i got me some mojo...

creative that is. i had cleaned my studio over the holiday weekend... and can you say WOW??? i can find things i didn't know i had. i think i could open a scrapbook store in my home with my stash! phew.i am preparing to head to CKC this weekend and want to enter a couple of contests. so i've been scrappalappin.created two pretty decent LO's.. just don't know if they are contest worthy or not. who knows these days, anyhow...

life is pretty good around these parts these days, considering we are pretty destitute. somehow, we really DO find joy in the little things. i am reminded recently of a little challenge Ali Edwards had on her blog the beginning of the year. it was to choose a word for the year. i couldn't narrow it down to just one.. so i chose a motto if you will. create everyday, play hard, live simply. i have not been doing these things.

so let me tell you.. i've shifted my focus and am paying attention to these six little words that can mean so much in my life. i lived simply today while working by staying focused, not getting sidetracked with online chit chat and i got a TON accomplished. i played hard with kennedy after work today... i'm talking hiccup filled tickle fest, complete with her climbing all over me and such. i then created last night and tonight. it feels good. a little soul cleansing.

that's about it for now. it's now officially wednesday... 12:22 am.. which means in 16 hours, i will be on vacation for the next FOUR GLORIOUS SCRAPPY DAYS!!! i think the smell of paper and adhesive is going to make me high as a kite.. and i can't wait for that sort of high! it's cheaper and less mind altering!

how will you spend the rest of your week?

ciao!

MY VERY OWN PRIVATE IDOL...

Please take a moment to read the message below from one of my oldest, dearest friends. He REALLY IS a big deal! AND.. he's soon to release his newest album... the one that WILL bring him mainstream. I KNOW IT. so read below, go to the website and VOTE VOTE VOTE for his song. Post a link on your blog, message board, website... spread the word people!!!! Pay it forward! This man has done a world of good in my heart and my life... it's the least I can do for him!

ROCK ON!!! And thanks...



From Ron Irizarry.....


My Dear Friends:

Thanks so much for the overwhelming response that I've received through emails from those of you who have expressed to me that you have voted for my new song, "I STILL FEEL FOR YOU". I want to tell you how much it means to me that you have taken the time out of your day to do so. I've just partnered with CC MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT, INC a really amazing company that helps further independent artist here in Central Florida, to help make a larger voting presence, & have launched the "VOTE & PASS IT ON CAMPAIGN". For those of you who have voted and have been spreading the word, thank you! For those who have not I would appreciate your support to do so. Either way, I ask for your support to pass the word along as all the information is below. Thanks again & none of this would be possible without YOU! Let's spread this thing like a wildfire!Much love, Ron Irizarry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMAY 26, 2007 RON IRIZARRY ALONG WITH CC MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT, INC ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF THE "VOTE & PASS IT ON CAMPAIGN"

RON IRIZARRY'S NEW SONG "I STILL FEEL FOR YOU" WAS RECENTLY HAND PICKED TO BE FEATURED ON 102.7 KIIS FM JOJO ON THE RADIO'S NEW MUSIC ALERT!WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO MAKE AN OVERWHELMING PRESENCE IN VOTES FOR RON'S NEW SONG!

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY VOTING & PASSING IT ON. IT'LL ONLY TAKE 3 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME. REPOST THE EVENT, BULLETIN THE EVENT, BLOG THE EVENT, FORWARD THE MESSAGE, POST ON MESSAGE BOARDS, TEXT YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY, COMMENT YOUR FRIENDS, COMMENT YOUR FRIEND'S FRIENDS! PASS THE WORD TO FRIENDS, FAMILY, & MUSIC FANS TO PASS THE WORD TO THEIR FRIENDS, FAMILY, & MUSIC FANS! ANY HELP IN ANY WAY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
VOTE & PASS IT ON!!!
VOTE FOR "I STILL FEEL FOR YOU" BY RON IRIZARRY FOR 102.7 KISS-FM JOJO'S NEW MUSIC ALERT BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW AND VOTING FOR THE SONG!

PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.kiisfm.com/pages/jojoontheradio.html

http://www.ronmusic.com/

on being one year closer to my scary age

so, today is the day. the day i came into this world. 34 years ago. this means to me, that i am 12 months closer to my current scary age of 35. i don't know why. first it was 21. then 25. now 35. hmmm.

anyhow, it started of without a bang. no good morning happy birthday wishes until about 45 minutes into my day. typical. i would think after several years of no more fanfare on my birthday, i'd be used to it. SOOO not the case.

you see, birthdays in my life, have always been a national holiday. i don't buy this shit, "you're older now, you don't get cake anymore..." i just don't. if i wasn't born, think of all the things that wouldn't have happened. all the changes i've made would never have taken place. now, i'm not tooting my horn saying i'm so damned awesome, i've changed the world... but hell, i certainly DO know i've made one hell of an impact. those that know me... understand this. whether it be good or bad. i've made an impact. therefore, it should be celebrated, damnit!

anyhow. i will go about my day. and my best friend said it best... i have to be in control of what i want to see happen. so if i have to drive out to the damn purple hippo and buy my own damn cake! so be it!!! because you know what???

"YOUUUUUU CAN EEEAAAATTTT CAKEEEEEEE!!!!"

HAPPY FRIGGIN BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

the end.

saturday stuff

phew. what a busy day. cleaned the bathroom. did loads and loads and loads, and did i say loads of laundry? LOADS. did dishes. at least three times. can someone in my next life, please get me a dishwasher? i have not had one in six years, people. my hands are aging at a rapid warp like speed. i baked a birthday cake for my girl. was too too cute. pink pink and more pink. we took it over to my brother's house and did the happy birthday thing. kennedy was SO excited to blow out the candles, she had to blow out ALL of Auntie Amy's candles she had lit all over the house. it was too cute. she LOVED the whole thing. the cake, the candles. it was priceless. of course i snapped almost an entire roll of film. then we played outside for a bit, did the snuggie on the sofa tonight, and... she sleeps.... ahhhh. back to the basement. more laundry to finish and i am going to start packing for my trip. and i am SO wanting to make an ugly doll... i picked up some funky trims and lace tonight at wal mart... can't beat 10 cents a yard for some of it! i am seriously going to take like an hour and rummage through the trim section... 10 cents to 2 bucks a yard for some gooood trims! man i love dumpster divin the fabric dept at wally world!

ok, to the basement. hope everyone had a splendiforous saturday!

ciao!

AND SHE TURNS TWO. TWO.DAY...

WOW. i mean really. just. wow. TWO years. two years ago, today, i was getting dressed in my overly sized, gi-normous cozy pink maternity sweats, a comfy top, that barely had enough cotton and lycra to cover my ever expanding by the minute belly, making sure all the new mommy items were packed in THEE bag, having my "final" meal of junky, fat laden, fast food, and driving over the river and through the woods, to community general hospital we go. wow. i was getting ready to go have a baby. ME. who just 18 months prior, never thought getting pregnant was even a remote possibility. (2 years, no protection, EVER. yeah, didn't think it was in the cards.) amazing what having a sick and twisted and defective thyroid removed from your body can do to your fertility karma!!!

i can still recall her BIRTH day like it was yesterday. i was spoiled. though i got to experience the joy of pregnancy, i can't say i got to experience the joy.. wait, excruciating pain, of labor. i was HUGE. and i don't mean i gained too much weight with said baby. i mean my belly was HUGE. unnaturally huge. so, because i am a big girl to begin with, the dr and midwife naturally assumed we would have gestational diabetes. no, no one believed Gary, my lovely sonographer who at week 30, i got to see once a week.. that said baby.. was HUGE. doc kept saying, he's usually over estimates to be on the safe side. nope. not this time.

so, we check in, at 1:00pm. get settled into our suite. (community is like the Ritz Carlton of birthing wards) i get comfy. i had a scheduled induction on the 10th. they didn't want me to go past said due date, due to said, big belly. they begin the induction. that natural hippy suppository stuff. yeah. whatever. apparently, i go into labor. or so the fetal monitor tells the nurses. i am uncomfortable. i feel like i have gas. they ask.. "honey, you're sure you don't feel these? they look pretty strong." Nope, not me! Can i have a diet coke? hahaha

so, they slip me a pregnancy safe mickey, to help me sleep. yeah. i think they slipped it to the husband as he slept juuuuust fine. i on the other hand tossed and turned and had leg cramps all night. husband SNORED enough to rattle the floor! the day goes on... NOW mind you... because i am high risk and chance for a c-section, they're not letting me eat much. i finally send the husband out for some contraband. spicy chicken sandwich from wendy's and a fruit bowl. while he's gone... it's about 4pm on the 11th... the doc comes for a visit. so, 23 hours and no aggressive labor, no dilation, nothing. we talk about pitocin. i told him he was on drugs and that he was going to take this baby. i was exhausted and there was no way in HELL i was going to push said large baby out of my crotch. no way in HELL. he said at this point, it was up to me, and if i wanted a c-section, i could have one. but would have to wait until 8:00pm. he asked if i had eaten? i told him i had a banana and a snickers bar at 3:00...it was really right before he walked in, and i lied, since i knew there had to be an 5 hour span between food and surgery. apparently, my banana and snicker bar were the topic of laughter with the docs and nurses during their meetings that night. no chicken sandwich. damn.

finally. surgery. get all suited up. epidural. check. hubby comes in. check. surgery begins. doc and nurses are crackin up, having a good ol time. teasing me. joking with us. doc begins to pull out said large baby. he exclaims... "so glad you talked me into this c-section.. no WAY you could have pushed out these shoulders." they pull her, and pull her, and pull her.. then it all gets very quiet..."i ask what's wrong..." doc states she's very dark skinned..." my hubby and i, in unison... "i'm a 1/4 indian" "he's a 1/4 indian!!!" huge amounts of laughter, and then a cry. the most beautiful sound i have ever heard my entire life. and she just stopped. just like that. she was here. AND THEN... I WAS MOMMA. and yeah, said baby big? said baby girl was 10lbs 9 ounces and 22 inches long. TODDLER sized. HUGE!!!

fast forward two years. thee most amazing child. not only brilliant, but the most empathetic two year old i have ever known. has manners, says, yes please, no thank you,always asking if you are okay, do you feel better... i mean just amazing. gorgeous. the biggest brown eyes that can just soak you in forever. a sweet sweet smile that causes her entire face to smile.. and dimples? too sweet. she's got rhythm, and constant song in her heart, and is destined to do great things. she is wise beyond her years. her senses are keen and her wit is already sharp. at two.

wow. i am amazed i have done this. that i am doing this. what an amazing way to spend mother's day. celebrating the birth of my child... and honoring the fact that i am now a momma. this ride is more than i could have ever asked for. can't wait to see what happens in the third year.

i love you baby girl...

NEW MOM = MORON AT THE PARK

so, one would think, after two years of this.. i'd have mastered the whole take kennedy to the park thing? not so much! see the timing of her birth.. she's a May baby... on her first birthday, she still wasn't walking, so we never took her that summer. by the time she began to walk, it was too cold. the winters, she didn't get to play outside too much.. especially this one.. too cold... (or we are too paranoid, i'll go with the latter) so i have a day off today. i take her to the park. there are some WILD children running around. and quite honestly, they freaked her out! they freaked me out too.. this being the wild part. growling at her, crouching in her face and telling her to hurry up... and the parents just looking on, laughing. wow. i mean, am i wrong to think that was inappropriate? i really think it was. but i still consider myself new at this. this whole parenting thing.

so, instead, we walked a little. she wanted to see the "ocean" aka the polluted lake of onondaga county, then we did the swings. then a preschool showed up.. with teachers who barely spoke english... momma high-tailed it right out of there. so is it me just being a new mom and wanting to constantly protect my girl from rude, incorrigible little children, or am i being paranoid? i need to socialize the poor child, but am scared to death to let children be mean to her! oi vay.. the joys of parenthood!!!