Bathing Beauty, NOT me!

It's almost swimsuit time. A time I used to look forward to this time of year as I went from store to store looking for the perfect suit(s). I never had enough. One time I think I counted 7 suits just for one summer. (Course I did spend a week at the beach that year-one for everyday don't ya know.)

Things have changed since then. I no longer look forward to the swimsuit time of the year nor do I go shopping looking for the perfect suit; well because, let's face it, I wouldn't be able to find it no matter how many stores I looked in.

Here now are 5 reasons why this event does not take place in my life any more.

Let's just say, I've evolved.

Oh sorry that was only 4, but I think you get the picture.

Now this picture, I don't know if I would want to look like this either. The wind might blow more than my hat out to the ocean and then I'd be shark bait.

Just something for me to think about-and you too, if you look like her. Consider it a little friendly advice from me to you!

It's too late to apologize...too late...

Last night I went to visit my dear friends. Her husband starting telling me about times in his life that someone hurt his feelings and he never forgot it...some it had been over 30 years ago. He told me that he tried to work on those things that he had been criticized about so that he could improve those things.

I, on the other hand, haven't worked as hard on those things in my life. While he could only think of two things, (or those were the only two he wanted to tell me about), I have a longer list of thoughts going through my mind. I have compiled a list of 13 of those things that have stung me over the years.

1. You really need to invest in waterproof mascara; your mascara is all under your eyes. Here's a tissue wipe-it off. I am wearing waterproof mascara, I answered. Then you need to change brands.
2. Carolyn, I didn't know you were expecting again! I'm not I answered, this is just baby fat leftover from my last baby. (He was 4 months old.)
3. You know if someone showed you how to wear eyeliner, you would be so much prettier and show off your eyes more.
4. What makes you so special that you move here and within a few months win the most eligible bachelor in the whole church?
5. You know when your husband first met you, you were the cat's meow.
6. I didn't recognize you, you gained so much weight. You've always been so thin.
7. Don't you wish you could run around the block and lose 20 pounds?
8. If only you had long skinny legs like her.
9. Are you wearing that to the hospital? I don't know if I want to go with you wearing that. (I had on capri jeans and flip flops.)
10. Have you seen how many black hairs you have around your lip? You really need to pluck them.
11. Why would you buy this large of house and make your husband work so hard to pay for it?
12. Oh, you had better be careful coming off that drug. My friend had a horrible time coming off that drug. If I were you, I would stop taking it.
13. If you just had enough faith you would be healed.

Do you have a list of thoughts running through your head, or is it just me?

And now, I give you...200

It seems like yesterday that I was writing my first post-not really, I just said that! have so much still to learn about this whole blog thing. I am after all only 5 months old-well, doing this whole blog thing that is; that I have much still to learn.

So in honor of my 200th posts, I will now post 200 things/questions!

NOT REALLY! Relax!

But I do have some questions!

1. What happens to the side bar when you put too many things on it?

2. Does it every run out of space?

3. Do I then start a new blog page so I can have more side bar?

4. What on earth did I do before this blog?

5. What on earth did my twin do before this blog?

6. My kids say I am crazy for doing this blog thing?

7. AM I? don't answer that!

8. What happens to your house when you blog?

9. Does it look like mine-unkept?

10. Do you kids complain of too many leftovers?

11. Or fast food?

12. Will my sons forgive me for putting their pictures on my blog page?

13. Do I care if they do?

14. Does your DH ask, who's page are you reading now?

15. Or how did you find them?

16. Does your family say, why did you tell that story?

17. And do you know why you told that story?

18. Do they tell you that you spend too much time blogging?

19. Do they know that this is the only thing that entertains you most days?

20. Will I be able to withstand all the pressure? (is it my only place of escape or do I just like the fact that they hate this blog page? tough questions I know!)

Baby, Baby, Baby, oh Baby

Turtle Turtle or Bear Bear!

Am I not turtly enough for the turtle club?

Or am I not beary enough for you?

Did you notice my work?

I made a few changes to my page in case you didn't notice but I really hope that you did and just didn't say anything.

So what do you think? Do you like it?

Don't be shy...tell me!

I promise I won't bite...well at least not too hard!

TaG-You're it!

I found this really neat tag here. So to help those of you who can't think of anything to post about, I will now give you her (my twin) something to post on your page. If any of the rest of you would like to play along, please feel free to copy this and tag yourself. And let me know you did, so I can read your answers!

What I am doing: trying really hard to think about this tag
What I’m proud of today: I only ate 3 small chocolate chip cookies so far!
What I’m thinking about: the dang laundry that’s going
Who is home: my foster son and I, and them pups and the cat!
Plans tonight: yep, but not telling you!
My weekend was: very busy and good
What’s for dinner: whatever leftover that’s in the fridge
Thoughts about love: keeps me warm and happy
Feelings about life: make something with it
What I need: a kick in the butt
What I want: a long rub down
What I have: a good DH
My pet peeve: finding wet towels in the hamper of clothes
My guilty pleasure: soda, chocolate, bloggin’s buttons!
What you don’t know about me: Is for me to know and you to NOT find out!
What I can hear: the washer, dryer, and dishwasher and voices in my head!
What I can smell: it’s hard to smell anything other than my stinking self!
My style: comfortable, casual and relaxed
My hairdo: a mess of tangles, oily bed head
My outfit: the usual, one of my cotton nightgowns
My mood: anxious and bloggy
The weather today: too flippin HOT
Thoughts on parenting: the hardest job ever but worth the pain
Thoughts on marriage: hard and challenging
Thoughts on politics: upset about the choices for president
Thoughts on celebrity gossip: who cares?
Thoughts on beauty: there are way more beautiful people than me
Thoughts on sleep: can’t get enough of it
Thoughts on writing: fun and time consuming
My favorite appliance: that would be the fridge..for one reason…ICE
My favorite car: a good one takes me from here to there
My favorite splurge: a nice piece of jewelry
My favorite beauty secret: put on make-up!
My favorite treat: a corner piece of birthday cake
My favorite everyday pleasure: reading blog pages and emails
Ten years ago: I was super thin and starting the current job
Five years ago: Still thinner
One year ago: was busy doing the same thing I am now for work
One year from now: I hope a SON on a mission and a Foster Son about to leave for a mission and one graduating from HS and seminary…oh could I be so lucky?
Five years from now: A son married?
Ten years from now: Out of debt?
I’m famous for: my crazy self
I’ll never be famous for: my writing
Who I am: Did I hear the word Diva?
Who I hope to be: a good nana to my grand kids
What I’m thankful for: FREEDOM and YOU!

Bloggin' to win! week 2

It's a new week and you know what that means!
It's time to play...

BLOGIN' to WIN!

Here's how it works.

Post dates for this week are:

Monday, May 26, 2008-Sunday, June 1, 2008.

If you wanna win...you gotta play by the rules! It's that easy!

Go, get, start typing!

Could I get a drum roll please...

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING BLOGGERS!

This weeks awards go to the following bloggers:

Lisa over at Take 90 West for this post-Her award:

Jenn over at Absher Archives won this award for posting the most posts this week!

Kris over at Kris-Nat-Nah-Yan-Sen for this post-Hands down she won this one!
Suzie over at Suzie's Life Lessons won this award. It's self explanatory!

Stepahine over at The Baby Catcher received this award. Congrats again!

If you did not win this week, don't give up! Remember, you must comment to the weekly award post for a chance to win! By the way, I've added a few more awards this week! Jo-Lynne's been busy! Thank you J0-Lynne and to all of you who played along this week. Get busy! It's a new week!

Winners, you will be sent your award through an email. Make sure I have your email address!

Welcome Reading

See my signature block? What do you see? Ok, besides my name... BOOKS!

When my kids were all little, we used to go to the public library every 3 weeks and check out books. Loved it. With 5 kids, we always checked out the limit they would allow each visit. I tried to instill in them the same passion for reading books that I learned from my parents.

If you were to visit my house, you would see books in every room. I can think of only one room in my house that doesn't have a single book in it. That would be the hall bath. (I'm not sure why that is, now that I think of it!) I buy and buy and buy books. All kinds of books. If I want to learn something, I buy the book. If I see a neat cookbook by my favorite chef, I buy the book. If I find a cute book for my grand kids, I buy the book. If I am giving a gift, first thing I look at are books. (I think you get the picture.)

Why I bet my book budget yearly would be in excessive of $700 if I were to total it; but I'm not for your sake, and well mine too.

There IS a reason I am telling you all of this. I'm getting to it now!

This weekend I discovered something so neat I am going to keep doing it. I discovered this website. Because I have a public library card, I went to my local library site and signed up for an audio account online! It was so easy. Then I started searching the books that were available to download and listen to online. AND IT WAS FREE!

This is the first book I downloaded and listened to this weekend. It was almost 13 hours of listening, BUT IT WAS WORTH every second. I was able to work on my nursery lesson, do laundry, put my make up on, and even eat a few meals while I was listening to this book.

I wish I could write more about this book but I have a bad habit of telling too much about the story. It was thought provoking and entertaining; by a Christian author as well, which I really loved!

Now that I found another way to multi task, wonder what else I can do?

And now I have to figure out what to do with the extra money I will be saving a year.
Bad problem to have, huh?

How did this Diva spend her day?

I, CJ, the Purple Diva have done very little today. (productive that is!)
Since you're here, let me share what I did this diva did today.


I shopped online for a long time, well, most of the day. First I bought some vitamins; I know not fun. I ordered some new clothes for my DH for Father's Day, some audio books for me, and some new web images for more blog awards, for you! (I can't wait for you to see what I found!) I know, I know, I'm an addict. Hush! I'm not listening... I can't heeearrr you!


And yes, I sat at my kitchen table with my laptop and my hair probably looks like that!


I sent emails to my friends.

I have more than 3 friends by the way and my hair is not that ugly!



Spent many hours visiting with my twin, nieces, and daughter on the phone.



Yes, I do have a cordless phone and my hair is not red!


And waved good-bye to my DH for the next few days!

There now, this picture looks just like me!

What's a Nana to do!

As you know by now, this Diva Nana loves her babies. I just have to share some more pictures of the newest grandchild.

Here she is again!

And here's her big brother!

too many thoughts for Thursday

See her head. That's what the inside of my brain looks like, well I think it does. Not sure why today there have been so many thoughts on my mind. I can't seem to hold one thought to post about. So, I decided that I would make a list of 13 things that are on my mind. I know, I know, you're excited. Try to contain yourself.

1. I have two canker sores in my mouth Have you ever had one? They hurt like CRAP. I keep biting them over and over for some dumb reason. You would think I would learn.
2. I like milk in my grits and scrambled eggs; just a little. They were easy to eat this morning because I didn't have to chew them. You know because of the canker sores.
3. I had a fever for about 36 hours for the first time in about 7 years and I have no idea why. Maybe a virus?
4. I am sore today because of the fever...or maybe it's because of my fibromyalgia. It's hard to tell which one, cause I hurt all over.
5. I hope I like my new Waverly valances I ordered today for my patio door. I would show you, but then if I don't keep them, you will have that picture in your head! So, you'll just have to wait for a picture, or come see it for yourself.
6. Birds...there are lots of birds in my backyard every day. All kinds of birds. Yesterday, I saw red cardinals; I don't see them everyday. The birds come and eat the dogs food they don't eat. It's so funny to watch them as they follow one another fussing and squawking if one gets more than another one. Well, ok, maybe it's just me.
7. Books...I have lots of books I want to read. I stay online a little too much, so much, too much, so I don't read as much as I once did. I need to change that.
8. Movies...I guess I could just say ditto to the above comment thought.
9. Music...there was so neat things on AI last night that I would love to download from Itunes. I got an Itunes gift card for Mother's Day that I haven't used yet. Hmm, maybe I will use it to buy some of those songs?
10. Speaking of gift card...don't know if any of you know about the 2 $100 gift cards I lost last year. I still have not found them. I know I know...I am sick about it too. I just got a $50.00 gift card today in the mail. Think I will loose this one??? I sure HOPE not. I know one thing, I am not filing it in the same place I filed the last two. I put them somewhere so safe, I still can't find them.
11. Laundry...I haven't done laundry in two days, well except for the towels. I can't stand to have dirty towels lying around. So, I got one of my sons to do that load for me yesterday, you know, cause I had a fever. I had to pay him of course.
12. TV...it's been a busy week with all the TV shows I watch. Lots of finale's. I was happy with most of them. Weirdest one, was The Bachelor. Not sure if he and that blonde bimbo actress, woman, chick will make it. No surprise...David Cook as AI. Most intense...hands down Lost. Most entertaining and puzzling...Desperate Housewives. Ok, so that's my take on it.
13. What the crap is this dude doing on TV right now? Seriously he is trying to dance, on So you think you can dance. And he thinks he can dance...in his UNDERWEAR. I mean HIS WHITE BRIEF UNDERWEAR. WHAT IN THE WORLD? Some Russian. Why is he running around in his underpants, one of the judges just said? If you missed it...well, you didn't miss anything! Trust me on that one.

Ok, so I am leaving you on that note. My DH just brought me dinner. Chicken...I hope I can chew it, you know without biting those dang canker sores.

What are you waiting for!

A couple of days ago, I posted this.

Only 3 of you have responded. What are you waiting for? Do you want to be counted????

This is the prize that Stephanie won. See how cute it is? Don't you want something neat from Jo-Lynne on your page? Sure you do! SO tell me! :-)

I'll wait! Go ahead...now.

Thank you!

I want org'e, mimi

Yesterday my youngest son, C, went and sat with his this little nephew. He must has asked to call "mim" which he does often. As soon as I answer the phone I hear this:
HEY, MIMI!
Hey precious, N. What are you doing?
I want org'e mimi. I want papa org'e, mimi. (without prompting mind you.)
Translation: I want orange mimi. I want papa's orange, mimi.
Of course my oldest son, C, was sent right over there with a bag full of oranges. Papa had just bought him a bag full the night before. The boy LOVES oranges...and papa...and of course mimi!

Once upon a time in the land of S****, a miracle happened

This is an email I got from my dear friend M. It's about her husband. This all just happened this past Saturday. He has been in ICU until today. But he is doing so good he is going home tomorrow. I thought you might like to read what she wrote. This is part of the busy I have been referring to in my blog.

Once upon a time in the land of S**** lived a prince named Papa Johnny. He was the leader of all the S**** because he was so kind and loving—and because he got there first!!

But on a beautiful Saturday morning in the month of May a very scary thing happened to our beloved Papa. He had a malfunction in his cranial area. The super smart doctors put him in machines and turned him in all sorts of directions and they decided our beloved Papa had a leak.

All of the other princes’ and princesses in the kingdom were very sad and some began to cry. They all gathered in a very large castle where Papa Johnny was resting. They began to contemplate. The very best idea the princes' and princesses could create was to speak to the King of all of the kingdoms and see how He could help.

So, our beloved Papa was prayed for by many members of many kingdoms. They prayed in the mornings and in the afternoons and at night. They sat by Papa and held his hands and told him stories and some little princesses danced and sang. The tiniest princes' and princesses who have never seen Papa lie that still and attached to those funny looking machines began to cry.

There was just too much love surrounding our beloved Papa so the King of all the kingdoms touched his wound. So, today when the very smart doctors looked back into Papas head it was much better. They said it was so much better that Papa can return back to his kingdom tomorrow.

All of the other princes’ and princesses in the kingdom are very happy and some began to cry. We want to live happily ever after with each and every member of our kingdom.

(Papa's princess bride is beyond tired and is now residing in the land of fantasy—hopefully, she will return to the land of reality soon.)

Much love and gratitude,

Mom, Nanny, Sister, Aunt and Friend

(We were told by one of the older doctors that 80 % of people this happens to dies instantly, out of the 20% that don’t die instantly, 15% become brain dead, So do we have a miracle here?)

There's a light...

No matter what situations life throws at you...
no matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem...

Remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!