My Mom

Inevitably, as Mother's Day approaches, I think more and more about my Mom. I have a pretty incredible mother. She has raised 15 successful children, while at the same time maintaining a wonderful relationship with each of them. This afternoon my boyfriend asked me who was closest to my mother, and I couldn't answer the question. But as I thought of it later, I thought how special it is that each of us probably think we are the closest.

So here's a layout made with my recent release, "For Mothers." That's me, as a baby and my two older brothers with my Mom. I wanted to create something simple, not even trying to find words because this is how I know my Mother: smiling brightly, always.

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I also took some time to look through the gallery at DST, looking for layouts featuring Mothers. It's very beautiful and inspiring to see how others convey thier emotions. Check these out - you can click on the image for more details:

Weekend Vacation

I have been dying to travel lately. Every once in a while I get the itch. I'm trying to convince my boyfriend to accompany me on little weekend getaways... maybe to a bed and breakfast, maybe a jaunt over to the casinos, or at least a fun little weekend road trip... just something! LOL! Whenever we go on road trips, we usually like to get a car rental. If you are ever wanting to rent a car, you may want to consider Advantage Rent a Car. Advantage is currently offering specials and discounts SUVs, vans and more! So check out their website and book a vacation for the weekend!

Gardens and Flowers

One thing I desperately wish I had was a green thumb. Especially around this time of the year, when beautiful flowers are blooming all around us. This year, I thought I would maybe venture out and try my hand at gardening again... see how far I can get without killing anything! I have a couple of planters in the front walkway of my house. Maybe I'll go tomorrow and get some flowers...

I was cruising the layout gallery at DST. Check out these gorgeous layouts, inspired by the garden and full of flowers! Click on the images for more information:

Review of SocialSpark

Here's an interesting business and social opportunity for the Bloggers and Designers. I'm sure you have probably noticed that I occasionally have blog entries for advertising purposes. This is what helps pay for the "My Digital Addiciton" site. Now the company providing these advertising opportunities is expanding. SocialSpark brings bloggers and advertisers together in an online community.

Now I've got to admit, I don't find the site all that informative, so signing up and learning how it all works is not the easiest. However, I got my profile up (My Digital Addiction Blog Profile) and am awaiting authorization.

The site is more eye-catching than others of its kind. It also contains a lot of useful information and utilities, which I'd like to keep an eye on and use. There is a charting tracing your last month's RealRank, Alexa Rank, pageviews and visitors. You can link to others and create a blog roll. I especially like the demographics section... it gives you a graphic representation of your traffic by country, a list of your top referrers, your top outgoing links, and your demographics by sex and age... all very useful information!

There are already several Digital Scrapbooking folks already signed up, so come on and get in on the fun!

This post sponsored by SocialSpark.com

New FREE Kit: For Mothers

Yay! I'm finished another FREE kit for you all! I love releasing new stuff. This time I created a kit for all the Moms out there and so, logically, I called the kit "For Mothers." LOL! But really, it's for Mothers and all of us that love them! I thought I would try stepping away from the popular grunge and go with some cleaner, more dramatic patterns, keeping it bright and fresh. Let me know if you like it or not! You can click on the preview below to be taken to the Download section of My Digital Addiction. Remember it's ALL FREE! ALL DIGITAL! ALL THE TIME!!!

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Now something extra for my dearest blog readers... you guys are always so sweet and supportive, friendly and kind. So here's a little cluster frame to match the "For Mothers" kit, and it's only available here on my blog! Enjoy!

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OUCH!!!

ARRRRGGGGHHHH! Does anything hurt worse than a burn?! I was boiling water and somehow, in my utmost brilliance, splashed some onto my stomach. Man, does that hurt. That was more than a week ago! At the time I thought, I'd just apply some ice and grin and bear it... it'd go away. Well, it hasn't! The pain doesn't ease and it looks worse that ever! Gross!

So anyways, please excuse my lack of presence lately... I've got a ton of things going on and it really hurts (for whatever reason!) to sit!

Quick Preview and Freebie

We just spent most of the day weeding the flower beds on the front lawn (NOT my most favorite passtime!) so I am just chillin' here, trying to finish up a kit I've been working on in honor of Mother's Day. Here's a quick little freebie for you all... kind of a preview of what's to come. Have a great weekend!

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Piracy Temporarily Resolved

Ok! I think I've got my pirating issues resolved. At least the ones I am aware of. Man! Do you know how violating it is to find your stuff on someone else's site?! My instinct is to get some immediate vigilante justice... you know, trade in my heels and skirt for some police boots and BDU Pants and throw down in the parking lot! LOL!

Now I can get back to Designing!

Digital Piracy

As I write this, I am still so incredibly irritated. I have spent the most part of the day dealing with thieves.

Every once in a while, I spend a little time searching the Internet... I blog hop a little, then I Google my name, or any other identifying factor. It's always interesting to see what comes up. For the most part it's always pleasant... I get a glimpse of the layouts done with my kits etc. Today I found a big ring of Pirates, giving my stuff away. I had heard that Digital Piracy was rampant in the last few months. I guess since I didn't see my own stuff being pirated, I didn't feel the extent of it.

I like to think that the majority of Digital Piracy is based on ignorance. Perhaps the person never read the Terms of Use. So, I thought I would take the time to post my Terms of Use for all to see and discuss them, so as to eliminate any confusion.

Joanna Cinnamon / My Digital Addiction Terms of Use

1. Copyrights to all designs belong to the original creator, Joanna Cinnamon with all rights reserved. Distribution of these in any fashion will be in violation of international copyright laws. Graphic designs are for personal use only. This means you cannot share them with your best friend, with a Yahoo Group, on a blog or anywhere else. Designers put a lot of time and money into their craft and the maintenance of a website. Money is often made through website traffic. If you would like your friend to have a copy of a product, send them directly to the site. It's that simple.

2. You may post layouts to websites or scrapbooking magazines that include any portion of the graphics, altered or not, providing you give proper credit and reference back to http://MyDigitalAddiction.blogspot.com/. You cannot make "Quick Pages" or templates and give them away on your blog. That is considered altering and is a violoation of these terms.

3. These graphics may not be used commercially without written permission from the owner. You cannot sell my products, altered or not, or use them in any way to obtain a profit.

4. Altering a graphic is permissable, however you many not then claim them as your own.

It's that simple, folks. Please respect these Terms if you download my products. Just because they are free does not mean the copyright is!!! Please refer to Jen Strange's blog for more information on Digital Piracy.

Autism Awareness Collaboration Kit

I am really proud to be a part of a collaboration effort between over 15 designers to create an enormously huge Autism Awareness Kit. It is yours for a donation of any amount you choose!

Here is my contribution:

If you would like to donate, go to AutismSpeaks.org (or click HERE). We are grateful for any donation size whatsoever, however, if you donate over $5, you will receive an exclusive Add-On! Once you've donated, send your receipt to XandraMartinDesigns@yahoo.com to receive the links and password.

Pink Hibiscus

Whoo-Hoo! I've just released a brand new kit! It's called Pink Hibiscus. It's all bright and feminine and perfect for Spring! Gotta love it. I actually made it quite a while ago and had it for sale in my other store for some time. But I've gotten so many requests to bring it here, that I couldn't refuse, so here it is! LOL! You can click on the preview to be taken to the Download section of My Digital Addiction.

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I even made a layout with it (this was a while ago, too, but hey!) of my cutie little niece, Jaida. Now I've made it into a Quick Page that is also available in the download section of My Digital Addiction, or at the end of this post! Enjoy!

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A Fresh New Look

Good Morning! How do you like my new blog design? I thought I would freshen it up for Spring. Kinda like Spring cleaning. I can also get more information on it, so it should be a little more useful to all of us. Stay tuned as I get it customized and running smoothly...

A Place of Inspiration

As Designers we are often asked where do we get our inspiration from. So, in honor of Earth Day 2008, I thought I would talk about one of the places that I get my greatest inspiration. Of all the beautiful places on our planet, I particularily love botanical gardens, arboretums and nature centers. Maybe it's because of my complete ineptitude at gardening, maybe it's my admiration of beauty or maybe it's the just simple enjoyment of nature at it's best. Either way, I make an effort to go to such a place at least once a year. I take my camera and try to get a year's worth of pictures to scrap and design with!

One such a place is the Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center located in Orange, Texas. This is a beautiful 252 acre haven displaying a combination of gardens and nature. The botanical gardens are alive with exquisite flowers, plants, insects and animals, each with their own distinct characteristics. There is a Nature Center, giving visitors the chance to see, explore and learn about the east Texas wetland ecosystem. Amoung other things, you can find a state-of-the-art bird blind, a tree over 1000 years old, greenhouses and sculpture gardens.

The Shangri La Gardens and Nature Center is the first project in Texas to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum certification for LEED®-NC, indicating the design and construction of Shangri La meets the highest "green" standards. These gardens proudly boast of being one of the most earth-friendly projects in the world. With the mission of improving and enriching the quality of life in Southeast Texas as well as encouraging and assisting with education, this private foundation is special retreat for those looking for peace, tranquility and maybe just a reminder of the beauty of nature that still exists.

UGH! I'm Failing!

ACK! I am totally failing on our Biggest Loser contest at work... at first I was winning with the hightest percentage of weight lost. Now I'm in 3rd place! The worst part is, it's a Doctor who is currently in the winning position! A Doctor does not need to win the money pot! So I simply cannot let that happen! I'd been diligently doing the sensible calorie counting and exercising, but this is not working fast enough to win. So I'm going to go to the old faithful rapid-response-low-carb-hideous-headache-torture-fest. By noon today on the first day, I've already got the low-carb headache. I'm going to have to lock myself up when my boyfriend gets home... Just to avoid snarling at anybody! LOL!

Just a quick heads up: before it's too late (if you haven't already) be sure to check out Bon Scrapatit Designs's Blog. (I love her blog theme, it's so original!) She's giving away a pretty fabulous kit called "Saturday in the Park" for a limited time, and you don't want to miss this! It's perfect for summer! Here's a partial preview she has up. Click on it to get to her blog and have a great rest of the weekend!

Contest with FinGad

I am secretly obsessed with investing. I think it's the biggest shame in the world that we are not taught anything about finances in school. That being said, I am always searching for ways to increase my knowlege of this subject. I found a new site where investors review strategies with other investors. If you would like to Win $1000 with FinGad check out their site. They are currently running a contest that will reward the person who has the most virtual money at the end of the month. It's a fun way to learn about investing and share strategies with others. Read the rules and conditions to join.

The Wonderful World of "White Space"

We've all seen this style... I watch the talented ladies who can pull it off with a sense of wonder and awe (and maybe more than a little jealousy!). White space makes for the most striking layouts, drawing the eye immediately to the center of attention. They are usually sparce, but in these cases, less if definitively more! Here are a few layouts by some ladies I absolutely admire:

The first set is from one of my favorite blogs, Fei-Fei's Stuff. Every single on of this girl's layouts are beautiful. Stunning simplicity with photographs that show the sweetest mother-daughter bond of love.

Another white space scrapper I admire is Deb Sterchen - just look at her gallery - it's dripping in talent! Each layout is a masterpiece!

Vinnie Pierce has an incredible knack for creating gorgeous layouts with one simple image and very few elements. The muted colors and pictures convey an intimacy that almost makes you feel like you're sneaking a peek into her family's life.

Ok, finally, because I can't resist one more, is Zatul Saliza. Here's her gallery, one of my favorites, which is just brimming with happy, bright, exciting layouts!

Paper of the Month Pack

I've spent the entire day with my dearest boyfriend looking for an office chair. Mine bit the dust and so I told him that's what I would like for my birthday, which is coming up in the next week. I know how much he HATES shopping, but he dedicated the entire day to trying to find just the right chair with me. So sweet!

Well, now I am back at home, without a chair. SOOOOO frustrating! Does anyone have a brillant suggestion as to where to find a nice office chair? The closest we got was this Trump Office chair at Staples:

The only problem was when I finally made my decision (after 2 visits) the little sales guy tells us that they're out of stock. Could you not put a "Sold" sign on it or something, then?! I was so irritated at that after spending so much time on it! I hate when stores disrespect your time like that! UGH!

So on to something a little more pleasant. I made these papers the other day for a book I'm scrapping. It's a series of 12 papers, each with a month of the year on it. They are available for FREE, as always, at MyDigitalAddiction.com.

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WikiTalk Public Launch

I am a huge fan of innovation. In the last few years, we've all seen the social networking and content aggregation sites grow in number and size. WikiTalk.com takes these two concepts and goes a step further. By dividing the browser window horizontally, WikiTalk allows users to join in any public discussion on any website, right in their own browser. This could actually work really well for Digital Scrapbooking product reviews! Check out the WikiTalk.com Public Launch now (if you're interested in what people are saying about your site) and get in on the fun!

Pondlife Collection

Alright folks! I'm done the "Pondlife" Collection! Some parts of it are here on my blog only, and some parts are in the "Download" section of My Digital Addiction, so you've got to stop by both places to collect it all! I'm going to make it easy for you, though and give you every link right here! So here's a quicky wrap-up for any of you who have missed a part. Click on the preview to be taken to the Download link. Oh, and as usual, THEY'RE ALL FREE!

Before you do, I have a quick request. As you probably noticed, I pay for my site, My Digital Addiction through advertisements on the site and on this blog. For more effective advertising, I need to establish some links with you guys. This will increase my ranking and therefore my ability to choose relevant ads. So! If there are any of you who own a blog or a website and wouldn't mind linking to my blog, I would be so thankful! I'm not even talking about a graphic, just a quick note mentionning my blog with a link to it would be awesome! Also, if you do this, please let me know and I would like to put you in line for our Designer of the Month. Thanks!

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Finally, this is just a little extra stuff I have left over from creating the "Pondlife" Collection. I wasn't too crazy about putting these elements into the kit, because I didn't figure they coordinated too well. So if any of you would like them, here they are:

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Free Electronic Calling Card

I've been seeing this more and more and am starting to wonder if this is the direction of the future... a web service that advertises your business, serving as an electronic calling card. It's like the Internet Yellow or White Pages. From what I've seen, most of them charge you a fee, but MyCityFaces.com is actually completely free! This site is in the beginning stages and is looking to expand their database, so if you're reading this, you have the opportunity to sign up and advertise your business for free. If you do not offer a service, you can use it to find one. The site is very simply and neatly organized. To do a search, you are initially directed to enter your location by metro area. A quick search is followed by the results. The cool thing is that there are pictures and profiles so that you can "meet" the professional before actually "meeting" them! For you Digital Scrapbookers out there, there are spots for pictures, so you could even include samples of your work! There are categories for almost any business you can think of, including Realtors, Plastic Surgeons, Hairstylists and Artists! If you are interested, take a jaunt by and take it look. It's free to sign up!

Pondlife Premade Page

I think I mentionned that I was originally asked to do a frog-themed kit, incorporating in the arrival of a new baby. Cute... but not without a little giggle! Hehe! I'm still putting together the baby part of it, but here's a little something I came up with today. It is in .png format and will also be in the Download section by the end of this week. Have a great day!

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TV Overstocks

I used to work nights. On the nights I didn't work, I would struggle to sleep, laying on the couch, watching infomercials (how I wish I was into Digital Scrapbooking then! Imagine all the designing I would have gotten done!). Now there is a website, TV Overstocks, that features the best As Seen on TV products at overstock prices! Of course, for me it's always the kitchen gadgets that I find the most tempting... there's the popular Swiffer Wetjet and the George Foreman Grill that I use all the time. There are also a bunch of other categories which are facinating... there are Proactiv and Bare Mineral products, the Total Gym and even the Sleep Number Bed! Subscribe to their mailing list for the chance to win money!

Pondlife Stickers

I've got a few days off and the weather is beautiful! Life is wonderful! Today I put together a set of stickers from my newly released "Pondlife" kit. My stickers are about 4" or less and do include custom shadowing. They are here for my blog readers exclusively! Enjoy!

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Canton

We had such a nice, relaxing weekend! I love when I have time off with my boyfriend! This weekend we thought we'd take a break from the usual chore etc and take a drive to Canton, Tx where they hold the biggest swapmeet, called "First Monday Tradedays" in the whole world (or at least it feels like that when you're walking! LOL!) What a bunch of crazy, crazy stuff! Do people actually buy this stuff?!

I did think, though, that this would be a great place to come and take pictures... the personalities and characters there were very diverse and interesting. And think of all the vintage-type items that you could use in your designs!

Age-Defying Skin Care

As a woman of a "certain age" I am always interested in hearing what other women are doing to maintain their youthful appearance. Growing up, I was never exposed to any sort of beauty regimen or skin care routine... probably because my mother was (and still is!) so naturally beautiful she never used any products! Of course, I'm different. I don't get the comments she constantly got - "Oh your skin is just radiating! What do you use?" I figure I'm normal. She's not. LOL!

For those of us who are normal, there is an Age Defying Complete Skin care Solution that is designed to help reduce the effects of aging, fine lines and wrinkles on our skin, while at the same time infusing it with the natural glow that is so typical of my mother's skin!

As a convenience this product is being offered by Borba as a part of their Auto-Ship Program. They will automatically ship at your specified intervals and will even include a free sample with each order. No contract, no strings... just a handy little way to continue to receive your favorite products! Check out Borba's revolutionary products today! And don't forget to sign up for the Auto-Ship Program when you order!