I have been PUNK'D

What a day for me today which actually started for me the night before.
I went to bed the night before at a decent time for I had to get up early this morning...like really early this morning to register Alexandre' and Allegra for Summer Play Camp at Kenicott Park. Yes, I have fallen into the game of sitting out early enough to get my kids into a camp where everyone wants to attend...there were only 10 slots available and I needed 2...really I needed 4 as I was signing up a couple of my friends children too.
So after waking up every hour on the hour thinking that I missed registration...I finally woke up at 3:30 in the morning and got dressed. I got to Kenicott Park at 4:30am and was #2 in line. I actually did this last year and was #2 then too...guess that coincides with my sorority line number since I was #2 on my line too. I felt relieved and very glad that I did make the decision to get up early and get out there. Some more of my girlfriends arrived too and by the time the sun came up and registration started...there were about 20 people in line waiting. I was able to register everyone who I had to register and so we are set for the summer. The twins will be in Play Camp, Monday thru Friday 9am-3pm and I will be doing the happy dance...time for ME. I will probably only work 3 days a week and the rest of the days will be time for me, to do ME...scrapbook, work out, things around the house, lunch with my friends, hang out in Borders or the library, shop, sleep...I mean, I do these things already but it is just good to have some alone time once in a while.


So I have been a bad blogger, this I know and of course...we all know the title of my Blog...Inspiring 2 Be, as I can only inspire to do better and be better...which I am trying to do. My friends who have been reading my blog asked me how I am able to post things from the past...well, I admit that I do write on my blog but then I return to edit and add photos later. Just a little FYI for you.



The 2peas Blog Challenge for today was very easy for me...
I remember when...GAS WAS UNDER $2.00
Boy do I miss those days of being able to fill up my gas tank for under $20...those days are gone, but not forgotten.

So after my morning of standing outside to register Alex and Allegra, I had to go to work at Windy City....I was dead tired...point blank.
The night was pretty busy for the most part and I was ready for the night to end. About 15 minutes before closing...a African American man came into the store with his hoodie over his head and I thought to myself..."HERE WE GO". When I approached him to see if he needed assistance, he turned around to face me and pulled his hoodie off of his head and low and behold...I heard angels singing and I was like What the F#*&$(&#@. It was Punk...from Season Two of I Love New York that was on VH1. Now I am a self proclaimed reality television lover...especially of ignorant television and I do like VH1. His real name is David O. and he is a lawyer right here in Chicago. He was looking for stickers for his nephew and niece . Now, honestly...I do prefer darker men but he was FINE AS HELL and I could not stop smiling and blushing at him. I did not ask for his autograph and I am so glad that Jen had her camera as I did ask for a photo of him and for a photo with him. He smelled so good and his presence (just by standing next to him) had me like...DANG!!!. I thought that we looked cute in our hoodies and he had a beautiful smile. Okay...I know, I know...I have my own FINE ASS MAN at home...but a girl can still look. I did wish him luck in his endeavors...I wonder if he will have his own show soon...if so, I will be watching.
Once I got home...I shared with Rick about my little visit and he teased me for the rest of the evening.
Here are the photos from my PUNK'D encounter.






Off to bed now with my HUNK
Hugs & Kisses
Me

Great Weekend...

was had by all of my Mocha Buddies.
We went to Cassopolis Michigan for the weekend for some rest, relaxation and scrapbooking. Why Cassopolis Michigan? Well my girlfriend Dontrey's family has a family home in Cassopolis...matter of fact, it is where her husband Brett is originally from and they have a home to go to when they want to get away from the city. She graciously opened up her home to us and we also went to a weekend crop at one of my other favorite scrapbooking stores in the Midwest...Pages In Time. Now Windy City Scrapbooking is of course, my all time favorite brick and mortar scrapbook store. Pages in Time is located in Granger Indiana and I had a chance to visit it back in October when I went to Scrap and Spa with my SOS group, so I was excited to go back. We had a great time cropping and shopping, wining and dining. We arrived on Friday mid morning and went to the store right away. We had lunch at a really nice restaurant near by and then started scrapbooking as we were registered to do Pages In Time Friday Night Crop. Their crops are a lot different then Windy City's crops and it was really funny how some croppers treated us. Now I will be honest and say that there are not alot of African American scrapbookers...especially in the industry (working for manufacturers and being published...this is a barrier that I hope to break one day). Well ,with that being stated, sometimes we are well received and other times...we are not and I really become disheartened when we are not received...but such is life. After the Friday night crop, we went to Dontrey's house and crashed since we had to get up early in the morning for the all day crop. We had reservations for breakfast at the same restaurant that we had lunch at the day before so we were all up at 8am, ready to eat and ready to crop. For some of us, myself, Nicole, Rae, Geri, Dontrey, and Kelly, it was not the first time that we cropped while for Shonda and Tabby...they were the virgins of the group. I think that by the day's end, Tabby was hooked while Shonda...well, I will have to wait and see if she will join us again...maybe she will to just hang out, like my other Mocha buddy Dorcas, who could not join us for the weekend. So, we cropped the day away, and again...much different from Windy City. I guess one may wonder, why do I like this store...well, it is HUGE and they have every Manufacturer that a scrapbooker could ever want...things that Christina will not get for WCS, I was able to get at PIT...it is like a warehouse.
So...I did have a little drama that caused my trip to end on a sour note. Rick called me to inform me that he was separating the twins and letting Allegra attend a sleepover at his brother's Ben's girlfriends home in Joliet. Okay...to make a long story short...my feelings...Allegra is only 4 and too young to spend the night over anyone's house that I have not been to, I was not there, Alex was very upset, we already agreed that she was not going since we were not officially invited and I was going to be out of town...his feelings...Ben was going to be there along with his daughter, He is the father and can make decisions too, I was not there, Alex will be fine as he will do something with him...So the outcome...Tabby agreed to leave that night since she had to leave early anyway the next morning, I got home at 2am, Rick and I argued that night, woke up with major attitude, Rick drove to Joliet to get Allegra, Allegra came home upset and crying, Rick and I kept arguing about being parents and the day was just MESSED UP...NO...really F@*@)*@*@*#) UP.
Really...I am still upset now that I can hardly think.

Still have to COMMIT to doing the 2peas Blog Challenge for today

What was the last good movie that you saw and why did you like it?
I ha asked Rick (a few days ago) when was the last time we even went to the movies and we had a hard time even remembering (which is bad) , but the last good movie that we saw was CASINO ROYALE since we are both James Bond lovers...we enjoyed it because of what else...the action. Now for me...the last good movie that I saw would have to be my one of my favorite movies of all time and that would be LOVE JONES as I love films about Black Love. I loved the story line and the intimate scenes were good too.

Well, I am off to bed now. I am emotionally exhausted from arguing with Rick as this was not a good day for the Coleman Crew at all

Hugs & Kisses
Me

Here are a few photos of us at Pages in Time


Dontrey

Tabby
Me

Kelly
Nicole
Shonda
Rae
Geri
Us at Pages in Time in Granger Indiana

Only Tuesday...3 more days until...

my weekend getaway with my Mocha Buddies....details to follow

Before I went to work today, I had a chance to read the 2peas Blog Challenge which was quite interesting...

With the economy like it is today, have you started to cut back with your scrap shopping?

And my answer to this is...YES.
Actually, I cut back on my scrap shopping for various reasons...main one being, I have my own little Windy City Scrapbooking in my basement...Al's Scrap Shop is what I have (Rick's little joke) I think I have more supplies then I do pictures to scrap and I have boxes and bags of scrap supplies that I have not even opened. I vaguely remember what I even have as far as papers and embellishments are concerned, which makes it bad for me as sometimes, I tend to buy duplicates. So with the economy being the way it is...makes it easy to cut back on my shopping as I have everything that I could want.
I had to teach tonight, Beyond the Basics, so I did not get home until late.
The twins were up, waiting to tell me about their day. In their preschool, they have been learning about different cultures as their classroom is very diverse. Ms. Graham requested that parents volunteer their knowledge as it relates to their countries...Alexandre' and Allegra has learned about Mexico, Norway, Italy, India, and Japan, to name a few. They were so excited about what they learned today about Japan from Moi's mother...they told me that Kinachiwa (sp?) meant Hello in Japanese (even spell check could not check it for me) and they even made vegetable sushi. They had it in the refrigerator when I got home and ran to get it to sample it with me. Well...after taking a couple of bites, they both decided that it was not to their taste...I have to admit, I had to acquire the taste for sushi myself and there is only certain ones I will eat.
Notice Allegra's face of eewwhh!!! Too funny








I am off to bed now
Hugs & Kisses
Me

Sunday the 13th...

and I am very tired as I did go out last night to my Mocha Moms Exhale that was hosted by one of my dear Mochas Tabby. We actually attended college together, pledged different sororities and have been reunited thru the sisterhood of mothers.
We wined and dined and had interesting conversation. For the most part...we had a great time, despite having a few mothers...well at least one that did not condone me speaking frankly and openly about SEX...WTF...we are all married with children...I did not use obscene words like I could have but she was offended by what little I did say and we changed the subject. Mocha Moms is not the same for me this year...I am glad that I have formed the friendships that I have and they are on so many different levels and I do value each and every one of them from those that I see and talk to regularly to those who I only see once in a while.
Here I am with a few of Mochas: Dorcas, Wendy, myself, Lisa, and Kelly


Rick let me sleep in...just for a little bit since I had to go to work today and once I got off...I did not have to cook for my dear mother did.
I just looked at the 2peas Challenge for today...
Do you find it easier to get the creative juices flowing when you are scrapping with others or alone?

I actually find it easier to get my creative juices flowing when I am alone after scrapping with others. I crop once a month with my cropping group, Scrap On Sistah and when we are together...after we catch up on each other's lives, eat, drink, and gossip (LOL), we do get pages done and someone is always doing a new technique, using a new paper line, or just doing something that will inspire me. When I am alone, I actually spend more time daydreaming of scrapping or I am organizing my scrap supplies, or I am on the computer, so it is good for me scrapbook with others. Now actually, I need to really change this as I am so behind on my scrapbooking...but that is another subject.

After dinner, I only stayed up to watch the news and 190 North (program about Chicago land and various happenings in Chicago) as I am still very tired from kicking it the night before.

Hugs & Kisses

Me

Waiting to Exhale...

Is what I am doing
I am so excited to be attending Mocha Moms Exhale tonight...I have not been to one in a long time. What is an Exhale? Well it where we get together, break bread, drink, and have great conversations ranging from "Discipline of kids" to "Investing in yourself" to "Mother-in-laws...love them or hate them" and of course my favorite..."Keeping your marriage hot" otherwise...Exhale is our definition for Momma's Nite Out. My sweetie has already made plans for him and the kids to go out to his mother's house (I love my mother-in-law) and so I am looking forward to spending time with my girlfriends.

The twins and I a relaxing day today...
Alex had basketball this morning and we went to the grocery store afterwards...unfortunately, I had to leave the shopping cart full because Allegra had a bout of diarrhea...poor baby...luckily, I got home in time before she let loose (TMI) I wanted to get her hair french braided but once we got home and got comfortable, I decided that we would stay in. They took a long nap and we baked chocolate chip cookies for treat (after their lunch of course).

2peas Blog Challenge for today...
What are your scrapping plans for today?
I guess my scrapping plans for today are to go out and make memories by spending time with my girlfriends and taking photos of course.

Once Rick got home from work, I was off duty.
I will be getting in late tonight so I will make sure to post tomorrow about my evening

Hugs and Kisses
Me

Feeling Good Friday...

Woke up this morning feeling really good...It is Friday
Rick called this morning once he got to work telling me that his probation was cut short and he now wears a orange hat...YEAH...I am so glad that he has passed his probation period and he is happy with this job...thus far.
The twins do not have school today so we are going to just relax today until it is time for me to take them to my mother's house for I have to work the crop at Windy City Scrapbooking tonight. I can not remember who I work with tonight but we usually have a good time working the crops and helping the ladies with their projects.

Allegra has become fixated on one of her stuffed animals. It is a stuffed animal that we had in their room for decoration (their room was safari themed) and it is a jaguar. Since they watch Diego (a cartoon on Nickelodeon), their is a character named Baby Jaguar and hence...Allegra has her own Baby Jaguar. This animal goes everywhere with us and she is always putting bows, barrettes and other baby doll clothes on this stuffed animal. She will let Alex play with it sometime but for the most part, Baby Jaguar belongs to Allegra

While the twins are taking a nap, I am up catching up on emails and such. I am on my favorite scrapbooking website 2peas thinking about today's blog challenge...
What do you desire (list everything)

Wow...this is a thoughtful one...so much that I had to think about it and come back to answering it. When I think of my desires there are so many and they fall into different categories. I will not list them all, I will put that in my handwritten journal but I will list my Top 5 (not in any particular order)

My desires are...

Peace of Mind

Success

Prosperity

Loving relationships

Good Health

I will have to think more about this one...maybe even make a page or two and add it to my Book of Me scrapbook. This is something I will have to ask Rick and see what he says. One thing about blog challenges...they also allow me to have interesting conversations with the hubby. I am always finding out something new with him and he gets a kick to see what my question of the day will be.

I will be getting in late tonight since I am working the crop at the store

Gotta go

Hugs and Kisses

Me

Tax Tuesday 4 Us

Yes...we are one of those....late filers for IRS taxes.
I am so glad that we have an accountant to whom we have been going to since 1999 and he is really good at what he does. He was able to get us back very good returns before we were married...once we were married, he had warned us with our income increasing and with us moving into a different tax bracket, our return would not be as good and once the twins came...he has been DA BOMB on getting us nice returns and offering us very good advice when it comes to preparing to file our taxes.
Of course I have our return spent before our taxes were even done...shame on me.
The twins went over to my mother' s house while we got them done and my mother decided that they could stay as to give Rick and I some time alone...gotta love her for that.
We went out to dinner, just to Leona's and enjoyed each other's conversation. It really amazes me that after all of these years...13 to be exact, that we still have great conversations with each other and we still share our hopes, dreams and goals with each other...which leads up to the blog challenge on 2peas today, which I found to be appropriate:
Do you have any spring projects you are excited to do and if so...what is it?
I am really excited about a couple of projects that I have for this spring...actually, I should say this summer, which I have broken down into categories...this is what I shared with Rick at dinner tonight
Self...Continue to work on my health, which means eating right and exercising more
Home....Clean out our backyard from the winter and get our back porch cleaned up so the twins can play. Our back porch is enclosed but it is not insulated so during the winter, it becomes a catch all so I just want to get it organized and maybe put some fresh paint up and just make the back porch more cozy so it can be another area for us to lounge in
Scrapbooking...Purge and organize my scrap space so I can create more both for myself and for others...I really want to explore my options in doing custom scrapbooking for others.

After dinner, we came home and both of us had email to catch up on, we watched the news, Jay Leno's monologue and were both out like lights before our heads hit the pillow.

Hugs and Kisses
Me

Relaxing Sunday...

We had a relaxing Sunday...
I was kinda hung over from going out with my Dining Divas dining group last night. We have been together since last fall and we have a blast as we try different restaurants in Chicago. We go since we are FOODIES and we also go for the cultural experience and the friendships. I am really glad that we came together. We get together every other month with a member being the host and with that...the host has to seek out a restaurant for us to experience together. We have been to alot of nice places. Well last night, we went to this place called JA GRILL...a Jamaican restaurant...and the food was really good. I had to valet park since parking was really bad (we were up North). The place had a resident DJ and he jammed the Caribbean tunes all night. I had jerk chicken and also my share of Bahama Mama drinks. We really had a great time. I did not take a camera to take photos but here is a shot of us at one of outing last year at this place up North call XO's...we went for brunch and it was FAB...I do not think that we have been to a restaurant in Chicago that was not good...Cicely hosts next and I am sure she will pick a winner (That is me...in the Fiery Red of course)
So after dining and drinking last night...I had my little hangover and Rick was a sweetheart to let me sleep in late. I actually slept until 11am and by that time...the twins were about ready to take their naps.
When they woke up...we all got dressed and went out to Rick's mother's house where she made me a nice birthday dinner...and she made me a cheesecake...I really need to get the recipe and learn how to cook the cheesecakes that she makes...they are just sinful.
All in all, my birthday weekend was really good. I got to spend it with my family and friends and that is what matters most.

Here is the 2peas blog challenge for today
How is life different for your children, then when you were growing up?
One thing for sure...technology is very different today then it was when I was growing up...everything is so gadget oriented and you really have to be tech savvy...which is why I make sure my twins spend at least 15-30 minutes on the computer everyday
There are many more resources and groups available for my children for me to research. I want my children to get a taste of everything and be well rounded...like my parents did for me, but there is so much out there, that I even get alitte overwhelmed as to what I want them to do...Alexandre', basketball, karate, cub scouts, baseball...and then Allegra, ballet, karate, gymnastics, brownies and the lists for both go on.
The one thing that is negative is the crime. Things have gotten really bad in the city of Chicago to the point that I do not want the kids to even play in the front or back yard. I do not live in a bad neighborhood by no means but the violence has escalated in the schools and in the streets. When I was growing up...the crime was not like it is today for the purchase of guns was not as easy as it is today...which is sad.
All and all...there is just more opportunities out there for my children and it is up to Rick and I to make sure that they have the very best.

Off to bed now
Hugs and Kisses
Me

Finally Friday...

and I am so glad...
The kids stayed at my mother's last night since I had a focus group to attend this morning and they were out of school.
I enjoy doing focus groups as it is a way for me to make money quick for doing something for a short amount of time. This focus group was about toilet tissue and how it feels and look (the stitching of it) and for one hour I was given $75...not bad.
After my group...I went to pick up Alex and Allegra and we just relaxed at home for the rest of the day.
Once Rick got home and with it being Friday, we ordered a pizza and watched a movie with the kids. Alex got to pick the movie and it was his favorite....ET. This has been his favorite movie since he was 3 years old. Allegra does not care for it to much but she will sit and watch it with her brother and will just leave the room or do something else on the parts that she does not care about. After seeing it for 125 times in my lifetime...I still enjoy watching it as I am watching it with my children and rediscovering the movie...over and over again.

I did get a chance to glance at the Blog Challenge on 2peas earlier:
Did you have a childhood hideout and if so...where?

I can not recall having a childhood hideout in my home for I was everywhere in the house playing or doing something. I can recall having a hideout at my mother's place of business. My parents were in the optical business where we own two optical shops...one named after me ALRAY OPTICAL and that is the one that my mother ran and the other one was A&A OPTICAL, which is the one my father ran...my family was in the Optical industry from the time I was in 2nd grade up until I was in my 3rd of college. (that is a whole other story) I can remember, at Alray Optical, my mother having this very large cabinets that had sliding doors...it is where the optical equipment would sit...there were 3 of these drawers and I use to slide the doors and hide in the cabinets. I can remember taking a pencil and writing my name inside of the cabinets. My mother got so use to me going inside of these cabinets that she put a blanket and pillow for me and I would take naps inside of the cabinet. I did this up until I was in the 4th grade and then I would use one of the cabinets to store my books and toys.

As far as the twins...Alexandre' has a hideout and that would be underneath our dining room table. He is always under there playing with his action figures and he also uses it as a hiding place when he does not want to be found and he uses it for his own time out for when he does not get his way. He has bumped his head on the table plenty of times when trying to get out. Allegra does not really have a hiding place but she always takes the big pillows from our couch and props them up and creates what she calls her CLUBHOUSE and she puts all of her baby dolls and favorite books in it and plays, until her brother comes and knocks it all down.
Wow...I just realized that I must photograph this and make a couple of scrapbook pages of this so that they can remember about this from their childhood...

Well, after the movie...we all went to bed since Alex starts basketball tomorrow morning

Hugs and Kisses
Me

Happy Birthday to ME !!!!

I am starting out by answering the Challenge for the day from 2peas

Do you try out for Design Teams?

Now I will have to answer this with a no. I have only been on one scrapbooking Design Team and that is a@ Windy City Scrapbooking and I am now honored to be the Design Team Coordinator which gives me alittle bit more responsibility..which I love. I enjoy putting kits together for members of our Design Team and seeing what creations they come up with around the store. I will do projects for the store if someone can not do it for the month or if I feel inspired to do something. This is also giving me time to try to catch up on some of my own projects.

Now in the future...I do plan on trying out for more Design Teams and even a few contests but I am happy now with what I am doing...Teaching classes and being Design Team Coordinator

So back to my BIRTHDAY
39 and counting
I had a great birthday
Rick started it off by waking me up early...in a good old fashion way...wishing me a Happy Birthday...before he went to work (BIG SMILE)
I then got up and got dressed, got Alexandre' and Allegra dressed and we had a mini photo shoot where I let Alexandre' take my picture...here is his best shot along with a shot of Alexandre' and Allegra dressed for the day.

Since today was Thursday...my volunteer day and also my birthday, I decided to get cupcakes for the class to eat as I stayed for the day.
Ms. Graham made me a Birthday Crown to wear for the day. I received the royal PRE SCHOOL treatment for the day. Regular routines for the day was followed (Library, Centers, etc.) but the class did take the time out to place me in the middle of their circle and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me. I even had to beat on the BIRTHDAY DRUM (I had to hit the drum the same number of times as my age...one of the twins' classmates told me I was taking TOO LONG...LOL)


I decided to work on Thursday at Windy City Scrapbooking, so after school we went to my mother's house, so the kids could stay there until Rick picked them up.
Now you know that my mother is so thoughtful and always doing stuff for me and my family and so I was not that surprised when I walked into her apartment to find a nice lunch for us along with a little cake/candles. The twins had a good time putting candles in the cake...they counted each one and when they got to 24 they wanted to know where the rest was, since they knew I was 39...too funny. I let them help me blow out the candles as I made a wish for me and my family for my birthday.



Once I got to work at Windy City...I had a gift certificate waiting at the store for me to use and one of my fellow coworkers bought me cupcakes from Sweet Mandy B's (this are sinful and so good)

Once I got home...Rick had the kids in bed, had my bathwater drawn for me complete with bubble, candles and a glass of wine. He was my massage therapist for the evening and we ended our night with some more glasses of wine and my cupcakes (and him...SMILE)

Hugs & Kisses
Me

Only Wednesday

and I am ready for the weekend already.
Nothing planned special...that I know of...not sure what Rick has up his sleeve for my birthday.
I went to work today and I am even on the schedule to work tomorrow night (helping out)
I started back look at 2peas for the daily blog challenge...now when the New Year began...my word was COMMIT and I have not been as successful as I had hope but I do try daily. With that in mind...I am going to try to COMMIT on commenting on the blog challenges that are posted on http://twopeasinabucket.com

Here is the 2PEAS blog challenge for today...

The weather today makes me feel...
ready for the warmth to begin. It is not bad today but I wish that we were in the month of July with bright sunny skies and warmer temperatures that are constant. Usually weather does affect the way I feel. Of course when is it cloudy outside, I feel down in the dumps and want to stay inside but when it is sunny and warm...I want to just go, go, go. I love the outdoors and nature...especially when it is spring and summer. I feel as though we have had a bad winter this year and I am just ready for Spring officially begin not just because of the date but because of what is going on outside.

I am off to bed now since I am going to spend the day with the kids tomorrow in school.

Hugs & Kisses
Me

April Fool's Day

Happy April Fool's Day...
I am up late, after working all day at work today (I worked the morning part and taught Basics class tonight) and I am surfing the web of some of my favorite blogs to read and I found this...

What Alraynita Means

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.
You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.
You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.
You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.
You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.
You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.
You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.
You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

Click on the link below and find out your Name's Hidden Meaning

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Now in reading this...I was very happy to see that I could type my name "Alraynita" into something and I actually received something back...especially since my name is one of a kind (made up)...some of these things are true and some I have to question as to maybe it was me in my younger days or maybe it might be me in my older days...I have already made plans to dissect this information and do a scrapbook page or pages or heck...maybe even a whole book about me...now that would be a challenge

I had a really good weekend as it was filled with scrapbooking.

Friday, March 28th

I ran errands like I normally do, after I dropped the twins off at school.
They went to stay at my mother's house since I had to work the crop at Windy City Scrapbooking and the best part of this was that they spent the night with her.

Saturday, March 29th

I GOT TO SLEEP IN LATE...I DID NOT GET UP UNTIL 10AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was the beauty of the twins staying with my mother the night before. I came home late since I worked the crop last night and Rick left for work early this morning and I had the house to myself. Not do not get me wrong...I love my husband and children to death...but I also appreciate when I can be in the house by myself.
I did have a busy day today as I went to Kenicott Park District (where the twins use to go to preschool and where they will be going for summer camp) They were hosting a Women's Spa Day and I went to support my Mocha moms who had vending space for the event. Even though we are stay at home mothers...a lot of us have an entrepreneur spirit. I just went to see what the Spa Day was all about as there were other vendors there too...it was a SISTERS helping SISTERS kinda environment. I did not stay long since I had my SOS crop to get to.
Danielle hosted the crop and she had it RED CARPET themed in honor of awards season...very cute idea. She sent out ballots for us to vote on each other and she even had a red carpet for us to walk down and even little Oscars and give away bags...she really went all out for us. So what awards did I win? What did my fellow scrapbooking SISTAHS think of me as far as my scrapbooking abilities. I actually pick up 3 Oscars that evening in the following categories:

MOST LIKELY TO KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL PRODUCT LINES

MOST LIKELY TO SHOP REGULARLY FOR SCRAPBOOK SUPPLIES

MOST LIKELY TO FALL ASLEEP AT A CROP

Now the first two nods are almost a given...Hey, I do work and teach part time at a scrapbook store and the last nod...I plead the 5th.

Here I am with all of my Oscars

Again...we had a great time catching up with each other, getting our awards, walking the red carpet...we even gave little acceptance speeches and I was ready for the PAPARAZZI. I did not stay out late at this crop like previous crops since Danielle had to host her crop at a store so we were done by 11pm....this actually worked out in my favor since I had to get up early the next day to teach my Birthday Acrylic Album class.

Sunday, March 30th

I got to Windy City Scrapbooking to set up for my class. Four people signed up for it...two being Latosha Cherry and Latosha Mayes (from my scrapping group SOS). I am always nervous when I run a class for the first time for I do not know what to expect as far as timing and level of difficulty with the students. After the class, we do give out surveys for the students to fill out where we are rated as instructors and the content of the class is rated...might I say....my ratings were EXCELLENT, which made me very happy. Once I cleaned up everything from the class once it was over...I went home and I was pleasantly surprised by my mother having dinner already done for us. Rick admitted to me that he loves when my mother spoils us and cooks for us...especially when he knows I am tired. Spent time with family and retired to bed early, since I did have a long weekend.

So all in all my weekend was good. I worked yesterday and also today...so glad it is April 1st which means just two more days until my birthday...YEAH

Hugs & Kisses

Me