Support a good cause......

Support Shawna in the 2008 Walk to Cure Diabetes Greetings! I'm writing to you to ask for your support in a very special cause.This year, I'll be taking part in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes along with a half-million other walkers across the country. Our goal: To raise $100 million to help fund research for a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, is a devastating, often deadly disease that affects millions of people--a large and growing percentage of them children.Many people think type 1 diabetes can be controlled by insulin. While insulin does keep people with type 1 diabetes alive, it is NOT a cure. Aside from the daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes, there are many severe, often fatal, complications caused by the disease.That's the bad news... and yes, it's pretty bad.The good news, though, is that a cure for type 1 diabetes is within reach. In fact, JDRF funding and leadership is associated with most major scientific breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes research to date. And JDRF funds a major portion of all type 1 diabetes research worldwide, more than any other charity.I'm writing to ask for your support because now more than ever, EACH of us can be a part of bringing about a cure. Each of us can make a real differenceWon't you please give to JDRF as generously as you're able?Together, we can make the cure a reality. Thank you,Shawna JohnsonPlease visit my Walk Web page if you would like to donate online or see how close I am to reaching my personal goal:http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=86974275 Follow this link to make a donation:http://walk.jdrf.org/support.cfm?id=86974275 © 2008 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. All rights reserved.

I Love This Man....

I know you have heard me say this time and time again but it is so true. I really do love this man. He has the most beautiful soul and is very compassionate about our relationship. The last couple of days I was feeling a little negative about certain things around me and I was so ready to through in the towel. Then all he has to do is hold me and tell me that I will be OK and that I will make it past this and I fell so much better. I feel ready to take on the world again. How is it possible that one man can make me feel this way? I am really not sure but he does and I love it.

OK enough being mushie. Here is a sneak peek at the January Kit from Tallyscrapper . Can you say yummy? TTFN

Happy New Year....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I know this is late, but better late than never. I set up the tri-pod and got in the picture this time. I think I did a good job. Nayshawn was able to ring in the new year with us but Niah fell asleep about half an hour before midnight.

So far my 2008 has been great. I have been spending time with family and friends. The kids have been on winter break and enjoying the time off. But it will be back to school for them tomorrow. Boy the two weeks just flew by. Yesterday we went to the Miami Children's Museum. This is part of my New Year's resolution. One planned outing per month for the entire year for a total of 12 planned outings. It was a lot of fun. Check out the pics below. Also some new Layouts for the new year.

And I saved the best news for last. I made on the Tallyscrapper design team. This is especially exciting for me because I have grown to just love everyone there. And I was already planning a trip to meet a lot of the wonderful and talented women from that site in Wisconsin in February.

Pictures from Christmas....

Well, our Christmas was nice. The kids enjoyed it and that is all that really matters. My Christmases are for the kids now anyway. Nayshawn loved his Nintendo DS and Niah loved her Portable DVD player. I got a Making Memories Carousel and Paint brushes from Ezzy a ring from Nayshawn and a porcelain egg from Niah. I bought myself a backdrop, a studio light and a 85mm lens. So all in all I had a wonderful Christmas and I am looking forward to a great new year.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. We are getting ready for Santa. Kids are almost in bed. Most of the gift have been wrapped and we have been tracking Santa on NORAD. He is currently in Peru and working is way up to North America. We have made his cookies and put them by the tree with his milk. All we really have to do now is wait. I will be back soon with pictures of Christmas Day.

Some Scrapping Going on.....

Tallyscrapper is having another Design Team search. So I created some Layouts for my entry. Take a look. The last one is actually a gift for my Sister-in-law. It is mounted on a canvas.

Feeling More like Christmas...

OK, I am starting to feel it now. I did some shopping today. Can't say what I got for far that my family is reading my blog.

I am especially happy to purchase Nayshawn's gift. He has been doing so much better in school lately. I even got a call from his teacher yesterday to say he has been behaving himself and doing his work. He has been getting A's and B's. How beautiful is that. So needless to say I am going to run to the store to pick up the Nintendo DS he requested. I love times like these. Niah on the other hand wants a fridge for her room as her Christmas gift. What is wrong with that lazy little girl? She won't be getting that, for those of you who thought I was even considering it.

For now I leave you with some pictures of the ornaments from my tree. The are simple but beautiful and mean so much to me because they are to same ornaments I use to decorate my mother's tree when I was growing up.

Feeling like Christmas.....Maybe

There are a lot of little thing going on around the house that makes it feel like Christmas time. Living in Florida makes it so hard sometimes to get into the holidays. Other states see the change in seasons and right now they are experiencing snow and cold weather. What do we have 80 degree weather and no sign of the cold. So I have to create the feel some how. Not just for me but for the kids. I bought these two little trees from Target for the kids to put in there rooms.

And our stocking are hung by the Chimney with care. In hopes the St Nick will bring some goodies.

And you know I just couldn't wait any longer to break out the boots. Even though today was 78 degrees....it's December. All the Floridians should be able to understand.

Art

I am so excited to show you what the kids and I have been up to. Well, a couple of weeks ago I went to the store and bought some canvases and paint to do a paint night for me and the kids. I think it was a success.....check out what we created.

I didn't know my little family had so much talent. They are all hung very nicely on the walls of our rooms. They are so proud of their work. I think they have soon these painting to everyone who has walked through my door. Which makes me happy because it is important to have some creativity in your life.

OK, my tree is up and finally decorated. I decided on Red, Gold and iridescent bulbs and Red beads. I think it turned out rather nice. My mom decided that she is not putting up a tree this year so she told me to come get her decorations and she had these beautiful iridescent bulbs. That is what started the color scheme. I originally wanted to do the pile everything on but the artist in me just couldn't do it. I love how it turned out and the kids do to. Ezzy laughed at me the entire time. I'm sure he thought I sounded like Hitler with my demanding directions to the kids. But they really didn't seem to mind. I have to get a shirt for the bottom of the tree. The one I had ( threw it away) did it's time and now it is time for a new one. Now I just have to work on the other areas of the house and the outside. Niah and Nayshawn say they want little trees in their room. I might just give it to them. How fun would that be. We will see.

OK The Tree is up

Now all I have to do is decorate it. I have no idea what theme or color scheme I want. I think I will probably just go for the fully loaded with every ornament I have theme. LOL. That way I don't have to watch what the kids are putting on it. Well, time to go look and see what online sales I can find. Have a wonderful Monday.

Had a Great Thanksgiving....

Was wonderful to spend time with family. Did just a little shopping yesterday. Got a new well deserved printer. Today is just bugging out watching the Orange county Wives and scrapping.

Happy Thanksgiving

Jamaica was nice. The funeral was beautiful. Wish I could have stayed longer but life must go on.

Plan on spending Thanksgiving with my family here in town. We decided that dinner will be at my cousin's house. Friday is Tree day. Me and the kids will be putting up the tree. Can't wait to have me house feeling all Christmasy. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

I leave you with more pictures of Ariel.

OK and one more of my niece Ali and the kids the other day when she came over to visit.

First Lady of Southern Belle Models.....

I would like to introduce you to Ariel. She is the first official lady of Southern Belle Models. She is truly a natural. Very little work on my part to product her beautiful pictures. I am off to Jamaica tomorrow for my Grandfather's funeral so I have only edited this one photo. But expect more to come. Also I have big news coming really soon. I am so excited about it and I really can't wait to share.

Wow What a Weekend.....

Wow what a great weekend. Friday night was the start of the cyber crop at tallyscrapper and I had a great time chatting and scrapping the ladies on that site. Tons of fun. The challenges were great. I did get to do all of them but I have them written down to try later. Here are a few of the layouts I created. On Saturday I had a photo shoot. A while back I told you my brother started a modeling agency and I am the stylist and photographer. Well, we had a photo session with our first model. I was nervous because I really haven't photographed anyone outside of friends and family but I am happy with how most of the pics turned out. I took a lot just in case there were issues but as we were reviewing them last night it is going to be tough deciding. I will share more once i get them edited. Oh and if you have any opinions please let me know I am still learning.