Darling Juicy Friends... I just found this little jewel of a story and HAD to share it with you! Written on a blog called, "The Wonderful World of Hand Crafted".
Perfectly shared...in pictures. You'll love it! I think it simply brightened my day! Click HERE for the story!
(feeling joy in finding such a treasure)
You need a laugh...I can feel it. So being the person who cares enough to ensure that you laugh...I am sending you right over to THIS LINK. <----Click there babycakes, then come back and thank me. Because I KNOW you will want to thank me. It's THAT funny. Yes indeed.
And Ms. Fitarella....honey YOU simply rock! I will be laughing all night now, thanks to you baby!
Loved it. Simply...LOVED IT!
(
Feeling fabulously girlie because of the hysterical laughter that made me nearly blow soda through my nostrils while reading this post!)
How do you know God hears you? Try asking for cupcakes.
It was a lovely Wednesday afternoon and I was obsessing about cupcakes. Oh come now, I was completely in line with most up-to-date-PMS guidelines. No big news flash. For some reason, it didn't matter what I did, I simply couldn't help myself. I wanted cupcakes. I needed them. I must have them!
I trudged down the hallway of my home and contemplated cupcakes. When I blew out my hair, I pictured the perfect pink chiffon cupcakes. I folded towels and pondered french vanilla cupcakes with fluffy buttercream frosting. As I tossed a healthy green salad, I nearly dropped the bowl because I was so busy dreaming of dense, gooey... smothered in rich fudge cupcakes. Yes, babycakes, my obsession was full blown!
It didn't help much that I had just sent my dear friend Joelle, an order of scrumptious cupcakes from "Bangerang Bake Shop" for her birthday.
For at least a week prior, I was absolutely drooling over the photos! (Review of cupcakes to come, keep an eye out!) And unfortunately, the fact that she lives nearly 2,000 miles away from me, meant that there wasn't a chance I'd be eating those cupcakes. Not a chance. (Can you feel my pain here?)
"So why didn't you just make cupcakes!?" I hear you asking.
Oh honey, I did look up recipes for cupcakes...but little Jack was fussy, needy, grumpy and I truly had no time to bake, so the obsession had no choice but to linger and intensify. Finally, I did what a Diva with a completely fabulous Father in Heaven would do. I asked God for cupcakes! Yes indeed!
I told Him about my problem...aka, lack of cupcakes...and I asked Him if He could please send me some. This isn't the first time I've asked him for something crazy like this...read more HERE. And I just knew if there was a chance that I'd get cupcakes, it would be coming from that direction, because I wasn't telling a soul about my clearly out of control caloric compulsion.
The very next morning I got a call from my Diva friend, Tina. "Hey Jenn, can I come by and drop something off before you leave this weekend?" "Sure!" I replied. And I didn't ask any other questions because, frankly, Tina is the kind of friend who is forever dropping off...the most thoughtful goodies at just the right time in a person's life. She's just that way! A Diva who LOVES to give to others.
When my doorbell rang, I was deep in the throws of pile upon pile of
laundry and packing suitcases. And I had almost forgotten, but not quite, my request for cupcakes. As I sprung the front door wide open...there she stood, with one stunning chocolate cake in hand!
Now Divas, I stood there for a moment just staring and then...as if hit in the back of the head by God's own hand, I 
stuttered..."OHHHH my word T, I totally asked God for cupcakes yesterday and look what you just brought me!!" Let's not get caught up in the fact that it was a large cake here...this is the equivalent of no less than 2 dozen cupcakes...and its presence in my house was a gigantic surprise! "Tina! I can't believe you brought me a cake!" And from there, it was girl chatter. You know the kind. Fast, furious and filled with much needed laughter.
Choosing to be succulent, I stopped working immediately and together, we made a memory moment! We took out the china plates and the silverware...the special "For Company" napkins...we made a big pot of rich
black coffee and took down the matching china coffee cups from the cabinet. Very deliberately, lest you should wonder, we sliced two very large pieces of the chocolate cake with rich fudge and fresh strawberries layered in the heart of each piece. And there two divas sat, laughing, eating cake and laughing some more!
You should know, this sparkely girl also brought me gifts...seriously! As if the mere idea of a big chocolate cake wasn't enough?! Oh that Tina! She had found three fabulously artsy hat boxes (that I LOVED instantly)! Inside 
each Ms. T had tucked scrumptious goodies that any PMSing or non-PMSing Diva would love. There were note pads, a journal, perfume and coffee magnets, bath salts and lip balms and the biggest Chocolate bar a girl could ask to receive! And to top it off...yes...I know how can you top all this? Tina handed over her latest Diva find.
The "Diva Cooking" cookbook! Oh honey...you've GOT to see this treasure trove. Its like candy for the eyeballs. Really! Colorful pages, and recipes that make you feel the need to explore your culinary capabilities. Yes indeed. Who knew that Divas had a cookbook?
And there are two in the series! Eh hm, need a good birthday gift idea for that Diva friend? Well there ya go babycakes...there ya go!
Tina and I had such fun looking through the cookbook, that we've decided to have a "Diva Cooking" meal together...we will each pick two recipes and cook for each other with kids and hunky hubbies in tow...its like co-op eating for families. Or just indulging as Diva's, take your pick!
So there you have it. One story about a BIG answer to a little girls strange prayer request for cupcakes! Can I just say, I love that God knew how much I really wanted cake...and that He knew just the person, my friend Tina, who would be willing to bake it and bring it!
God does care about even those silly things we can obsess about at times. Simply put, He totally cares. Ask Him. Go ahead. I dare you to ask Him for something that will brighten your day. And Tina...your life totally glorifies Him. When I grow up...I wanna be just like you! I just love ya sista.
(feeling fully grateful!)
Happy Birthday Joelle! I'd sing to you from here in a heart beat.
We've been luscious girlfriends for nearly a dozen years now and holy moly what I would have missed if we hadn't been friends. You know JUST the right things to say when I need it. You're the sunshine and fits of laughter that burst through my telephone lines...not a moment too late. You are my sanity. Without your love and support, I never would have managed to get through the very toughest life lessons and horrific sadness that has accompanied my life. Without you, I'd have celebrated far too much alone. You are the big celebrator of me...my boys and my life. And as we both know, if it wasn't for you...I wouldn't have jumped into the arms of Mr. Big..aka Mr. G...and married him. (Every day I thank you for THAT encouragement..words of wisdom and the good shove toward him! Ooooh la la!)
Without you friend, I would have missed out on having the juiciest kind of friendship that makes me think of fine wine, cheeses...candles, the perfect chocolate cake...and talk that inspires weekends we will never forget. It always seems that with you, I just know that I am "In the perfect place, at the perfect time...there is no where else I should be."
While, we live states away from each other and even farther from a place we still seem to call "home"...it is entirely ok. Our friendship is vibrant and alive and full of the richness that God intended when two fresh faced girls met up in an Algebra class...thinking of ways merely to survive...but walking away with something that would last a life time! US.
Happy Happy Happy Birthday my dearest friend Joelle! I just love you
babycakes! You are the true meaning of a friend for life. And I pray that this year, far exceeds anything you could ever have imagined, dreamed of or hoped for...I pray it all really does starts now.
(feeling so glad that I have this girl in my life!)
I have news! (Oh my word, NO, I am so not pregnant...hush your mouth!)
But first, can I just say this. Have you ever had one of those weeks? I mean the kind that isn't horrible, its just so chock full of activity and minor set backs that you never manage to do the thing that you love to do? Yeah well, for me, its writing. I love to write. Truly with all my heart. I love to waste loads of time spend precious time...restructuring sentences and agonizing over the use of descriptive words. Unfortunately, the week behind me truly challenged my ability to sit down and compose even a title. Dry bones over here...aching to spit out a few words. My poor hubby has had to HEAR the words I'd normally just type to you all. Oh don't feel too badly for him, I think he knew I was like this when he married me. (grin)
Through it all, I can assure you that my inner Diva lives on. I actually wore a tiara about a week ago, along with my friend Tina. All in an attempt to sign up women for a 5k walk for breast cancer! Come on now. You know you'd want to sign up for just about anything, if you saw two girls in hot pink shirts with pink balloons floating about them and tiaras sparkling atop their heads! As I've said before, "two divas, together...can turn the world upside down with their contagious fun." So we gave it our best shot.
So how are we fairing out there riled up ladies!? Anyone got a delicious diva story to share?
Ok, now here's the oh-so-juicy bit of news! My sweet friend, Ms. Staci, just featured my blog on her site. Oh my!
Click on the banner and you'll go write to it (yeah yeah, I know its "r-i-g-h-t)!
I am honestly grateful for Staci's kindness and her words. Thank you so much Staci, for making this Dreaming Diva feel special and honored. You my sista are the real deal and anyone who visits your site should be in awe from the moment they arrive.
Now you know why I'm feelin the love.
(feeling appreciative)
My inner Darling Diva was chattin with Ms. Julie's Darling Diva, the other day and it came to us.
If you keep hushing the inner Darling Diva inside of you...she'll stop showing up and will leave your butt in that stuffy, dead-pan, annoyingly straight-laced little world you've gotten yourself into.
Did ya know that little bit of Juicy information?
Gotta tell ya babycakes, it seems I have stuffed my inner Darling Diva, over the winter and holy moly...she nearly left me! Thank the good Lord above that another Darling Diva gave me some heads up and a solid kick in the tush! (Thank you Darling Diva T!)
"Just who is this inner Diva?!" I hear you ask. Oh and you know I love it when you ask. Your inner Darling Diva is that Juicy Gal that makes just about everything you do, feel Free and Fun!
She's the luscious part deep inside of you that breaks out laughing with bursts of belly giggles! 
Your Diva, is the girl that knows exactly what color dress to wear that will absolutely KNOCK HIS SOCKS OFF when you enter the room. Or she knows Darling Divas who will tell her which dress is THAT good!
She's the part of you that loves glitter and tiaras...flashy pink boas and fabulously sexy shoes (aka: strappy...open-toed, higher than high-heeled...thrill him in a minute, with your sexy-mile-long-legs...kinda shoe! Yeah baby, we're talking DIVA!).
We first heard about her goal in January. She was hanging out with a some of our girlfriends one night and in the midst of sharing our new year personal goals, she announced, "I am going to run the More Magazine Half Marathon!" And the thing is - that was it. From that moment T was in training toward her goal.
Now, I am not a runner, with good reason. Its tough work! In the past 3 months, since her announcement, she's run up hill, down hill, in the midst of 
traffic, in the pouring rain, in the freezing cold and I seem to recall one rather ugly day in the snow! Tina ran anyway. Her knees have nearly caved and have been on ice for much of the three months, her body repeatedly ached from pounding across cement, gravel and dirt roads, her lungs revolted on her, leaving her breathless and in need of inhalers....but T just kept running. Running toward the goal of a half marathon.
It was a bright afternoon in late April of 2006, I was boarding an airplane in New York City, heading for a weekend with two of my girlfriends in a town near Chicago. I stood at the terminal, bag slung over my shoulder, shifting my weight from side to side - anxious to get on the airplane and sleep for a while, before my big weekend.
From the corner of my eye, someone rather colorful floated by me, but I didn't look. A few minutes later, the same colorful individual seemed to whoosh by the other side of my body. Curious, I turned and narrowed in on the person that seemed to create this buzz. It was a young woman. A tall pretty one, with straight platinum blond hair, big eyes and a brilliant smile. Oddly, she looked rather overjoyed with life. Living in New York, I have found that this is not such a popular personality in these parts. She stood out, much like a white daisy in a mud puddle.
Strangely though, she didn't seem to notice. Nor did she seem to care. As I watched her, it seemed to me that there was no one who was off limits to this bright creature - she smiled at EVERYONE. When people didn't smile in return, she seemed to generate an even greater determination to smile all the more.
Wearing a light-weight, floral dress with short sleeves, I began to wonder if she knew that Chicago was even colder than New York. And I tucked my jacket around me a bit more, feeling the chill in the air.
As I continued to watch her, I realized, it wasn't her bright smile, high
energy, or spring-time dress that was the oddest part about this girl. It was the big bouquet of freshly picked lilacs and pink roses that she clasped in her hands like a trophy, that truly seemed out of place. Every time she walked past me, I could smell the lilacs and roses. And every time, she caught my attention again and made me wonder about her story.
But I was in no mood to talk. No mood to ask her questions or even let her know that I noticed her. In fact, as I stood in line, I felt agitated by her glowing presence and started to ask God if He would please make sure I wasn't seated next to her on the plane. I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep. The very thought of sitting next to this ball of wild energy made me very grumpy.
Continue reading "Just One more Reason to find Good Girlfriends" »
Juicy Friends,
I want to let you in on a little secret! 
Today is the birthday of a very dear friend Ms. Diana...who happens to own a very special blog known as Modern Mama's Fabulous Favorites! She has give-aways constantly!
You'd just LOVE her. Diana is a very sweet and special woman who wears many hats. She is a mother to three lovely children, a wife to her equally busy hunky hubby and friend to many. And recently she added businesswoman to her list of careers, by opening up a lovely web shoppe called, "The Emilee Grace Company", which is named after her two very beautiful little girls. 
I've been looking at her items and drooling over one item in particular! They have these adorable little leg warmers for babies. You heard me right. Remember the 80's leg-warmers we all boasted? They are back. But in itty-bitty baby wear...imagine that! And they are available at her site. You must see the argyle pair..could it be simply more preppy? I love it!
I think it would be utterly juicy, if you'd pop over to her website and show her some major internet love on her birthday!
Happy Birthday dear Diana! We all wish you fabulous success in your brand new business.
Much love,
Juicy Jenn
Have you ever asked God for a surprise?
"What?" you ask..."are you crazy? Ask God for a surprise?"
Oh yes my darlings, I am entirely serious! I ask Him for surprises
every now and again. And if you are a believer in the Bible, you'd
find that I am entitled to ask ANYTHING of Him.
"Are you serious?"
Why yes I am! It says, "Ask and it will be given to you...seek and you
shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you." Matthew
7:7-8 Now I am not saying that God is a Genie in a Bottle as my friend
MB once helped me to see. But I am saying that He hears it all and
since I am his kid...well, I can ask! (Btw, so can you!)
So yesterday, I did asked! Boldly. I told God it was so gloomy outside
with the grey overcast sky and I was feeling rather blue. Not in a
particularly harsh way but I just had a dull sense that life was not so
full of color day. Know what I mean?
Then, last night, I went to a exercise class that a friend of mine has
started this year. Her name is Tina. She's tiny, she's bubbly and a
fierce force of a petite thing! Tina is a work out queen and has
amazing goals this year for her body. I am not a work out queen but
this year I have suddenly had a desire to become one. Oh my, I still
can't believe I can say that. (Yea- ME!)
Together, Tina and I started a set of goals. We both have read the
Body-for-Life book and we think we can manage to lose extra pounds and
gain loads of muscle through using aspects of the program. As with all
goals, it takes discipline. And frankly, with both of us sporting
multiple kiddos, busy schedules, programs and each one having a husband
that is so utterly adorable we just truly want to spend time with
him...well, finding the time to work out is a challenge, to say the
least.
When I arrived at the class last night, out of the blue and for no
apparent reason, Tina handed me a pretty paper bag..with pale pastel
tissue paper peeking out from the handled opening. Just looking at it
I felt special. But when I opened it, this is what I found.
"What is it?" you inquire. So glad you asked! Its a Fitness Journal,
put together creatively by my friend Tina! Oh my. Let me show you
what she put inside of it.
Below is the first page!
As I told Mr. G, based on the stickers she chose alone...it is clear
that this girl, really "gets me". Oh how I love to hold anything that
declares that I am "Juicy"!
And then she did this!
She copied and pasted our daily fitness worksheets right into the pages
for our daily six week schedule ahead! If you look closely, you'll see
that she even included all kinds of encouraging words...like "You can
do it!" And its on every page for six whole weeks.
But THIS thing was also in the bag!
I am happy to report that it says "Sporty Girl" on the package...so
there must not be any calories, right?? And for those concerned with the essentials of protiens...I am
thrilled to announce that there are a total of 3 grams of protien in
this little box of Hershey's Kisses! Who knew I could get my protein
so easily?!
Tina's gifts were most definately a juicy surprise from God through her! And it is a tremendous priviledge to say I
have such a good and kind and VERY JUICY friend like this. (Thank you so much T! You are amazing at helping me to get motivated to work it!) I am glad to have a friend who firmly believes that we will reach our goals and lose the cottage cheese!
(feeling entirely grateful!)
