they are putting it together here. I washed and organized and moved furniture around to make sure the new bed fits. I also cleaned my closet and scrap room a little bit, but didn't get to finish it all. I'm already looking forward to the next scrapbook garage sale because I have TONS of stuff to sell!!!

I leave you with a couple more sunset photos...




Peace and happy scrapping!

Scraplift!

What a crazy, insane, busy week at work! YIKES!!! I'm talking budgets, revenue reforecasts and cost cutting galore! I'm talking about delays in production schedules, redesigns and editorial planning.

That's why I LOVE to retreat to my HAPPY room, turn on my computer and delight in scrappy stuff :-) I even walked a mile on the treadmill after work today. Somehow, I gotta get myself into the habit of exercising and eating right, but that's a whole 'nother story.

Anyway, last week I totally scraplifted Debby Schuh, the guest designer for Cocoa Daisy's June kit, and I made this gorgeous layout! I really love it! Isn't that dear paper from Sassafrass Lass just darling???



Oh, and since some of you emailed to ask me to show you my new Vera Bradley bag... well, here it is in all its glory! So fun and perfect for summer...



Finally, I came across some CHA sneak peeks on Karen Russell's blog.... Check it out. Oooh! Aaah! Love it.

That's all I have for today! I need to take photos of my Tennessee mini album so I can post them here...

Peace and happy scrapping!

Fun in the Keys...

Hi my friends!!! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!! I had lots of fun with my DH and his family in the Florida Keys... Here's a weekend recap (better late than never, right?)

Let me start by saying that I really wanted to go away for the 4th of July, but we didn't make any plans because my DH told me we would need to travel to Atlanta for personal business... well, that didn't happen either. So on Friday my DH and I went out for a late breakfast, or brunch rather, and then we drove around looking at neighborhoods, enjoying the surroundings, talking about what we should do the rest of the day since we didn't have any 4th of July plans.

As we drove farther south, I made a few suggestions, but nothing sparked any interest. Then I said, "At this rate, we're gonna end up in Key West just in time for the sunset." Well, suffice it to say that my DH went for it... and three hours and two stops later, we arrived at Mallory Square in Key West (the Southernmost Point of the United States for those of you that don't know!) about 10 minutes before the sun set. Talk about good timing! LOL!

On the way to Key West, we made a pit stop at Bahia Honda...



A performer walks a tight rope on Mallory Square...



Look at that awesome sky!



We walked around, took some pictures (good thing I had my camera), went shopping and had dinner at Kelly's while listening to fireworks. So awesome. I even bought an adorable Vera Bradley bag...

We got back home at around 1:30 a.m. only to get up early the next morning and do the same thing all over again... well, almost! My DH convinced his parents and cousins to join us for a day at the beach in Bahia Honda (just about 30 minutes north of Key West) and it was a beautiful sunny day!!!

A self-portrait (I'm getting good at this!)



A photo of my in-laws...



My DH looking handsome against the blue water...



His parents and family...



A glimpse out the car window on the way home...



I was hanging out the sunroof of my car trying to get a shot of the sky as the sun was setting. The colors were so beautiful!



As you can see, I took lots of pictures :-) I can't wait to scrap this weekend's activities... I'm thinking Ali Edwards' chipboard travel album (Cocoa Daisy's July kit)... what do you all think???

Peace and happy scrapping!!!

Happy 4th... and some layouts!

I hope you all have a very Happy 4th of July!!! Enjoy your fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, boat trips and more... We're heading out soon to see where the day takes us. LOL!

Here are a couple of layouts I made last Saturday at Damaris's house... I used the recent photos we took when we met Nancy from The Netherlands and made two layouts... That night was lots of fun! The third layout was from a UF Alumni event at the Doral Resort. My DH graduated from UF, not me! I'm a UM alumni!!!





Have a fabulous weekend and happy scrapping! Hugs to all and thanks so much for stopping by and leaving me comments... you make my day!

Lots to share...

So where do I begin??? I had a blast scrappin' at Damaris's house last Saturday. I didn't really scrap till the second half of the day because it took me a while to get going and for my mojo to kick into high gear... OK, I was chit-chatting! LOL! Anyway, I completed five layouts, including this one based on a Janelle Richmond sketch from Work in Progress.

I really enjoyed working with my June Cocoa Daisy kit with beautiful shades of blue and green, and a touch of yellow and pink. So summery!

Karen Russell: 10 REASONS
Have you guys seen this album idea that Karen posted on her blog? I really love her style and her approach to scrapbooking. This is one lady that inspires me! Anyway, she compiled a kit for this album and hers focuses on 10 reasons why she wants to make changes in her life. Take a look at this opening page and read her 10 reasons on the same blog post. I tell ya, I really loved this! Maybe I can incorporate this theme into a layout or something becase I can't spend any more money right now!

Why do you scrapbook?
I came across this column on Scrapbook.com and I can so relate! I know a lot of you have shared similar stories with me about how others see your scrapbooking as a waste of time or whatever, so you'll want to read this! I was teary-eyed by the time I was done...

Getting Published
Last, but certainly not least, my fave new magazine, Scrapbook Trends recently requested one of my layouts for publication so make sure to check me out in the Nov. 2008 issue (like you're actually gonna remember! LOL!) Don't worry, I will be sure to remind you all :-)

I will post more layouts later this week, but right now I'm just too tired! Here's to a 4-day work week! Whoohoo!

Peace and happy scrapping!