Juicy Dreaming Diva

Birthdays, Marriage Proposals and Your Opinion!

It's February 29th!

Once every 4 years we get one of these days.  And holy moly for the people who have birthday's on this particular date...they actually get a birth-day!

So, on that note, can I just say right off the bat, a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my luscious friend Mariel...it is her BIG 16th birthday today!  Gorgeous girl, HAPPY Birthday!  You are indeed one of a kind.   Loving, athetic, sweet as pie, beautiful inside and out and just about as outstanding as anyone can get...you deserve to be celebrated in everyway!  Mr. G, myself and the boys are all wishing you the best!  Happy Birthday to a brand new driver!

In other news...I was wandering through the blogland that never ends and I stumbled into this article:

Friday, February 29, 2008

Propose to your man!

Scream the word 'proposal' and the image of a man kneeling in front of his lady immediately comes to mind. Though feminists would cry foul to that but many women are still rather reserve when it comes to initiate the proposal to their man.

Well, wait no more. 29th Feb (once every four years) is THE day for ladies to propose to their man, which apparently is a practice in the UK. Was watching BBC News 24 this morning and already a woman has proposed and her man accepted.

For those guys who are adverse towards commitment, you might like to stay low for today.

Courtesy of www.singaporeaninlondon.blogspot.com

Ok so what do YOU think here babes?  My always opinionated mind  is churning...much like my stomach at this idea.  "Ewww!" -  is the first thing that comes to mind.   Forgive me if I am offending you but for me...my knight needs to sweep me off my feet.  The idea of me on a white horse, coming to my husbands side and asking him to spend the rest of his life with me...just kinda makes me all squeemish and definitely sport a face that looks painfully scrunchy.

If you're LOVING this idea....I want to hear about it!  Sell me on the thought babycakes!

If you HATE this idea.  I am in your fan club.  Tell me why you hate the idea too?


Weigh in!  Post your comment below.

He's still your Knight in Shining Armor

You've seen them.   They barely look at each other.  There is a rare cause for touching each other.  And most of the time, they look lonely even when together.   Sometimes they look lonely, because they are together.    They are broken, exhausted and complacent about  the life they have built.   Often times they sit together over dinner and look away from each other...no laughter, no conversation...nothing but silence.   

They are the couple, who's fire just  - died.   

This same couple was once a perfectly scrumptious duo.   Remember?  They embarked on a lifetime together because they LOVED the way it felt to be in each others company.   Every single look made a heart beat wildly.   And there were never enough moments in the day for kissing and touching.  If given a corner table in the local restaurant, they barely notice the waiter upon his arrival, because they were simply smitten with one another. 

And then they married.   And for maybe a blissful year...they are the very epitome of joy-full closeness! 

So what happened??!

Mr. G (hunky hubby) and I have been together for nearly 5 years now.   In that time, our talks about relationship have always centered on what it takes to make it.   We are statistically challenged like many of you...as this is a second marriage for both of us and by all counts we have a mere 40% chance of making it stay together for the long haul.  Doesn't that shock you?  It sure surprised me.   40%?   

Anyone else surprised by the new Paula Abdul?

I'll bite. 

I have never been a fan of Paula's music.  With that said, I heard a snip of her newly released single.  And found my foot tappin with the completely infectious thump.   Next thing I knew I was pondering a good cardio workout with this playing in my earbuds.

Now I say...  Paula simply rocks.   Sista can get her groove on!

Are you loving it?

(feeling like there's some solid cardio coming today)

Seriously? 30 Day Sex Challenge!

Ohhhh, now here we go!  I am pretty sure that somewhere, somehow...if you haven't seen this already, you will!  So why not talk about it now!

A pastor named, Pastor Paul Wirth, from a church in Florida called, "Relevant Church" has offered a Fabulous New challenge to married people and single people.  Oh its a challenge and a half babycakes!  And I am LOVING it!  Oh my word. For 30 days, married people get to work hard on their relationship..and have sex.  Um, ok, where do I sign up?  And for the singles...30 days without sex. 

Here's an excerpt from the My Fox News Tampa article.

Fox News Tampa - A pastor has a new challenge for his parishioners. It involves sex - a subject that may be taboo in many congregations.

The Relevant Church in Tampa's Ybor City has issued a 30-day sex challenge.

"It's going to be tempting and awkward at the same time for sure," said parishioner Brent Cayson.

Single men and women can't have sex for 30 days, and married couples are urged to have it every day.

"If you look at studies, studies say in 30 days you can develop a habit," said Pastor Paul Wirth.

It definitely caught wives in the church by surprise.

"Our married people are far more fearful than our single people," said Wirth.

"Sex is about more than intercourse and that's what we're trying to tell people," said church member Jarret Haas.

Wirth has found biblical references that he says suggest Jesus disapproved of pre-marital sex and promoted sex in marriage. So, he believes people connect to God through life-long commitment.

That's why he tells his single followers to abstain, and his married followers to indulge.

Wirth is a former Baptist. He founded his non-denominational ministry three years ago. And he markets his church by tackling unusual or controversial topics. 

He's got blogs, worksheets, and videos on this entire 30 day challenge and he's all about the fun back into a marriage!  Ooooh la la!  Now that's what I call a good idea darling.   Can't wait to talk with my hunky hubby about this one later tonight.   

So let's hear your thoughts on this one.  Come on, be daring and enter your thoughts by pushing the comment button below and giving your 3 cents worth! Cause you KNOW you have an opinion!

(feeling a bit juicy over the idea of 30 days of working on a relationship and having fabulous sex for 30 days with my hunky hubby! oh my...is that so taboo?)

There it was...in the Photo...a Valentine from God!

What you're about to read and see is so strange that we could barely believe it ourselves.  Strange, yes.  But completely true!

The day before Valentine's Day, our area was hit with a nice chunk of a snow and ice storm.   My husband was home from work to avoid the slick commuting conditions and was busy with the baby in our livingroom, while I wrote THIS Valentine's post called, "Feeling the love baby, feeling the Love".   As I came out of the office, I was talking about the happy feeling that I had regarding the love notes that would come my way on Valentine's Day.   And rather mid-conversation, I happened to look out the window behind my husband and I saw this:


I stopped talking and turned my head.  Which caught my husbands attention and he turned to look out the window too.  We both stood there for a few seconds in silence.   And I said, "Honey, did someone put a heart in our trash can?"   He only replied, "What?"  And then moved in closer.

"Honey, look inside the overturned trash can...does that look like a heart?"

He stared at it too for a moment and then said..."What IS that?"  We tilted our heads a bit and kept staring, in a state of bewildered amusement.

How did it get there?  What was it exactly?  Who would put a heart in our trash can?  How did they get it on the white snow inside the can without leaving any footprints around the can?  It was aimed right toward the window.  Was it left by a friend?   Impossible!

Suddenly, I shot a glance back at my husband and said rather loudly, "Honey, I think we just got a Valentine from God!"  To which he paused, smiled broadly and said..."You know, you might be right."

And a feeling I can not explain flooded through my entire body.

So I ran into the office, grabbed the telephone lens and got closer...











Its is clearly a heart.   One precious heart.







and then closer still...

Now here's the thing.   When the storm hit our area, this can was standing up straight and my husband had tossed a Tide Detergent container into the can....and somewhere in the storm, it tipped over right toward our house.  But the snow stayed on the container, just as it had landed.   Think about that for a moment.   We all know how slick plastic is.  As the can landed on its side, the snow should have slid right off the container, but it didn't.  Tell me, how a perfect heart remained like this.  It was right there, like a focal point waiting to be seen...a Valentine waiting just for us.

My husband and I are Christians and we believe in Jesus Christ and His amazing gift of life!  And we believe that believing in Him, doesn't mean we are supposed to live in a "holy-haze" aka boring and artifical life (as my good friend Kim said recently to a crowd).  It says in the Bible that Jesus came so that we could live an Abundant life!  We believe that God has an amazing sense of humor...that He must laugh a whole lot.  And I think He loves us enough to send us surprises like beautiful Valentine hearts...just to remind us, "I love you so much kid!".   Today I tell you this story because we got a Valentine from God.   And there isn't anyone I would rather have a love note from anywhere!   

So there you have it.   Our crazy story...from our Fabulous Father God!

(feeling amazed and so grateful to know this FUN God and Father in heaven!)

Who else wants to start a fire on Valentine's day?

Darlings, darlings, darlings,

I am wishing you all a wonderfully happy Valentine's Day!  In honor of every juicy woman alive today, I am about to bring you a whole lot of JUICE for your passionate hearts...   

All the way from...Canada... let's hear it for Michael...Buble!  (Eh hm, um...hello...this is where you push play babycakes!  Come on...get your juicy self all fired up...start that fever..)

Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S.  COMING SOON:  Wait till you see the photos in the next blog post!  OH MY WORD its crazy.  Crazy I tell ya! You'll never believe this. 

(Feeling giddy with excitement...ITS VALENTINE's Day!  I LOVE Valentine's Day!)

Feelin the love baby...feelin the love!

Valentine's...Valentine's...how I just love Valentine's! My happy love fest with Valentine's day goes all the way back to first grade.

I remember the special Valentine's Day mailbox that my teacher, Mrs. T, made us.  It was delicately covered with pretty lacy doilies and paper hearts made from the sheerest paper pieces in shades of red and pink.  There was only one opening at the top.  It was a small rectangular slit, made just the right size for pocket-sized Valentine's day cards.   

The week before Valentine's day, the mailbox was placed in its place of honor - the heart of the room. Immediately there was a buzz and a whirlwind of activity.  The mailbox was open for business!

Every day, some little girl or boy, including myself, dropped no less than a fist full of enchanting cards and notes inside.  And as every generous bit of affection in writing *swooshed* its way through the slit and tumbled into the other cards, it felt as if there were sprinkles of magic released in the air! 

"Ohhh, I wonder if that one was for me?"   was the question that consumed me for days.

And for some reason, it always gave me a little extra pleasure to see the love notes that were actually tucked into little white envelops.  White envelopes felt so official - so very grown up!  Afterall, how many first graders receive real letters in envelopes? 

On Valentine's day, Mrs. T walked to the box and carefully opened it in front of the class.   It was so full that when the lid was removed, the cards burst onto the table like fireworks!   My heart skipped four beats and I could barely sit in my chair.  Carefully, Mrs. T spent the next few minutes doing something that resembled torture to my brain.   She sorted.   For over 20 students, Mrs. T sorted the cards into piles.  A pile for James, a pile for Ann, a pile for Beth and so on. 

And then she was ready.  (Drum roll please)

I watched as she picked up the first stack of cards and read the name out loud.  It wasn't for me.  My heart tumbled.  She read again.  Nope, not for me either.  My shoulders slumped.   Then suddenly, just when it seemed that everyone but me had a luscious stack of cards in his or her possession...she said calmly,  "And this one is for Jennifer." 

You would have thought that I was up for an Oscar award, as I lept out of my chair and plunged forward.  It was not at all like a graceful dancer...but more like a bear ravaged with hunger, who has just stumbled on a campers stash of food.   I was only able to focus on the little pile of goodness in Mrs. T's hands...nothing else mattered..nothing at all!

As I grasped the pile of precious Valentine's, I instantly felt like a queen.   I ripped open every card with delight and began feeling very warm inside.   I had received charming little notes that said, "I love you!"  and "Be Mine"  and "Happy Valentine's Day" and even one that read, "You are my best friend!, with love Naomi".    I knew I was loved...it was right there in red and pink card paper! 

I wish it was that way still for everyone!  As adults, it is easy to be cynical about love notes in a way that children can not be.   Adults have been hurt by love and crushed by the lack of loving words given to them.   The scars can cover up that old desire we had when we were young, that made us JUMP up and grab a fist full of love notes.   But it is still in there!  We all want Valentine's if we're being completely honest.  Don't you?

Last night, I received an Valentine's email, from Posh Mama!  (She has one HOT website! And has created a network for women that makes your head swim with possibilities!  Posh, posh, posh!  I absolutely love being a part of her JUICY creation).   When I opened her email, I had no idea what it was exactly... because she didn't tell me.  Don'tcha just love surprises!?   But when I opened it up, this is what I found:

Instantly, I was flung back to first grade!  Look at this - I got a Valentine!  A lovely, scrumptious Valentine from Posh Mama!   Right now, I am not an adult...I am a just a first grader, excited and full of anticipation  about the little words of love coming my way! 

I'll bet you feel it too!   So can I be the first to write you a love note and send you this?

Happy Valentine's Day to you my Juicy friends...(even if you are lurking and refuse to leave a comment ever) - you are indeed loved!

(simply feeling the loooooove baby! feelin the love!)

Secret Coupon Codes for Juicy Cosmetics

Heads up my Juicy Girlfriends,

A few weeks ago, I spilled the beans about about E.L.F. cosmetics!  Man I love this company...$1.00 for a product?!  They have the juiciest cosmetics that make a girl feel like royalty.

Well, this morning I received a lively little scoop on  E.L.F. Cosmetics and consequently snagged a sensational little bundle of coupon codes for E.L.F!  Being a part of the solid "girlfriend code" far and wide, I MUST share, so here ya go babycakes!

• Get a heart pendant FREE on any order $20 or more  (code: EGVALCC)  good until: 3/1/2008

•  Get a $25 Restaurant.com gift card with any $20 or more ELF purchase (code: EGVALEC)  good until: 3/1/2008

• FREE $20 Dale & Thomas Gift Card with any order (code: EGVALHC) good until: 3/1/2008

• FREE Candy Shop Lip Tin in Cherry Bomb with any purchase (code: EGTINAC) good until 3/1/2008  (I'm sorry but these are so adorable...this is my favorite coupon offer! I am in LOVE with these little tin lip balms!)

Well there ya have the scoop.  I am now heading over to E.L.F. to settle into a shopping daze of sorts.  I can spend like a pauper and own cosmetics like a queen!  Oh, and I should point out, as my delicious and very juicy girlfriend Michelle noted, these folks do NOT test their products on animals.  Now, who doesn't love an animal friendly company?  Thank you Michelle!

(feeling thrilled by my hot finds!)

Living in the Red

I adore the "perfect shade of Red".   Yes, I know, hard to believe as you move around my blog, right?  Red in and on everything, makes me feel full of joy inside and sends goosebumps down my spine on the outside.   Red handbags, red toenail polish, red plates, red cups, red blankets, red lampshades...oh its all so delicious that even as I write this, I can hardly contain myself!

But I didn't always feel this way.  In fact, I was color-less for far too many years of my life.    Yes, truly.   I would walk into another person's space, of someone who shared their own love stories with all sorts of bright defiant colors and I would admire these colorful people thoughtfully.  Still, I remained without a color that spoke my name.  So I stayed color-less, for years.

One day, as I was in the heat of working my way out of a very painful divorce, I thought to myself, if I make it through this...I will do something BOLD.   I will do it loudly.   And, as if a thought bubble was shot smack into the center of my brain, it came to me.

 I will boldly wear something in the perfect shade of red.   

Why it was this thought, I truly have no idea.   But when I made it through, as most people eventually do, I sent myself out to shop.      

Afraid that I would make a fool of myself by wearing something so very vibrant, in public, I shopped nervously through store after store.   But it began to settle in that I loved a particular shade of red with a heart-pounding intensity.    It was a velvety deep red that reminded me of luxury and charm.   It wasn't too orange.   It wasn't too blue.   It was perfectly rich with a deep boldness that was far too ideal for me to overlook.   Just staring at the deep crimson, somehow made me feel a tingle from my head to my toes.   Armed with this frisky bit of knowledge, I purchased and bagged up a flouncy new red blouse and the sweetest, flirty little red shoes I'd ever seen.

Walking to my car, I found myself profoundly happy.   The feeling pulsated through my entire body and lit up my face in a way that I had never experienced before.   It was thrilling!  It was magical.  And it was red.

When I arrived home, I rushed to put on the little blouse, a pair of sliming black capris...and then slid into the new itty-bitty red Mary Janes.    I stood there in the mirror, turning to the left, then the right.  Then I returned to the center.  Gazing at the reflection, I realized, red excited me!   It enraptured me in a new and deeply authentic way.   I was daring with my smart new red shoes.  I was living out loud!   

Without warning, this inspired me with desires to change my hair and to hunt down an exceptional lipstick in the perfect shade of red.   So I spoiled myself with a plucky new haircut and scoured my town for that perfect shade of lipstick.   The feeling was palpable.  I was incredibly free.  And it occurred to me that I was a new girl.   I had become color-full.   Who knew that a color would have such a measurable affect on a person?   

My love affair with the perfect shade of red has only intensified from that time forward.  I no longer fear shopping for red.  Instead, I crave it, like a child craves the taste of homemade strawberry ice cream on a hot August day.    I view the textures and shades of red, as if they are new parts of myself yet undiscovered.   And generously, I fling my arms open to enclose them, sort them and seek new finds.   

My home is splashed with shades of rich vibrant red.   And I am inspired.  Red seems to cover me and warms my soul.   Everyday,  it encouragingly shouts,

    "Here I am.   I am alive!  And I am living out loud!"
 
And with me giggling on Red's arm,  I share in its revelry.  
I will not out grow this passion I have come to find.   I will only share it!  And I will say to all those I know - I have lived color-less and I have lived color-rich.  Don't wait too long.  Take the color wheel of your life.   Spin it.   And let  your pulse tell you where to go.   Make a choice to live in color.  You may never be the same again.

(feeling full of passion...full of color...fully alive!)

How to Beat the Winter Blues

Do you have the winter blues?

Symptoms:   Feeling sad, depressed, unable to get up from your computer for anything but water and toast, completely lacking in romantic savy, unable to dance, can't lose that last 4 pounds of Christmas weight, hate exercise altogether, just plain done with boring blogs you have been visiting, tired of people, sick of kids, sick of YOUR kids, bored by your pajamas, having a horrible hair day or experiencing any other emotion that makes you feel like its a really bad day.   

Juicy Prescription:  Breathe in slowly....now push play and spend the next minute with Michael Buble.  Get out of your chair (you've been there for a ridiculously long time anyway)!  Turn it up.  Now Dance! No one is watching you...just dance! 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! 

(Man I love a Buble morning!)