My Life: Up Close and Personal

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

It has been my pleasure and privilege to be married to Armand for 15 years today.

We have had some trying times, especially these past few years but we have made it through together. Now, I can't imagine my life without him. Don't get me wrong, there are some days when I'd like to send him packing but overall he's a good guy.

• He's a good guy that spoils me rotten
• He's a good guy that when he get's home from work late he will take my car and fill the gas tank up so I don't have to stop and do it in the morning
• He's a good guy that brings me flowers every week
• He's a good guy that's nice to my internet friends
• He's a good guy that still holds my hand in public
• He's a good guy that still knows how to make me laugh

Here's to the guy that still light's up my life. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HONEY!!  I'm looking forward to the next 15 years together.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!

Ok, so anybody who knows me knows that I am a HUGE football fan. I'm the one who can't get out of the house on Sundays because there is a football game on. I am 50% girly girl and 50% footballl fanatic. On Sundays you will find me in my football jersey drinking a Corona and eating hot wings and watching as much footballl as I can.

I still remember the first professional football game my dad took me to. I froze my azz off in Solider Field watching the Bears play, but it was fun. Since then, I have been to several more Bears games and it has been more of the same, I froze may azz off, but it was FUN!!!

So, why all the football talk? Pre-season starts next weekend. Guess you know where I'll be. That's right, me, football, hot wings, a Corona and maybe I'll try some scrapping. I couldn't think of anything better!!

Last night Armand took me the training camp. BEARS training camp. That's right folks. I got to see the Bears practice last night. IT. WAS. SO. AMAZING. There training camp is about an hour away from our house and you can go watch them practice. So he surprised me with a road trip when I got home from work yesterday to go see the Bears play under the lights. Wants to see some pictures?

Here's Brian Urlacher talking to one of the coaches.

Here is Devin Hester making a GREAT catch (sorry it's a bit blurry, but I still LOVE this picture!).He was coming straight at me.   

How about one more. Here is Robbie Gould practicing some kicks.

 

That's a wrap for today, you'll have a great weekend!

HAPPY FRIDAY FOLKS!!

So where have I been? In my scrap room. I"ve decided to redo it it (aka clean it up). LOLA!! I've gotten rid of all my old light pink and white storage baskets and gotten these really cute hot pink and white zebra striped decorative storage boxes. I've also gotten them in black and white zebra striped. I got some plain hot pink and plain black scrap storage boxes. The best part is they were on clearance at Michael's. SCORE!!

I'm accenting the room with Hot Pink, Black and white.I found the cutest glamor girl accessories at Hobby Lobby. Book ends that are all glittery with a shoe on one and a purse on the other, two wall hangings that are glittery one has a shoe the other has a lipstick tube. A sign for the door that says gone shopping, two small hanging pillows, one says i want it all and I want it delivered and the other says nothing cures the blues like a new pair of shoes.

My most favorite thing in the room is the new curtains. I wanted to try my hand at sewing some. I wanted to find some zebra print fabric for curtains. Iwent to Joann's coupon in hand in search of fabric for my new fabulous room. HA, no such luck. My next stop was Target for something totally unrelated. Just happen to be in the bedroom section, and what did I find in the teen section? Zebra stripe curtains, STFU!! And Hot pink sheers with giant polka dots, SOLD!! I couldn't wait to get these up in my room.

My room was os inspiring to work in, that once I got it all cleaned, I started scrapping. so it's in shambles again. Once I clean up the mess i'll take pictures. Here are some pictures of some completed layouts. In the first picture you can see the pink sheers in the background.

 

Little Man: This is a picture of Armand when he was 6 or 7 y/o. I looovvveee this picture, there is no journaling yet. I don't know I will let him do it or if I am going to do it. If I do it I will talk about how much he has changed from then to now. I used the Noel Mignon Penny Arcade monthly kit on the layout. One piece of cardstock came from Coredinations. the title is AC Thickers. 

 

I wish: this was Sasha's Wacky Wednesday challenge. I did this layout about my good friend Val. She is a beautiful person inside and out, but she doesn't see this about herself and that's what my journaling is about. i may frame this layout and give it to her. Items used: Cardstock: Bazzill, PP: Creative Imaginations, Basic Grey, Journaling Spot: Making Memories, Swirls: Grungeboard, Cuttlebug, Flowers: prima, stickles, paint daubers, glimmer mist.

 

Simply, this was done for the BASB weekly challenge. It was to do a layout about yourself. this photo was taken by Armand at my graduation 2 years ago. All papers are from Basic Grey Wisteria. the butterfly is from Joele's, Ribbon: CTMH, Flower: Prima, Stick pen: Maya Road.

 

That's all I got for now. Have a scrappy weekend. I'm out!!

PS sorry there are no links to my references I'm on a super duper slow computer that is driving me BAT.SHIT.CRAZY. plus I don't have my links on this computer. Mine computer crashed (i'm at work) that's a whole 'nother post.

Weekend Plans

So what are your plans for the weekend/Easter?

I can't wait until 3:00 (I'm at work right now, and there is no one here today except me). That's when my weekend starts. I'm going to my usually Friday night crop. I'm still working on the same album for my BFF Belinda's granddaughter. Her birthday party is in 2 weeks and I'm not even halfway finish. It doesn't help that she just gave me more pictures Wednesday night. I'll work it out, I always do.

Tomorrow night we are doing family game night at my Aunt Betty and Uncle Johnny's house. This was suppose to be a monthly thing with the whole family. We haven't done it in almost a year. It was my sisters turn to host it and we have been waiting all this time for her to set a date. My Aunt got tired of waiting, so we will be at their house. This will give me a chance to take so picture with my new lens. Can't wait to try it out.

We don't have much planned for Easter. Don't know if we are going to go to Church. It's always soooo crowded with the CME people (that's the people who only come on Christmas, Mother's Day, and Easter). I'm not cooking dinner this year either. Armand and I talked about it last night, and he suggested we go out to dinner. He's going to pick some place for us to go for an early dinner and then we will come back home and watch the Ten Commandments. That is an Easter tradition for us.

Ok, since I hate to post without pictures. This is the one I promised in my last post. It's also a challenge for you to dig out some old school pictures of yourself. Here is my 5th grade class picture.

I am in the 3rd row from the bottom, first person on the left hand side, not looking at the camera. I swear i don't know what I was looking at. Right below me sitting in the plaid jacket is my BFF Belinda. There is also someone VERY famous in this picture. Do you see her. She is in the top row. She is the tallest girl in the picture. Her name then was Michelle Robinson. Today she is Known as:

 

That's right I went to grammar school with First Lady Michelle Obama. She also worked at University of Chicago Hospital at the same time as my BFF Belinda, so I would see her there occasionally too.

So what famous person(s) did you go to school (grow up) with?

Ok, this post has become way to long, Happy Easter and I'm out!

I am alive and well

I knew it had been a long time since I posted, but I hadn't realized it had been THIS. LONG. I do, however have an excuse. I have been working like nobody's business and then just pure laziness. Let's see if I an give you a brief recap of what's been going on in my life since my last post:

• The holidays were great. My dad came to town for Christmas and stayed with us. It was the best gift I got.
• We celebrated an early Christmas with Armand's family in Naples, Fl. We had sooo much fun. Pictures to follow later.
• With the economic state we had layoffs at work, so for months I was the only uniformed person in our office. I was doing the job of 4 people. Since we have added 3 people to our office. Let's just say it has been a rocky start.
• Because of work I have bee so stressed, Armand and I took a mini vacation and went on a 5 day cruise a couple of weeks ago. Let's just say, we forgot to check to see when college spring break starts. 3,000 people on the ship. It was still fun spending time with the hubs. Pictures to follow.
• We we got home from the cruise, I didn't get my sea legs back and ended up off from work for an extra week with a case of vertigo.
• I have been scrapping a lot, it's my only stress relief. I'm working on a gift album right now. My BFF Belinda's granddaughter turns 5 in a couple of weeks and I am making her a book from birth to 5yrs. She is going to love it. She is one of my biggest supporters of anything I do besides Armand. Love her to death we have been friends since 2nd grade. I have our 5th grade class picture to post, there is someone really famous in the picture too.

Well, that's it in a nutshell. Not much going on in the Windy City. I just want to Thank those that have emailed or posted asking if everything was ok. The Heards are just doing their thang.

Peace Out!

CHANGE

YES WE CAN! YES WE DID!!!

 

 

These 2 are for Patrice.

 

 

There is nothing left to say, except IT IS GREAT TO LIVE IN CHICAGO TODAY!!!

Today must be.....

call out day. I got called out by my "so-called" friends about my lack of posting. It's not like I haven't thought of posting. It's just that when I think about it I am at work and have no pictures to accompany my post ( you know a really good post always has pictures). Besides things have been so crazy, you probably wouldn't believe me if I didn't have pictures.

So he is a quickie, I'll try and do better.

• Armand had his 6 month check -up and he is doing fine. He got the OK to start driving, I no longer have to pick him up from work at midnight and then get up at 5 a.m to go to work myself. Can you say GOOD NIGHT SLEEP finally!!

• We celebrated 14 years of marriage on August 20th.

• I turned 43 on September 12th.

• We went on our annual New Orleans trip and went to the Saints home opener. Had a Blast!!

I do have pictures of all of the above events. I will post them later, just want to get this out to SHUT Up a few people. Coughpatricecoughmyecough!!!

On the downside this economy is hitting everyone hard. You all know I work for the city. Well the great Mayor Daley has decided that in order to balance our budget he needs to layoff 1,000 people. Our department didn't get hit too hard, we are not going to be able to fill positions that are vacant. Plus 9 people are going to be layed off. One of those people is my boss. We haven't been able to talk about it at all. The budget hearings were last week. They are suppose to notify the people being layed off by November 1st. How's that for a start to the holiday season?

Ok, I think I have rambled enough. I will post pictures from our New Orleans trip, the Saints game and some layouts that I have been working on. I am enrolled in Cathy Z's class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking. so far it's been great.

Toodles!!

I'm down for the count

been sick since Friday. It started with just a little tickle in my throat. didn't feel to bad so I went to my regular Friday night crop. By 8 o'clock, I was useless. I packed it up and came home. Saturday morning was not good, fever, sore throat cough.

What made it even worse was the fact that I had to work. Have you ever stood in the hot sun for 5 hours with a 101 fever. Let's just say it was not fun. I couldn't wait to get home. Armand and I were suppose to spend the weekend together. No that he is off medical, we could actually go out and do something. Instead, I spent the weekend in bed with him watching me.

Sunday was a bit better, I could actually sit up for more than a minute. I managed to eat a bowl of soup and then sleep for the rest of the day.

Monday and today are even better. I hope to 100% by the weekend. You ask why, because you guessed it, I have to work again this Saturday. I don't want to EVER have to stand in the HOT sun with a 101 fever EVER again.

Besides, my weekend retreat is coming up soon. I need to 100% for a fun filled weekend of scrapping, talking, eating and did I mention scrapping.

Y'all take care now!!

No more playing Nursemaid....

....today is Armand's first day back to work. His doctor's appointment went very well on Friday. He isn't on any medications, hasn't been since the end of April. He isn't going to require any further treatment at all. The only thing left to do is an EEG to make sure there in no seizure activity. If that turns out OK, he can even go back to driving himself around. Talk about being BLESSED.

I have to say, taking care of a sick loved one is the hardest job in the world. I have done it twice now, with 2 very different outcomes. I took care of my mom and now Armand. It is physically and emotionally draining, especially when you are also dealing with other family members. After going through everything that I have taking care of my mother and my husband, you know what, I would do it again in a heartbeat if they needed it. It's what I was suppose to do as a child and as a wife.

The only thing I wouldn't do again is allow my stepdaughter to stay with us. Can you believe after 3 1/2 months, she is still there. She acts like this is here home. This is NOT her home she is a guest, it is time for her to GO!!! The problem is she has no where to go. She knew the day would come when here father would be going back to work and wouldn't need anyone there while I was at work. Do you think she made plans for that day?? NO!!! Well guess what Little Missy , it's time to go!!  hey before you say I'm being to rough on the girl, she is grown, and she walks around MY house without speaking to ME!! She has expressed that SHE has NO DESIRE to have any type of relationship with ME. OK, fine then leave MY house. OK, rant over.

On to some more happy news, I am going here in just a few weeks. I can't wait. My scrapping time has been cut way down for the past few months, so I am excited to get back into the swing of things. My good friend Mye will be joining me. We will be stopping at several LSS on our drive there. I am hoping that they have some of the new Basic Grey goodness at one of the stores we stop at.

OK this post is getting really long, but I don't think it is complete without 1 or 2 pictures. So how about a few from The Taste of Chicago. I did manage to get out and have some fun. I went to the Stevie Wonder concert with a couple of my friends, we had a great time.

I'm out, chat with you later.

****ETA no pictures, I'm having some technical difficulties. I will add them later. 

I really haven't fallen off.....

the face of the Earth. I want to thank those of you that have emailed or called to check on me.Words can't describe what these past few months have been like. I know my last few post were all about my trip to Nashville for Scrap ETC.

I did make it to Nashville, but I didn't stay long. The second day into the event, I had to come home, Armand had a seizure and was in the hospital. Turns out he had a brain tumor. I won't go it to all the details, it's such a long story.  I will tell you that we are so BLESSED. He had surgery 5 days after the seizure and came home 3 days after the surgery. The pathology report came back benign (another HUGE BLESSING). Other than the scar (which is healing) you wouldn't even know that there was anything wrong with him.

I am so happy to have my husband back to his old crabby self. Unfortunately I have to deal with the the fallout that happens when a family goes through a traumatic event like this. Let's just say the relationship between my sister-in-law and I will never be the same. Plus, my stepdaughter has been here for over a month and is staying with us (talk about house guest blues). I just pray for the day when my home is healthy and back to normal.

Somethings are getting back to normal. I have been back to work for almost a month. I didn't leave Armand's side at the hospital until he came home. I have been working like crazy, I have several new projects going at once. One of the biggest things I am working on is class with our Police Department Marine Unit. I get to spend my days on the Lakefront, sometimes even on a boat. Plus I am getting paid to be there.

Is this not a motley looking crew or what? I had such a great time in class with them. We have since moved on to an even crazier group of students. I will be with them until the end of the month.

Let's see, not much else going on. Oh, I did go see Sex and the City. Loved it. I will be stalking Best Buy waiting for it to come out on video. It is a must have, I own all the other  DVD's and I have the soundtrack on my Ipod.  Yes I am a SATC addict.

OK, you have been updated on the last few months of my life. The only thing that I left out was the comfort shopping. My shoe, purse, clothes and scrap supply collections have grown greatly due to my stress levels.
I'll post pictures at a later date.

Really, I out now. Peace.