this post is to let my readers know i've decided to take a leave of absence from my blog....for an undetermined amount of time.

there have been some comments and concerns recently from a section of my readers that my blog is too personal... that i share things on here that should be kept private... that i need to be more careful about what i put out there for anyone in the world to read.

so i've been doing some thinking.
when i started this blog back in 2005 i had no readers. i really joined blogger so that i could comment on other blogs that i loved, but then thought: "how cool would it be to have a blog of my own? i could have my own little chunk of space on the world-wide-web. it could be like an online diary; a place to keep my thoughts and pictures and adventures." that's what caused serendipity to come to be.

four years later my blog hasn't let me down, and its turned into even more that all of that. its become such an important part of who i am. its lead me to become friends with the most amazing people, who inspire and support. its enabled me to continue scrapbooking in this hard economy because i have designed blogs for others. its helped me keep track of life and the things i've learned. its been a place of solace.
i never would of thought i'd have 34 followers and others who read my blog on a regular basis. i never thought others would find inspiration in what i'd created or hope in the words i'd written.

so why am i going to stop?
it just feels like the right thing to do for now.
i think i need some time to re-evaluate what this blog is going to be about. time to focus on my creative endeavors and photography and expand myself that way. time to heal from other people's opinions.

for the record i would like to apologize to those readers who i seem to have offended or concerned. that was not my intention in any of my writing or posting.

i would like to thank those of you who have become my dear friends in the online world. you know who you are... your comments, your e-mails, your encouragement have meant so much to me, especially in this last year and a half. you've helped me grow so much!
thank you
i am not intending to disappear completely... i will still visit other blogs and remain active on Flickr. look there for future scrapbooking projects and photography from me.

until i return.... farewell.
love shaina

ive been having a rough week....

and honestly i don't really want to talk about it. but i feel guilty knowing that the same picture has been up on my blog for like a week and that i haven't posted anything new.
so i guess i can share my latest pink ninja page... :)
the prompt was: concerts. now, i've only been to one "real concert" but let me tell you, the show my boy and his band put on for our engagement party was rockin!
so that's what i did my page about.
it was a night to remember...

hopefully i will have something positive to share in the next couple days.... that would be really nice. it just seems like none of my ends are meeting.
and the coffee i got this morning sucked. :(

stay close, maybe i'll come up with something happy to post eventually....
<3 you all.

i know how full my heart can be and there is less fear in me than ever before.

childhood memories
*canadian summers*

the latest prompt over at thePINKninjas is called "old skool" and is all about those old pictures and memories or even embarrassing stories.

i have been saving this photo for awhile and thought this would be just the perfect one to use. its from a family photo shoot we had done the summer after katrina was born. its my dad with all his kids.

i included some of my favorite memories from all those amazing canadian summers. i'll never forget the good times we had.

8-18

22 things i learned at 22

1. I love making coffe.
2. changing my hair color a lot is good for my soul.
3. There is nothing as powerful as true forgiveness.
4. With my photography I can capture my point of view as art.
5. There is magic in September sunsets.
6. There is nothing like the look your true love gives.
7. Being nice to people can sometimes lead to chocolate!
8. Getting older means that your younger siblings get married…but its okay cuz they ask you to take pictures for them!
9. Sometimes dreams really do come true: in the form of a brand new car.
10. The concept of “going to school” from home is really nice…but a lot harder to follow through with.
11. I love walking hand in hand with the love of my life through the fallen leaves.
12. Sometimes “stay”cations make the best vacations.
13. Even in the face of economic crisis true love can remain strong, and grow.
14. Apartments full of mold make for pretty lousy, sick filled winters.
15. There is nothing like Happy Mail!
16. Flickr is so full of inspiration.
17. My style of scrapping is uniquely my own…and that’s a good thing.
18. Alcohol poisoning is not fun.
19. Being a part of weddings brings me so much joy.
20. The blogging community is full of wonderful, supportive, kind and generous people. I have made many a friend.
21. If I can’t be a professional singer, I can at least belt it out every week at karaoke.
22. “Forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead.” –Phil 3:13