Thinking....

Hello everyone!  Today I have a card for you from I Brake For Stamps below---but first I'm going to have a monologue for you about some thoughts I had.  If you don't want to read this, that's fine with me as well!  But this will be the last time I ever comment on any of these things ever again.  There are reasons I'm writing this but I won't go into that and what I write below does not apply to the majority of you---the people that this is directed towards know who they are!

First let me start by saying I started this blog for myself as a way to meet others and share my work.  I CONTINUE to do this blog for MYSELF and for the enjoyment of others who WANT to visit.  This is MY blog, my time and I'm allowed to write whatever I feel like whenever I like--if I want to cuss all day long here on my blog, I'm allowed to do that!  If you write your own blog then more power to you and GUESS WHAT??? You can write whatever you darn well please and I'm fine with that too, because it's YOUR BLOG!  You don't like what I have on my blog, don't stop by--EASY AS PIE!  What a concept this is---you don't have to read anyone's blog you don't want to--get it!

I don't ask anyone to come to my blog--EVER!!  If you come visit me, it is by your choice only.  I don't ask you to jump through hoops, ask you to "follow" me, subscribe to me to enter for blog candy or to get you to read my blog.  It is your personal choice to stop by my blog--while I'm happy that I have many of you stop by, I don't influence anyone to come here.  If only 3 of you stopped by each day, I would continue to write my blog for ME, to share my work with those that actually enjoy it!  If you come here because you do not like me (for whatever bizarre reason you might have since I don't personally know most of you) and want to be nosy or gather info on me, then that's just fine--my blog is public so I cannot stop anyone from visiting.  If you stop by because you enjoy my work and what I have to say, then I'm thrilled and happy to have you.

This part of my blog is like a journal for me, so I write whatever I might be feeling that day.  If I'm tired, I'm sick, stressed, happy, excited, busy, celebrating, etc--this is where I will do it.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO READ IT---no where does it state "hey, read all of this before you proceed".  I have no idea why anyone would complain about what I write on MY BLOG about MY LIFE when no one said you had to stop by and read it.  I don't understand why people invest so much of their time "hating" on other people and concerning themselves with other people's lives.  Really, do you hate yourself so much that you have to spew that hatred onto others---are you that unhappy in your life and what you do that you have to involve yourself into someone's life that you don't know and be vicious.  (and you know exactly who I'm talking about because I know you're reading this and I know who you are)  Guess WHAT?? I don't care!! LOL--I don't give a rat's ass what you think about how I live or manage my life and work--YOU DON'T HAVE A SAY IN MY LIFE!  Just like I don't have a say in yours!

Want to know why?

I have a beautiful, loving family and I KNOW that I am a damn good mom---I have dedicated the past 14 years of my life making sure my kids are well taken care of and am involved in every aspect of their lives.  And if you asked them they'd tell you the same (minus I'm too strict sometime or hover too much, but hey that's teens right).  I'm also a pretty darn good wife and have an AWESOME relationship with my best friend who just happens to be my hubby--I wouldn't change a thing and he would tell you the same. 

Know what else???  I like who I see in the mirror!  I know when I see that person it's someone to be proud of, acknowledges her accomplishments thru HARD WORK(nothing has EVER been given to me that I haven't worked my ass off for) and knows that she's a kind, generous and sympathetic friend, mother and person.  I never look in the mirror and feel bad about myself or something I might have said or done to others.  I have never been nasty to anyone, never written a nasty email or note or started forums to spread vicious lies to make myself feel better.  At the end of the day I may be tired and/or stressed but I am VERY HAPPY with myself and even better--I LIKE MYSELF!  I have great friends, great family and lots of love and support in my life which makes ME HAPPY!

Does this mean I never am tired, sick or stressed?  I'd be lying if I said no--of course, cuz' that's just life.  I started 2 businesses in one month--crazy?--maybe, but so worth it.  If you know me well you know that I NEVER do anything I don't want to--I'm a stubborn mule so to say, it's the Taurus in me.  If I didn't want to be on DT's then I wouldn't--I'm honored to have been asked (and yes, all the DTs I'm on, I was asked to be) and thrilled to work on projects each day for fantastic women and store owners.  And you know WHAT?  If those businesses thought I wasn't doing a good job then they would let me go--no DT has ever let me go!!  Those owners also know what kind of work I do, how hard I work and the 110% I put into everything and they wouldn't ask me if they didn't want to!!  I have NEVER complained about being on DTs--I know I'm lucky to even be asked.  Am I sometimes overwhelmed by work, YES--aren't we all!!?  If I didn't want to start my businesses, then I wouldn't have done that either but I did and I work hard on both everyday!  And who the heck isn't overwhelmed when they first start a business--if they say they aren't, then they're lying!  I'm lucky enough to NOT have to work, I work because I choose to not because our lives depend on it!  If I didn't want to type my blog each night then I wouldn't do that either.  It's all done by CHOICE!  Yes, sometimes dinner is late or laundry piles up but I don't know many people who work and have families that don't have something pile up occasionally.  I am by no means a supermom, superwife or superwoman--I don't want to be nor do I strive for that because it's impossible.  I am who I am and I try my best every day I wake up no matter what and I NEVER GIVE UP!  And not that it is really anyone's business, but I work all morning and afternoon while my kids are at school and while my hubby is at work---that gives me a lot of time to get things done during the day.  When they are home, I'm not working--I never craft at night.  And yes I do my computer work in the evening, sitting beside my husband, conversing with him & watching our favorite TV shows--that's how I get my work done!

So if you think I'm a quitter--YOU ARE SO WRONG!  If you think I'll change what and who I am--SO SORRY!  If you don't like it---then don't stop by--cuz' I don't CARE!  But by all means, take a look in the mirror and see what kind of person you are and how you treat others, and if you're happy with what looks back at you then I wish you a happy life.  I believe that life gives you what you give to it and so far what I'm gettin' is pretty darn good.  How 'bout you?

Now in no way does this apply to all of you that stop by and in no way am I trying to offend anyone--I'm just being honest about myself, my work and my intentions.  There are a lot of unhappy people out there who try to bring others down and this is my way of letting them know that they don't BOTHER ME!  I never understood vicious people who attack others for no reason and ya know what---I don't want to understand them, because if you start understanding them you might become them.  No one can make you happy but yourself--no one can make you change but yourself and for those of you (you know who you are) I just feel really sorry for you, you're missing out on the one life you've been given by wasting time on things that just don't matter.  Too bad for you!

And here's a quote that a great friend, mentor, wonderful lady and a boss of mine shared with me:

"I LOVE BEING ME!!  It pisses off all the right people!!"    I Love it!!

And for the rest of you, thank you for stopping by and letting me know you care, you like what I do or that maybe I made you laugh or you liked the book I suggested!  I have made many a friend thru my blog and I appreciate all of you more than you can know.  And for you I do care about how you're doing, how life is treating you and helping you whenever I can--I have always made myself accessible to everyone and that will continue. There are so many wonderful people out there and I am so thrilled to know you, talk with you, help you and befriend you.  For that I thank you very much!  Oh and for those that care, my life is great, I'm doing great, I manage myself and my businesses just fine and I live my life with no regrets nor does my family!  I like myself, my life and my family--nothing could ever compare!!

And that's the last you'll ever hear on that!

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Thinking of You!

I was in a solitary mood yesterday so I chose this beautiful tree image from I Brake For Stamps. I brayered the background with various SU inkpads onto glossy cs to create a lovely sunset for my tree to sit in front of.  After brayering the background I stamped the tree from the "Rare Image Garden Sheet" (so many beautiful stamps in this sheet) with memento ink and added a bit of color with my Copics.  If you order something from I Brake For Stamps make sure to use the coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to get 10% off your entire order :o)

The sentiment is from PTI and the background cs was embossed with the CB "Asian" embossing folder.  I love the sunset colors, kinda reminds me of the movie "The Lion King", hee hee--I love to see a great sunset!  The corner brackets were made using a MS border punch and the sentiment sits on a die cut from my Spellbinder's "Ribbon Tag Trio".   To finish this off I spritzed the whole card with Vanilla Smooch Spritz.  This would make a nice sympathy card or just simply to tell someone you're thinking of them.

I wish you all a fabulous day and hope you'll stop by again tomorrow because YOU want to!!