The Baby

I am such a bad mom I always share stories about my children and I left out the youngest child in the house "Shadow". He was born in June 2006 and came home to us in August 2006. Shadow is such a wonderful addition to the family, he dosen't know he is a dog and sometimes I forget. He loves playing with his brothers and sisters, he loves going to the doggie spa, and he is so sweet. Just like my children I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my Shadow. :-) Here are some pics of Shadow at the the Pet Spa with his friends I swear he just thinks he is ALL THAT when he goes to the dogie spa..lol

MAKE MONEY

Today my sweet Jason ask me the monthly questions" So have you made any money yet". As always my answer is it's not about the money I love what I do I love scrapbooking, I love teaching others and sharing my passion for memories with others. He just doesn't get it, I don't ask him if he made any money watching ESPN all day. Well I may not have made any money but I have shared and preserved many memories which by the way he is always so proud to pull out my scrapbooks when company comes by. Sometimes I can't figure out if he is with me or against me..lol.
I don't blame him for encouraging me to make this hobby into a money making business as much time and effort I put into my art if I was getting paid we would be doing good. But for now I am happy just scrapbooking and maybe someday soon I will be offered some money to do it but for now just sharing my life with others and being able to appreciate life so much I feel like I am rich of life and love.

But just in case you are looking to be discovered go to http://www.pubcalls.blogspot.com for updates on contest and Design Team announcements.

Good Luck and remember the little people.
Chela





MY man supporting me in my "REAL WOMEN SCRAP TEE" now that is love.

I just bought my first die cut machine after much research and contemplating. I finally found something portable, simple, and just right for me.











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THE CUTTLEKIDS ...lol

I found this cute little machine when I was looking through my Simple Scrapbook magazine. It was hidden in the back with a special discount for Simple Scrapbook readers. It look like something I could use and the kids could use it too, then when I went to JK CRAFTS site to order it guess what it was on sale for $17.99 and a pack of alphabet dies $16.99 I was sold. I don't know if I got the best price but it sure beats the price of the other machines and it is a good way for me to see if a die cutter is something I really need to have.

SICK DAY

Marques is sick today he has a cough and and a sore throat. Of course he is not acting sick still his normal busy self. I took him to the doctor and he was scared to death poor thing didn't want to go to the doctor. I had to threaten him with NO TRICK OR TREATING to get him through the door.

LOOKING AT THIS PIC OF THE EXAMINATION TABLE IT IS PRETTY SCARY..lol



















I gave Marques my ipod to get his mind of the doctor visit.


















When I got home I decided to do a quick layout before I went to work
( SOME STRESS RELIEF)



















I decided this page would be nice for my Sketch notebook cover.







This is my sketch notebook for my crop this weekend I have decided to try using sketches to help me get my pages done quickly.

ABOUT ME

I finally completed a page about me I didn't us the original journaling I was going to use. What I discovered is that one page about me probably would not give you the best of me because I have many me's, I am a mom, a friend, a lover not a fighter, a party girl, a simple girl, educated woman.... and so much more. I am finally becoming more comfortable with my journaling and my hand writing. I found this poem by Alicia Keys for my journaling.

So this is just a glimpse of the many parts of me. These pages are for my ROCK STAR Album. I bet you didn't know I was a ROCK STAR too..lol

Cosmopolitan Woman

By: Alicia Keys

I don't want to be
No cosmopolitan woman
With big ol' city sophistication
And a facade of perfection
Every page of the story
Filled with predictability
Of a lost soul
A hole in your heart
Only filled up temporarily
By clothes
And money
And 101 ways to find Mr.Right
By sex and superficiality
Cause we've all lost sight
No I don't want to be
A cosmopolitan woman
I just wanna be myself
I may not be perfect
But I am brave
May have pimples on my skin
But my glow is from within
I damn sho ain't cosmopolitan
And you won't find me on the cover
Pages of a magazine rip and tear
With time people are forgotten
Stories are outdated
But you'll never find a hole in my soul
And my story keeps growing
And only gets better
I have real skin that's tough like leather
I'm a go-getter
And I'm gonna win
Who gives a shit about cosmopolitan
Even only in my beginning stages
I'm more than just a silent woman
Frozen on white pages
Sick of the cages
But I am a lion
In my differences I am defiant
And that is more beautiful
Than any other photo shoot
Than any cover story
Fixed with Photoshop
It's gotta stop
This image of beauty is all wrong
But it's benn going on too long to realize
The prize is down inside the deepest region
Of your available soul
Behold
Read the story
And let it be told
Even in my beginning stages
I am more than just a silent woman
Frozen on white pages

STUDY STUDY STUDY

I am really happy about starting a new job and I have decided to work on getting my dental assistant certification. I am taking online classes which can be challenging but I am ready to learn something new and I am excited about it most of the time, but tonight I really want to scrapbook and I can't focus I keep having visions of page layouts, great pics, my next crop. So I decided maybe studying at my scrapbook desk is not a good idea...lol

Chela

Page About Me

I wanted to start a page about my day, I have been seeing so many pages about individual struggles and I just want to be able to open up like that it seems very therapeutic. In my search to find some inspiration I decided to visit some fellow scrappers blogs. Well what I found out was while I have been wallowing in my own self pity my friends have been facing many challenges and they have enough courage to share thier struggles with the rest of the world so we can learn from them or know we are not alone. My scrap buddy Lisa has been working so hard on her book and recently found out her the printing company she is using to print the book is filling for bankruptcy, this project has been so important to her and my heart goes out to her, but knowing Lisa she already has a plan B in the works she is so strong and a inspiration to me http://ethnicscrapbooking.typepad.com. Then I checked out Taniesh blog and found out she recently had a miscarriage and actually entered a contest and submitted a beautiful layout about her experience. Her words are so beautiful and honest and the layout just speaks to me www.tanisharenee.blogspot.com. Thank you Lisa and Taneisha for sharing.

So my challenge this week is a page about me, my many struggles and many blessings.

Journaling:

Today was a crazy day work was very busy but I love my new job so even busy days are great days. My mom is visiting for the week so I decided it would be nice to go for a walk. The boys wanted to ride their bikes and of course Shadow wanted to come too. What started out as a nice idea me, mom, and the kids taking a nice spring walk quickly took a turn for the worst. Marques decided to ride his bike down a hill and fell. He had a few scraps but nothing serious of course he refused to get back on the bike and cried all the way home screaming " ITS GOING TO FALL OFF", ITS BLEEDING!!!" he was talking about a little scratch on his finger. Then as if things could get any worst as I dragged the bike, Marques, and the dog home a teenager runs over to me screaming that his friend broke his finger of course I screamed when he showed me the finger WHAT A GREAT MOM I AM!! he looked at me annoyed and ran over to a mom who could actually help. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that I had on my medical scrubs so this young man must have thought I was a doctor or nurse but all I did was scream. Which brings me to the whole point of my story I know I am a mom but today I just don't feel like one. What kind of mom lets her son ride his bike down hills, what kind of mom screams at a injured child, what kind of mom lets her son watch TV when he should be studying, what kind of mom lets her teenagers run all over her, what kinda moms feeds her kids mash potatoes for dinner, what kinda of mom lets her 4 year old go to be at 6:00 pm with no dinner, what kinda of mom scrapbooks and blogs when and they have children to take care off, WHAT KINDA OF MOM AM I????

WOW THAT FELT GOOD NOW I NEED A PICTURE

Digital Scrapbooking

I was never a fan of digital scrapbooking for many reason one I work on a computer all day, two I like to feel and touch pictures, paper, etc, three I like to get my hands dirty. Scrapbooking to me is like reliving pre-school I love creating but we are living in the digital ages and I have to keep up with the times so I decided to research this digital scrapbooking. Well I found a site that some may already know about www.smilebox.com they have a bunch of free digital scrapbook templates. They are pretty cool designs so I decided to give it a try....

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

I think that this site is a great way to share my pics with a little scrapbook twist especially with family and friends who live far away and don't get a chance to see my millions of scrapbook pages. I also like the easy blogging technique. GIVE IT A TRY.

A NEW SEASON A NEW ATTIUDE

It has been a while since I have blogged, my mind has been on over load with everyday life drama. My job was stressing me, my man was stressing me, my kids were stressing me, life was stressing me!!! I became so stressed my body began to shut down, GOD stop me in my tracks and made me make changes I had to stop and re- evaluate things. First thing to do was leave my job of course I wouldn't have done this if I wasn't so sick my doctor ordered me to stay home and rest and it was during that time that I began to realize that I had to make a change I had to put my full trust in GOD I was out sick with no pay, NO MONEY just faith that he would turn things around and he did. I have been blessed with a job right around the corner from my house that not only offers me flexible time but I am also embarking in a new career as a Dental Office Manager/ Assistant.

Next thing to straighten out was my man, with such a stressful job my personal life was also struggling so me and Jason took a much needed extended weekend vacation to New York to visit family. It was a wonderful weekend I went to visit my old neighborhood and took pictures of everyday things that I took for granted but now cherish. We went to visit my grandmother and dad in Long Island and Jason's family. It was great I think it made us both appreciate family and what we have worked so hard to build and how blessed we are to have each other and family.

When it came to making changes with the kids it came naturally because I work less hours and I am home earlier, I have more patients and more time with my kids and it shows. Things have been pretty good. Still working on the teens they continue to test me and Jason, but at the end of the day they are good kids and I am truly blessed.

So I am enjoying this new season in my life I am sure it will not be without stress but I am looking forward to my new career, a healthier relationship and watching my children grow up. I AM TRULY BLESSED!!!!
Here are some things I miss about NEW YORK..................

I JUST GOT IT

I just got it, "I Love My Life That's Why I Decorate It", I saw someone at the Memerios Expo I attended on April 12, with this bag and I GOT IT!! I got a life I love, I no longer walk around wondering what life is all about. My life is what I make it about, my life is full off wonderful children, friends, family, and lots of love. April is my birthday month which someone actually had to remind me that my birthday was coming up. This month I have experienced so much and learned so much and it all came about because of my scrapbooking hobby/business. I know that sounds crazy and I think some people may say this scrapbook thing Chela does is out of control, it's all she wants to do. They may not understand but I LOVE MY LIFE, my life is full of memories and making memories and meeting happy positive people who may not have the best life but we all appreciate the good times and celebrate them. That's what scrapbooking is all about. Here are some pics from the Memories Expo I attended, a piece of my life I LOVE.

Lisa S. was the driver for our rode trip, and our rest stop was AC MOORE!!!!

The first event of weekend was the Collossal Crop sponsered by Tarsa Dawson author of REAL WOMEN SCRAP . I volunteered to help at the Crop, although I was working I had so much fun.

Latina sisters from Jersey Scrapbooking :-)

Room of Memory Makers

Lots of door prizes!!!
Lisa Sandford author of ETHNIC SCRAPBOOKING an idea book about Ethnic scrapbooking. Lisa spreading the word about Ethnic Scrapboking, "Celebratae your heritage and preserve your history".... right Lisa!

Day 2- I worked the Real Women Scrap booth at the convention and I got to hang out with Tarsa Dawson and her dauther Imani. She is defiently a REAL WOMAN and I am so inspired by her. Thanks Tarsa :-)

Families shopping and REAL MEN SCRAPIN!!

I also attended the AcMoore Crop and I got to meet Juliana from HSN.

I had sometime to relax and scrapbook

Manon taking pictures, smile :-)

My Rode Doggs!!

Our last stop on the way home was dinner at the Olive Garden, thank you Lisa Y, Lisa S, Manon, and Aunt Pat this was a memorable weekend, I can't wait for the next rode trip.