Max Farinas

Max Farinas

August 3, 2002 - November 22, 2014

I lost my Maxi tonite.  So unexpectedly.

I LOVE MY UPS GUY!!!!!!

I have been preparing for a trial all day today.   I enjoy it but it's not exactly FUN - know what I mean?  And then my man Anthony - our boy in brown - walks through my door and brings me ....

Happiness in a box.......

KEYS 4 ART 2015

Only 131 days until the 2015 Keys 4 Art Retreat!!!  Our SIXTH one!  Now is when the time begins to just FLY!!!  Already making preparations... looking for house to rent.... looking at goodies to buy... Can't wait!!!

BLAH BLAH BLAH

I refuse to work today.  I am so exhausted from hearing so many complaints and bad news. Granted, as a divorce attorney I really should not expect anything different.   This is the career I chose. But there are times during the year when I find that it just overwhelms me. And this is one of those times. No matter who I speak with today, all I hear is "blah blah blah"  so I figure I will just not talk to them today. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I purchased Ali Edwards Week In The Life class. I still have not done it. I guess I'm waiting for a more "interesting" week!!   Today I have looked through her week in the life Journal and as always, I'm flabbergasted by her innate ability to document the small every day things that make our life.   I buy all of her classes because I find her to be such an inspiration.  

 So what to do about the funk I am in? I really don't know. I realized last night that a lot of it has to do with my father. He was diagnosed with cancer on October 13, 2009 and died from it on December 28, 2009. 9 weeks between diagnosis and death did not really give us time to get our heads wrapped around what was happening. It was the biggest loss of my life. And, honestly, I have never been able to enjoy the holidays again since his death. This time of the year brings back so much sadness.

Lazy Sunday

I woke up at noon today. Didn't really want to, but thought I should.  Made myself a nice breakfast, mopped the floors, did some laundry, and was deciding between going down to my studio or getting lost in Pinterest for the rest of the day. 

I've been very unmotivated lately and that bothers me. I have been unmotivated about work, about art, about everything.  I have absolutely everything anyone could dream of to do the things I love to do. Journaling, project life, you name it, I have it.   My studio is absolutely perfect. I have more supplies than most scrapbook stores.  I keep telling myself that I have so many things I want to do, but I don't do anything. I sit in bed, I watch TV, I sit on the computer getting lost in Pinterest and Facebook and get nothing done.  A part of it is because I know that these two days, Saturday and Sunday, are the only days of peace I really have. Work is very stressful right now and I barely have time to think.  So on these two days, a part of me feels like I just don't want to do anything.  

I have all the right apps, all the right technology, an abundance of absolutely everything I could possibly need and yet nothing seems to jumpstart me.   I guess it's what we refer to as a "funk".  But I think the only way that is going to change is if I get out of this damn bed, go down to my studio and do something.  So I am on my way to create something! 

Wish me luck!!!

FANTASY FEST DAY II (part 1)

I specify that it is part one because I have so many pictures on my camera that I want to share with you!  

What an experience! We had so much fun last night. We went to a toga party at Sloppy Joe's on Duval  Street.  The first night lived up to everything I had heard about fantasy fest! LOL. A lot of weirdness a lot of nudity a lot of freaky people! 

 I did not see one problem in the entire evening. Despite all the drinking and all the partying, everyone was cordial and just out to have some fun.

I will be back this evening with some pictures of last nights toga party.

We woke up to a spectacular morning this morning. Made everyone very happy because of all the rain that we have been getting the past few days

Tbis is the view from the back porch of our condo. Just could not get any better than this.

MY FIRST DAY OF FANTASY FEST

has been totally anti-climatic! 

This is my first time at Fantasy Fest and I was really looking forward to it.  But the rain in Key West has been RELENTLESS.  Many activities were canceled today and I have been in the condo we rented since 1:30 this afternoon.  Mind you, I needed the rest and have enjoyed the reading day but I have been so looking forward to this!

The parade - which is the most important event - is not until Saturday so I am hoping the gods will see fit to take some of these clouds away but the forecast is pretty dismal.

Oh well, time to walk the walk and  "dance in the rain"!!!

The Goldfinch

It may have won a Pulitzer, but I give up on trying to force myself to read this book.  It is very very rare for me not to finish a book even if I don't like it, but I can not force myself to finish this one.  I really can't.

I don't get it.  So many people tell me they LOVED this book.  I really didn't.

FANTASY FEST 2014!!

I have lived in South Florida almost all my life and in Key Largo for 10 years but have never been to Fantasy Fest  in Key West.

It always seemed a little "much" for me!!  LOL!!!  I don't drink and it is just not fun being the only sober person on an island!!!  But this year is different.

As you guys know, our firm won our fight for the legal rights of gay men and women to marry in Monroe County. That decision is now on appeal by the State of Florida and it looks like it's going to be going to the Florida Supreme Court.  That is absolutely FANTASTIC because I KNOW we will win and then it will be legal in the entire state - not just Monroe County!!!

Our "boys" - our clients - Aaron Huntsman and Lee Jones - are the Grand Marshalls of this year's parade!!! So cool!!!  The float they will be traveling on is one huge wedding cake with them in the middle as the wedding cake TOPPER!  How cool is that???

My law partners and I will be walking by their float dressed as .... ready???..... BRIDES!  LOL!!! So much fun.  And because we will be wearing wedding dresses anyway, by partner Jessica and I will be renewing our wedding vows with our husbands.  Next month will be my 19th wedding anniversary so I guess its' time!

And who will be officiating at this wedding vow ceremony???  My brother Albert who will be dressed like Elvis!!!  Seriously... can it get any better than this????

I will be leaving for Key West tomorrow and will return on Sunday.  I will post pictures.  Wish me luck!!!

WEEK IN THE LIFE

Received my Ali Edwards Week in the Life Kit today!!!  It is so gorgeous!  Of course it is!  It is by Studio Calico!!!

I will take a picture of the kit tomorrow and post it as an update to this post.

I have not done this project before but Ali has been doing it since 2005 and has lots of pictures of each and every year.  No lack of ideas or inspiration!

The project starts October 27 but I am thinking that I am going to use it starting this Sunday, the 19th.  I will be out of town at a friends' house this coming weekend and then from October 22-26 I will be in Key West at Fantasy Fest!  I have never been to Fantasy Fest but know it is a CRAZY event.  Our firm rented a condo in Key West for that week and it will be a great time.  If nothing else, I will have LOTS to write about and TONS of pictures!!!  I think it will make a FANTASTIC Week in the Life!

I have to see whether or not that will work.  I would like to use it for that week.

Let's see how it goes!

I LOVE KATHY ORTA!!

Not only is she amazingly talented but she has got to be the most generous woman I have ever known.  If you are not a member of her kit club you are missing out!!!  You would not BELIEVE what she includes in her kits!!!!!

Woo HOO!!!!!

Greg Isles Does It Again

I love this author and have always wished he had more books out.  I just finished reading Natchez Burningand I cannot tell you how fabulous this book is!!

READY TO PLAY!!!

End of the long weekend….. but what a great weekend it has been!  I haven't left my house but finally have my studio to where I am happy to play in it!!!

I got the studio organized, my stamps organized, my project life organized, completed my 2013 December Daily……

Yep!  A good weekend!

FEELING SO ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

I ordered Ali Edwards' December Daily kit.  I ordered it for the first time last year and love it.  Just one little issue to deal with…….

I had not finished the December Daily from LAST YEAR!!  LOL!!!  I had all my writing in the journal (I give myself brownie points for that!), some cards but no pictures or embellishments yet!  I had ordered some pictures last year but had not put them int he journal yet.

Thankfully, I had it all in a basket.  I pulled the basked out today, printed some more picture on my Canon CP-910 Selphy (a MUST HAVE, by the way) and voila!!!  I finished my 2013 December Daily!!!  I have to do the cover and I'm done!  I will update the post when I get it done.  Feeling good about this!!!

Now…… how do I want to do the cover????????

ORGANIZING MY CLEAR STAMP

I am in heaven.  I love the new organization of my studio and am having a blast putting it together!

This will look amazing when it's done.   I am going to label the stamps (Card Sentiments, PL, Ali Edwards, etc.).  I have also added the small dies in these little bags and placed them in the container.  And the beauty of it THE TRAY FITS PERFECTLY IN THE IKEA RASKOG!!!

One part of me wants to just leave all this and start making some PL layouts but I know that once this is done, doing those layouts will be so much more pleasurable!!!  When things are organized and out in the open you USE them.  Or at least that's the theory!!  LOL!!!

Have a great Sunday everyone.  It is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Key Largo and I hope it is where you are also.

UPDATE:

Look how FABULOUS they look with white card stock in the bags!!  HAPPY PLACE......!!!!!!
The ones with the black card stock are the masks that are clear so they need the black card stock to be visible.

Such simple things can make us happy!!  LOL!!!

STUDIO CALICO

I cannot say it often enough, I absolutely adore Studio Calico!  I am still organizing my studio today.   \All of these things in this picture were included in one of the card kiss and one of the scrapbook kits from studio calico!! How amazing is this?

An Update on my Project Life Organization and My Studio!!!

It has been 6 months since I have moved into my new house and about 3 and a half since I have started organizing my studio.  The task was monumental and I really felt discouraged at times because it seemed like it just would NEVER come together.  But we are almost there!!

Earlier today I posted about how I was organizing my Project Life Kits....  This is an update on both the organization of the Project Life kits and of my studio!

I have not been able to do very much in here because I just can't focus with the mess!!!  But I actually think I will be able to play this weekend!!!  Two whole days to just sit and play.  Can't wait!

Organizing Project Life Kits

I have spent the day organizing my project Life Kits from Studio Calico and Cocoa Daisy.  LOVE these kits!!!  If you have these you need nothing more!!!!  (A lesson I wish I could learn!!)

NEW TOY!!!

I finally got my Go Pro video camera! I've been wanting one of these for a while. Can't wait to set it up!

COSTUME DAY

Costume day for Maddie and Savannah

What's going on right now....... IN EVERY DAY LIFE

Here is what is going on right now in my every day life:

1.  I have been sick for a week.  Can't seem to get out of bed.  Tired of it already.

2.  Have not done so many things that are on my todo list.

3.  Have not printed out my Project Life pictures like I promised  myself I would.

4.  Have not walked into my studio in at least 10 days despite promising myself I would spend at least an hour a day on ME TIME.

5.  Finished reading NACHEZ BURNING by Greg Iles.  800 amazing pages!

6.  Feeling a little overwhelmed with work.  Need to catch up.

7.  Feeling like I need a real vacation away from everyone and everything.

8.  Doing great on HerbalLife though not drinking any water!

9.  Getting excited about Keys 4 Art!

10.  Missing my Keys 4 Art peeps......

Have a great day everyone!

SNAP!!! Also a great option!

These are 6x8.  I have a few of them and I love them.

Potential Journal or Keys 4 Art

What do you think ladies?  I still think this is the best system for our retreat.  Any ideas????

I can't believe we are already planning Keys 4 Art again!!!  Every year at this time of year I get so excited just thinking of the possibilities!

MIXED MEDIA ART CARDS

These look like fun!!!

This would be a great swap!!!   6x6??  5x7?  

I feel a swap coming on......

MORE INSPIRATION!

I love this style  of scrapbooking.  I always did "more is better" scrapbooking and find that I no longer like it at all!  I am going to try this and see how it goes.

ANYONE HAVE SOME OLD SHOES THEY DON'T WANT? THINK AGAIN!

THIS IS JUST SPECTACULAR!!!!!

I will never look at a clearance rack the same way again!!!

COLOR ME HAPPY!!

I really need to do a weekly segment on "new products" or "new toys", or something.  Just a little segment to share the new things coming into my already overflowing studio.

All the things on this table have just come home to mommy.  Lol!!

First up, two new Project Life core kits:   Vintage Travel, and 5th and Frolic Addition.  Somehow, I did not have either one of these.

As I had already blogged, this is the first month of Ali Edwards' class, Story Stamps. I have printed out the first class and have my first stamps. I'm ready to go.

I signed up for a Project Life project called Unabridged. It is with Big Pictures Scrapbooking and looks to be really great. I really love the teacher. I have never had a class with her, but really enjoyed the trailer of this class.   It uses a studio calico card kit which I received today also.

I received the first month of Cocoa Daisy's monthly agenda kit. It is really cute.

Curvy Cutter by EK Success.  I hope it works as well as I am told.

I have bought several of these already. They are quite comfortable to use, but I am very disappointed in how quickly they get ruined. God forbid it falls off your desk, that's it, it's done.

I wanted something cute to use on a birthday bag to decorate it and I thought this would be cute.

Some project Life goodies from Cocoa Daisy.

A small Project Life kit by Kelly Purkey that seems really great.   I really like the stamp set that comes with it

A set of Project Life stamps by Kelly Panacci. I got them on eBay. The entire set cost me $35!

I had pictures printed for my story stamps project. They came in today and I am so excited to have them. I cannot wait to get started.

I want to do one of Kathy Orta's decorative boxes. I want to do it with Christmas paper. So I ordered the paper line (KaiserCraft Yuletide) and everything that goes with it.

Last but not least, a Project Life 12 x 12 album and a couple of boxes of the inserts. I also got 6 x 12, 8 x 10 and 4 x 6 inserts from STUDIO CALICO.

I absolutely love Studio Calico.  I get all three of their monthly kids, Project Life, scrapbooking, and card kit.  If you're not familiar with them, and you do any scrapbooking, cards, or if you are a Lifer, stop by and check them out. They are fantastic.

Well, that's it for today! Have a great night and do something nice for yourself.

What an amazing thing to do!!!

A feel good video for all of us!

We ARE all enough.

SERIOUSLY???

Okay, so let me see if I understand this correctly.

Our government cannot agree on anything. Nothing. Yet they can agree to arm and train terrorist countries which will probably use those weapons and the training to attack us? Is that right?

This is exactly why I hate politics!

Terrifying day.

Today we are officially at war with Isis.  It is terrifying to see how these men have no souls and no conscience.  How their hatred for people they cannot even know is so overwhelming.

I can't help wondering how many Americans do not really understand what has started today.

I don't want to make this a political statement. There are arguments on both sides of this issue that are valid.  Right or wrong, the day has arrived to understand that we are all in danger. The day has arrived for all of us to understand that our way of life is being threatened.

God bless every one of us and this country.

Ali Edwards Story Stamps!!

I signed up for a new Ali Edwards class, Story Stamps.  I have always been a great fan of hers because of the simplicity and vlean look.  Her work is totally sincere and honest without the need for all the "fluff".

This class involves a set of stamps which she sends to you every month.  They are what I would call Project Life stamps.  With those stamps, you work on a class that she teaches once a month.  

I received my first set of stamps today and I love them!

I did the first class online today and I'm amazed at the kind of beautiful yet simple work that she does.  I can't wait to do my own.

This class is more about telling the story than it is about pictures or embellishments.  The stamps are meant to be prompts for your storytelling.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am a picture addict. I love pictures. I have tons and tons and tons of them.  But at the end of the day the pictures are nothing without the story.  And that is why I signed up for this class. I will keep you posted on how it goes and post my stories along the way.

HAVING FUN!

I am so excited about the new Becky Higgins Project Life App!!!  It is WONDERFUL!  If you are a lifer and haven't tried it - RUN!!!

I did these yesterday in just a few minutes!

What a great way to catch up with all those layouts you haven't gotten to yet!!!!

Mini Distress Ink Pads.

so I hear there is a new set of many distress ink pads for Halloween.

I have been looking for it online and can't seem to find them. 

Does anybody know where they are? Or even IF they are?

JUST FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF FRIENDS....... (that's my story and I'm sticking to it)

My sweet friend Eileen told me to do something nice for myself every day. 

So, since I am SOOOOOO good at following directions,  today I started early.  

I got myself (an my daughter) the iPhone 6.  

It's bigger and faster and well...... just a new toy.  

Did I NEED it?  Of course not!  I had the 5.  

Did I WANT it?    Not really, my 5 is only a couple of months old.  But my friend George who manages the AT&T Store right in my building offered to hold one for me so.....

yep!  I can get used to this being nice to myself!!  LOL!!!

MY POOR ABANDONED BLOG!!

Life has become so hectic.  So many things have happened over the past six months - some good - some not so good.  I miss blogging.  I miss the camaraderie of the blog, the blank page, the sharing.  So why have I not written?  Don't really know.  Just haven't felt like it I guess.

It's funny how you always put the things you enjoy most on the back burner when you are stressed or pressed for time.  We deprive ourselves of the things we enjoy and yet still find the time to do the things we don't.  How does that work?

Waking up this morning, in that space between drowsiness and wakefulness, I thought about the fact that I feel ..... I don't even know how to express it..... empty maybe?  Does that make sense?  Probably not.  I feel like there is something missing, that I am not living my "best life" - isn't that what all the psycho gurus call it?  But how to change it?  How do I live for "me" without feeling guilt or a sense of selfishness?

WAY too deep for so early in the morning, but these thoughts have been weighing on me.

My word for this year was PURPOSE.  I was determined to live every day this year with purpose - not just live a day at  time like petals we remove from a flower singing "he loves me, he loves me not".  But I have not done that at all.  I have not focused on goals to reach this year, I have not lived with purpose at all.

There is still a few months left of this year.  And I can always use the word again next year, but what good is the word when you don't live it?  When you don't get up each day and remind yourself of why you chose it in the first place.

The first mistake for me I think is that I have not journaled this year.  At all.  Journal therapy is something that has always tended to keep me on course.  A tether when I feel like I am going to just float away.  I love to write!  So what is wrong with me that I am not writing!?  It may be that everything and everyone else around me is SAPPING me of all energy, of all happiness, of all peace.

Maybe.

HELLO THERE!

OKAY, so I didn't come "right' back.  I can't believe I have not found the time to just sit down and WRITE - you would think it would be easy to just sit in front of a computer screen and write!  I type 130 words a minute!!!

But it's been one thing after another.  Good things!  We were successful in our same-sex marriage case!!  Judge Garcia wrote an amazing opinion and everyone is thrilled!  Of course the State of Florida has already appealed but I think even they have to see the writing on the wall.  So great to use your abilities to do something so great!

My cousins are back again!  They got here on Friday.  They actually came to do US a favor and I am thrilled they are here.

Everyone is okay for the most part.

Be back soon.

FINALLY!!!!

The end of a long, exhausting and exciting week!!!

 This week it is also my Friday face!!!

Dolphin Cove

Kaitlyn finished her last day today at Dolphin Cove summer camp here in Zkey Largo.

She spent a week with sea lions and dolphins.  She was so happy and had so much fun!  God I love this little girl.

She looks so grown up in this picture. Scary.

HELLO, MY POOR, NEGLECTED BLOG!!!

I have been so busy that I honestly have not made the time to blog lately.   Yet there is so much to blog ABOUT!

I WILL BE BACK.......

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AN ENLIGHTENED PEOPLE

I am taken aback by the amount of "hate mail" I have been receiving regarding our same-sex marriage case.   The bigots and the bible thumpers......  the insecure and the scared..... Wow!!!  People saying that homosexuality can be "cured"!!  Sure, let's just go to some therapy.... that solves everything.

Being gay in this world is HARD.  The bigotry, rejection and outright hate has to be intolerable.  Yet these ignorant hate-mongers claim that it is a choice people make.  That it is "deviant behavior".  And these, for the most part, are the people who claim they believe in God.  Maybe there is more than one God?????  MY God loves everyone - he made us all perfect JUST AS WE ARE.  (Sorry for the caps but it infuriates me to read this shit!)

Last night the Attorney General for the State of Florida filed her Motion to Intervene in our case in order to "protect" Floridians stating that allowing same sex marriages will cause "great public harm".  Now, don't get me wrong, part of being an attorney is being creative - we are all good at it - or at least those of us that are any good at this job!!  LOL!!!  BUT - the allegation that allowing same sex marriages "will cause great public harm" goes beyond creativity and into the realm of the ridiculous.

Marriage, ladies and gentlemen, is no more than a contract between two consenting adults.  THAT'S IT.  How does being GAY alter the fact that you are a consenting adult with the right to enter into a contract?  What is it about this topic that causes so much HATE?  Really????  Why do people CARE?  How does it hurt them?

Viewed another way - over 60% of first marriages end in divorce.  Why can't our GLT friends be just as miserable as we are???????????  LOL!!!

Have an awesome day everyone.

Fighting for equal rights

Our law firm filed a complaint against the clerk of courts in the state of Florida for their refusal to issue a marriage license to two men in Monroe County.  Aaron and Lee, a gay couple living in Key West want to be married.  They have been together for 10 years now and want to formalize their relationship in the same way that any of us do.  Fla still does not recognize same-sex marriage.

So our law firm decided to represent them for free, and challenge what we believe is an unconstitutional ban which will not allow gay couples to marry.

I have such a hard time understanding this.  The gay community is not asking for special privileges. They are not asking for more rights than anyone else. All they are asking for is equality.  All the are asking for is the opportunity to marry someone they love, which will afford them the same protections and rights as anyone else who is married in this country.

Not only is it a constitutional right to be married, it is also a human right. Why we choose to relegate the gay community to an emotional corner; why we are all so occupied with who somebody loves, who he/she wants to be will always be a mystery to me.  How does it hurt the heterosexual community? How does it hurt anyone?

The same Bible stompers who yell out "one man one woman", are the ones going out and cheating on their spouses or molesting small children.  Those churchgoers that think themselves holier than thou because they attend church every Sunday, are the ones cheating on their taxes and filing for divorce at an unprecedented rate.   What makes them better than anyone else?

It cracks me up when people start yelling about how sodomy is illegal and against the laws of God.  These are the same men who beg their wives for it or who pay prostitutes for it.  Is it illegal for heterosexuals to participate in sodomy? If not, then why is it illegal for a gay couple to do so?

So we filed the complaint against the state of Florida…. 

None of us in our office are gay, but that is not the point.  Why shouldn't everyone who lives in this country be afforded the same rights? And besides, why shouldn't the gay community be as miserable as a heterosexual community in being married?  

This past weekend was the gay pride event in Key West.  I had never been to one before and I was truly moved by all the stories that I heard.  Men and women who have been together longer than most marriages, but who had to deal with prejudice and hatred just because they love someone.  How can that be okay?  Why do they have to justify who they are or who they love?

My law firm was invited to participate in the parade. We had such a great time.  Our entire female staff wore veils in recognition of marriage.  It was a great event.

These kinds of challenges, the challenge to make life equal for everyone, is what I went to law school for.

That is me in the middle with my partners, Bernadette and Jessica.

Our office manager Mary and Barbara, our legal assistant.

My cousins, the ones visiting me from Cuba, were at the parade also.  My cousin Sarah actually rode in the car with us.  They were so amazed to see the kind of freedom that we have in this country, which they do not have in Cuba. It is so sad that our biases don't let US appreciate the freedom that we have.

SHE DID IT AGAIN!

My granddaughter Kaitlynn is the sweetest child you will ever meet.  She is beautiful and sweet and talented....  she is an honor student and a prolific dancer. But more than anything else, she has a heart of gold.

A little over a year ago  after learning that the "bald children" she saw on TV had cancer and their hair fell out,  she cut her hair (and she was always OBSESSED with her hair) and donated it to Locks of Love.

This past weekend she did it again.  She is just amazing.  She says it makes her feel "happy" to know that a little girl "won't feel bad because she is bald."

I am so proud of you baby girl!!

FAMILY HERE FROM CUBA!!!

I am so excited!  My cousin Sarah, her husband, my godson and my nephew came to visit from Cuba!!! They will be here until June 22 and I am so happy!!!  Sarah is the cousin I stay with when I visit Cuba and having her come here is like a dream come true!

My cousin Sarah and my godson Jose Carlos sitting on my dock.  Still can't believe they are really here.

My nephew Carlitos with my husband fishing off my dock.

Can you tell how happy they are????

This is the first time we have so many of us in one place!!  They have all arrived little by little.  My father must be smiling down from heaven.  He left his family behind for us and he never lived to see us all together.  

I hope you are looking and happy daddy.

NEW TOY ALERT!!

I Ali Edwards wrote a small blurb about a small portable prunter that prints pictures from your smartphones.  The pictures are 2.5 x 3.5, the size of PL pockets.  

Its called the INSTAX SHARE

It is very small and weighs only a few ounces.

I picked it up so you can see how small it is.

I have other Instax Cameras and love them so i figures the quality on this printer would be good.

It only brings batteries and if you are like me you want/need a charger.  I ordered that separately.

The paper is like the paper for the POGO Printer - Fujifilm instant film.  The colors are obviously not as great as professional printing but still very good.  

I love Project Life and love the idea of printing on the go from my iPhone.

I waited a couple of months for this because it was on backorder and am quite happy at the monent!  Has anyone used this yet?