Tag Archives: Diva

The Diaper Diaries

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Welcome back to my ongoing journal of daycare diva.

It has been a busy morning so far.  The alarm sounded at 6am, I have finally found a tone on my phone alarm that is at least pleasant and not horribly rude.  My Droid has a desk cradle for the phone that makes it a clock when it is docked and charging.  I love it. One glance and I see the time  in a huge font, the current outside temp and weather conditions and if I have any emails or text messages.  I love technology!

I got up,  made the bed (the one thing I am totally OCD about is immediately making my bed and keeping my bedroom in order), went down and started coffee, then hit the shower.  Once ready to roll I headed over to the home of the little ones I currently care for during the day.  It was late start day for the 7 year old at school, and she went to an amusement park for a picnic last night so I offered to go there this morning so she could sleep in and mom could leave directly from home.  I remember those days with one child to get out the door, so since I would have to go that way to take the 7yo to school it just made sense.

I fed the 3 darlings (and I do mean that, they are great, adorable kids), 9  months, 2 years old and the 7 year old.  Next got everyone dressed, grabbed the last cup 0f coffee (mama made extra, thanks mama!) and we headed to school.  After dropping off Princess Smiles A Lot I headed to the credit union to deposit my ‘check’ from last week (I feel for mama,  getting 2 little ones out of the car, into the bank and back out and into car seats is a chore!) and then headed to my house.  Little Miss Thang was sleepy so first order of business, after I set up the family room for playing (moving the coffee table, dragging out the toys, putting up safety gates and turning on Mickey’s Club House) was getting her cute little self changed and to bed for her morning nap.  Mr. Man settled in to play and I started my chores.  I  cleaned up the kitchen, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher and cleaned the litter box.  Now enjoying a fresh cup of Caramel Truffle coffee while I write and wait for Diva Sarah to emerge so  I can start laundry.

Last night when I needed the tool chest to change out my license plates (figured that was best since they expired and the last thing I needed the first of the month is a ticket), my sister, Diva Boo, took over.  She is our do-it-yourself Diva, with power tools.  She  said  since I do her laundry it is the least she can do.  I love my sister!  I am SO not the DIY type at all when it comes to tools and handy man type work.  Though I never  felt I was very domestic either, but mom had faith those skills were  in there somewhere.   Low and behold, they were!  I am little Ms. Domestic Diva, can cook, clean, do laundry, maintain the household and care for kids.  I am even amazing myself.  At first I didn’t think so, but now I realize just how much I actually DO contribute to the household by handling many of the domestic chores.  It only makes sense since I am home, right?  And childcare is becoming my favorite job so far in life, it is far more rewarding than anything else I have done, and reasonably profitable as well.

The Avon is slowly but steadily taking off and growing.  I knew this would take time and hard work, but I am not real patient, I want to be a senior executive unit  leader NOW!  The money one can make selling cosmetics is just amazing to me, and it too is very rewarding.  Just a lot of work but then it is it’s own full  time job if one wants to make a lot of money.  And I do!  The potential is realistically there to clear 6 figures annually within just a few years, so my motivation is totally up!  The best part is many friends across the country can be customers thanks to having an eStore!  They can view the full brochure right on my site (or I can mail it to them!).  If you don’t have a Avon rep, or haven’t seen a brochure, I invite you to click the “I’m The Avon Lady” button on my sidebar and check out the eBrochure.  For $30 and over shipping is free.  Shameless plug: Please, visit my Avon page and feel free to look around and have it directly shipped to you by paying online with a credit card.

Okay, baby is now awake (thanks to the weather radio weekly test I forgot about and didn’t turn the radio down) and the laundry is started.   Second cup of coffee poured into my Crazy Cat Lady mug, a hug from the toddler and giggles from the baby.  At the end of the day, the little ones will go home, and I’ll put away all evidence that they were even here, until tomorrow morning when we start all over again! :)

I love my job :)

Monday Memos

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Due to the hostess of Meet Me On Monday taking a break, I’ve decided to start Monday Memos.   Short little  notes to whoever  or whatever happens to strike my fancy at the moment.  Who knows, maybe I will turn it into a meme if I can ever figure out how to get a  linky tool to really function well.  And then there is not knowing if there is any interest!

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Dear Pixel & Ditzy

I didn’t have to get up today.  I realize that you are hungry, but you aren’t going to starve to death  if you have to wait until I FEEL LIKE GETTING UP to feed you.  My bed is not your play ground, please resist the urge to play “cat and the mole” under my blankets when I’m trying to sleep.

Dear Menopause

Okay this business of walking around in my own personal tropical climate COULD have its benefits if only I had control over the switch that brings on the sudden hot flashes and sweating.  Until you can provide me with such ability could you go fascinate  someone else? Thanks.

Dear Bunn Home Coffee Maker

You are without a doubt my favorite kitchen appliance.  A fresh pot of coffee in under 3 minutes, who could ever complain?

Dear Little Seedlings of Diva Angie

Diva Angie's Seedling Nursery

Please grow, please please please!!! Don’t make me come down there and sing to you!  Yeah, that is what I thought, scary thought isn’t it?  We get that it is only your third day snuggled into the fresh soil of your cute little nurseries, but GROW, DAMN IT!

Dear Creator of Angry Birds

I hate you.  This  stupid game on my phone is taking over my free time.  I have no will power, I want to kill the pigs.  Helmets? REALLY???? ON PIGS????  Perhaps there is a special place in hell for sadistic people like you!

The Honeymoon Is Over

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That is how it was put to me this morning, that the honeymoon of my renewal of my faith is over.  Yes it is true, that euphoria associated with coming back ‘home’ is now over and the battle that is all around us in a realm we do not see, is on. 

Ephesians 6:12-17 (New King James Version)

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The battle is against things I cannot see, but trust me when I say I can feel them. 

Last night I had dinner with my daughter, son and his girlfriend and her daughter.  It was a good time though I feel strange around my kids, like an outsider.  This was driven home when they were talking about New Year’s Eve, when they were at a party with their dad, my ex.  It was very hard, it hurt that my kids were off having fun and dad was included but not me. 

I struggle with feelings of envy that I am no longer a part of my daughter’s day-to-day life as I was when we lived under one roof.  I miss my son who is going to be moving back home with dad and my daughter soon.  They will be a family unit and I’m no longer a part of that unit, a part of the family.  My family, in what was my home, that I was forced to leave behind when someone else determined for me that my marriage and place there was over, I  was no longer needed or wanted.  I struggle hard against a seed of bitterness that desperately is trying to root itself in my heart.  I struggled with  the knowledge that I’ve been equated with common household appliance this past week by the very man I stood beside and loved, supported and never walked away from in some of his worst and darkest hours. And yet despite giving all of myself I’m just an old dishwasher that has been tossed out. 

This morning I was so thankful for my dear friends Jane and Ellen, and their taking it all back to scripture and encouraging me.  Jane has been the mentor and encourager since days before I returned, checking in on me and keeping me accountable. Yesterday Stan was a gentle, loving, yet firm encourager to keep focused and turn away from the negative things that are causing the seeds of bitterness to fall around me. I’ve been so blessed to have the Divas around me loving and supportive throughout it all.

I am blessed that I am not a new or baby believer.   I have a firm foundation of knowledge and faith under me, that while I let it become over grown with worldly weeds and let it be buried beneath sinful debris, it is there. Clearing away everything I have the armor and tools  of my faith still there at my disposal.  I have strong believers as friends willing to pray for me every day as I struggle to remain firmly planted. 

This much I know, I  am still the daughter of the King of all, I am loved by the One with my name written on His  hands, and He has surrounded me with brothers and sisters in Him that love me and keep me in prayer and encouragement.  I have all the strength I need in the Lord, and need to rest there in Him.

Wine & Cheese – 19th Serving

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Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on Wednesday I devote a blog to whining. Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times. I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.

I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.

I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile just a bit more than normal.

Sit back and join me now for the 19th serving of some wine and cheese!

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WINE

ARGH JOB HUNTING!!!! I hate job hunting.  But it is the end of the painting season for exterior work, and the interior  work isn’t enough to keep the offices at full staff so I’m off after Friday.  Not good,  Christmas is coming and I have bills  to pay.  I have an impressive resume,  so if you know someone hiring I will share it.  Meanwhile I am NOT happy, I hate looking for a job, hate going through training to acquire the knowledge needed at a new job.  GRRRRRRRRR

Time Warner – their customer service  for their crappy Internet is pissing off the entire Diva Den.  We’re up, we’re down, we’re up, we’re down…we unplug the routers and plug them in and we are up..for a while..then we are down again.  We’ve had the equipment  replaced twice.  Cincinnati Bell don’t get too  smug, yours was down more than up which is why we  switched  in the first place.  This is a new problem with TW but it is totally infuriating us chicks with laptops that have jobs to find, work to do, social media to creep on and games to play.  Get your act together!

Ebenezer Scrooge Types – Oh get the heck over it, so what so the stores are playing Christmas music, and they have all the stuff out already.  This country  is headed to hell in a hand basket of late,  people have plenty of tough times right now, is it REALLY so bad if we have a little  Christmas cheer EARLY?  What can it hurt to kick in the spirit now? Everyone always says “gee it would be nice to see the Christmas spirit all year wouldn’t it?” so now it’s early, a little longer time to enjoy those cheerful tunes and favorite hymns we only listen to in December.  Paste a smile  on and sing a few verses of your favorite holiday jingle and be happy!

CHEESE

CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND DECORATIONS are out and about and I LOVE it!  I totally love the holidays and the only reason our Christmas trees are not up already is that Diva Boo and I are exercising restraint for the sake of Diva Mom.  I suspect she knows the neighbors already are not sure about us so she isn’t too keen on us removing all doubt that we are freaks.  But I am LOVING that the holiday hoopla is already under way…YIPPIE!!!

DESSERT

When you see Elvis making out with a Pirate, it’s either Halloween, 1973, or heaven is way, way cooler than advertised. ~ Funny One Liners Twitter Feed 10/31/10

Coffee Thoughts…

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Sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee and thinking over my weekend.  I really hate when the weekend comes to an end.  It isn’t that I don’t like working, I just enjoy my time off so much too, and the weekends just never seem long enough.  I am learning to really relish each minute of each day and embrace life, and finding that the more I do that happier I am.

Friday evening my baby girl came to visit, which was exceptionally nice as I never feel I get to see enough of my kids.  She concerns me because she looks so tired, but she has been sick herself with this flu/cold bug all the past week.  And between being in school all day and working in the evenings I think she is just getting a bit run down.  She was sporting one of the pink shirts the Delhi Fire Department is wearing for October for breast cancer awareness.  I know a lot of departments are doing this, which I find rather cool.  My brother made sure we all were able to buy the  shirts in the Diva Den too.  Real men DO wear pink, and most look great in that color.

We’ve been on a quest in the Diva Den to find a particular Highlander Grogg coffee.  The one we like was served up at Perk On The Pike before it closed.  This one has a slight butterscotch aroma and taste.  After Perk closed we were able to get it through The Front Porch Coffee House, but then they closed too!  That depresses me, I love going to a cozy coffee house and miss my Saturday mornings at Perk with my sister, crocheting and munching on stuff that was not real healthy and sipping coffee.  Mom finally found a place in Mt. Healthy, The College Hill Coffee Company.  This place not only carries our coffee flavor but it is flat out adorable!  I have determined that I need to frequent that one, even though it is a bit of a drive.

I’ve gone a complete week without going to Chipotle, I cannot believe it.  Mostly it is a money issue, just don’t want to be spending the cash at the moment with trying to get Christmas shopping done for my kids while I am still employed.  I might have to treat myself on Friday when we get paid again.

I’m actively looking for another job at the moment.  Once the season is over for out door painting I’ll be looking at being laid off and that won’t work, I have too many bills  to pay.  Hopefully I can find something soon, that carries benefits too, as this flying without health insurance is scary.

Best  part of my weekend was getting to spend time with Mr. TSASA last night.  We let him join the Divas for wine night, and then I got him all to myself out on the deck, which was nice.  We talked quite a lot, but I’m not sharing the discussion.  He also got to go where no man has gone before…to my room.  :)   Okay so nothing naughty went on (only because others were home) but I did get a very nice kiss and Pixel let him hold her, which was also rather unusual.  I was bummed when the night ended. But again, relishing the time I do have and enjoying it very much.

Laundry is all caught up now, bedding changed, room cleaned, we even cleaned the house today.  Dad came to watch the game with us and have dinner. I am growing very concerned about him, he seems to be declining in health.  Sadly the weather is going to shift in coming weeks and we won’t be able to get him out as much.

Coming up this week are all the normal memes and hops I participate in, and my own periodic posts.  Wine and Cheese will be back on Wednesday, I was not feeling well enough to put together anything this past week.  I’m also going to be posting a book review.  Not my norm but the author asked me if I’d like to do one so I am reading it (great book!) and will be posting a review near the end of the week or Saturday.

I feel an early bedtime coming my way, though I know that once I  close my eyes the weekend will be over and the next thing I am aware of will be the alarm clock rudely pulling me from my sleep to start the work week.  I’ll likely stay awake as long as I can for that reason alone, to make it last just a few more minutes.

A Walking Germ Party

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I’m sick.  REALLY sick.  Sadly I fear it may be the flu, but I’m holding out hope it will just be one kick ass cold.  Every part of my body hurts, my head is full of nasty shit and I’m rolling through a box of tissues a day.  I had SO thought for sure this was a bad allergy attack the past few days.  Heck I even felt GOOD yesterday.  But no, today it is fever, sore throat, aches, pains, sniffles, snot,  and sleeping.

Being sick in the Diva Den, if one has to be sick, rocks.  Women being nurturers immediately start taking care of you.  Diva Mom insists that I need to see the doctor tomorrow but I’m fighting that. Told her I wasn’t going too, she said yes I was, I said you cannot make me, and Diva Jeanne pipes in and says “I’ve got $50 on Grandma”.  The little traitor!  Diva Boo made me a snot-rag bag for putting used tissues in so I could just sit still and not have to keep getting up to go to the trash can.  Diva Mom brought home some Alka Seltzer Plus, which I swear is the best stuff around for getting one back up and moving.   I also took Mucinex DM, which has helped control the flow of crap out of my head and the resulting cough.

I have slept all day, relocating once to the floor of the family room before going back to bed.  I had hoped to watch the Browns kick the Steelers ass but that game wasn’t on here, so was watching Baltimore and New England, which I found surprising that Baltimore was doing such a great job.  I usually cheer for anyone playing the Browns, Ravens or Steelers as they are division rivals.  So watching the Ravens holding there own against the Patriots was interesting. I gave up and went to bed, just feeling way too crappy to stay awake.  Diva Mom drugged me up and I crashed.  Don’t ya love when a fever breaks? Sweating like I’ve been laying in the hot sun all day without a beer in sight, and the nightmare that always seems to accompany the fever breaking.  Sucks but I DO feel a bit better.

While under the influence of the meds I figured it was wise to finally eat something so while I’m inhaling this sandwich I figured  I’d blog a bit.  But I’m not long for this world, going to be curling back up in my bed with my teddy bear here very soon.  I really wish I had a TV in my room, I hate missing the games.  Not that I’d have seen much, I’ve slept so much, but still would be nice.  Okay, time to take my germ party back to my bed and get some more rest. OH the joy of being ill, BLAH. 

Random Happy Thoughts

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Random Happy Thoughts

I think I’ve gotten my latest frustrations out of my system, today calls for random happy thoughts that have rolled through my head today.

  • Sleeping in totally rocks!  Went to bed at midnight and didn’t get up until 10:45am this morning.  I feel MARVELOUS!
  • Grocery shopping is fun when you share the experience with someone.  I enjoyed going shopping with Diva Mom.
  • Nothing beats fresh veggies, especially corn on the cob  purchased from local farmers at road side stands  and picked fresh this morning!
  • Having my daughter over  to spend the afternoon and evening with us, cooking out and wine tonight  in the Diva Den.  I miss living with her and love  getting to spend  time together :)
  • Storms that come blowing in suddenly, packing hail and making the lights flicker are a bit scary.  But the power stayed on so all is good!
  • Caramel Truffle coffee tastes SO good,  I really enjoy flavored coffee!
  • I love this house!  Still kind of adjusting after 2.5 months but it is the coolest place and I love living in it! It is so big and spread out giving us each the needed  solitude but still having each other so nice and close.
  • Grilled hamburgers are SO yummy!  Add folks you love  around your table and they are a feast fit for a king!  Well a bunch of princesses at least.
  • Crisp, clean sheets to  change on the bed, I just love it!
  • Church festivals with warm beer and poker tables, gotta love  ‘em!
  • Puppies and kittens are so fun to watch interacting, especially when they do not know they are not supposed to like each other.
  • Unexpectedly bumping into my youngest brother when dropping off lunch to my dad is a very good  thing (even if he is sweaty and stinks from working outside).
  • A nice deck with the woods as our back drop is so wonderfully relaxing,  heat  and humidity just don’t seem to matter when sitting out there.
  • Texts from old friends,  favorite  drinking buddies! I LOVE YOU GUYS
  • Saturday night  wine at the Diva  Den, always something to look forward too!
  • I LOVE WEEKENDS!!!

I Am One With The Bean

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It is Monday and it helps to be caffeinated.  VERY caffeinated.  That is the other thing about working and significance to days of the week, Monday means something again.  It means if I am smart I went to bed early Sunday evening.  Note:  Seems I’m just not all that bright? I am burning strong at night light wattage brilliance when it comes to getting a good night of sleep.

Coffee – just get the IV drip bag and I should be good to go, my liquid jumper cables, something to get me going again.  I am kind of shocked that I’m not a lot more sleepy, I did not get to bed at 9:30 last night as planned.  It was 10:30 and then I had insomnia.  I could not fall asleep even though I was so comfortable and tired.  I listened to an impressive storm roll through, watched Pixel kitten freak out over the lightening flashes outside of the window, ducking between me and my body pillow now and then.  When I did finally fall asleep I kept waking up all night for some reason.  I intend to be in by 9:30 tonight, but we shall see.  My grandmother used to say the road to hell was paved with good intentions.

Coffee is the life blood of the Princess Palace.  My mom, sister and I are huge drinkers of java.  We like it all, regular and flavored, if it is ‘leaded’ we drink it and entirely too much.  Some where out there is a study my aunt read that indicated adults who consume a lot of coffee could be ADHD and the caffeine is working like a medication would for them.  I wouldn’t doubt that at all just based on unscientific observations of my family.  My sister found a Bunn coffee maker for home that is the most prized possession in the house.  In less than 3 minutes it brews a full pot of coffee!  We stop just short of paying homage to it each morning, we need to give it a name it is so special to us.  There is no crisis that cannot be overcome if we gals have coffee in hand!

It doesn’t matter that it is in the upper 80s and humid outside, after dinner it is coffee on the deck.  In the mornings, before anyone has anything to eat, we are reaching for the coffee.  Have a problem to work through and need the other Divas in the household to talk it over? Get the coffee pot and some cups.  Working on a blog isn’t happening without a hot cup of coffee on the desk.  Had a great day at the office or shopping for bargains, by golly it calls for some coffee!  Yes, we DO have an addiction issue here.  You know you have a problem with the bean when you drink a lot of coffee before bed and sleep like a brick.  Hmm…maybe that was the issue last night, I didn’t have coffee, I had a beer.  Note to self: Coffee before bedtime.

It is Monday, caffeine will help, I am one with the bean!

Rosie Sow

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The Diva Den has a new member, Rosie Sow.  Rosie is a ceramic pink piggie bank, sporting a tutu and a tiara.  In the midst of the moving hoopla over the weekend my sister and Jeanne were at Target in search of needed items when Jeanne spied Rosie lounging on a shelf.  Because Rosie is decked out as a Diva they felt she was needed in the household.  We all agree she is a perfect fit. She was given the place of honor on the kitchen counter next to the coffee maker.

Now I need to be up front, Rosie is my personal name for our counter top royalty, we have not all agreed to a name for her as of yet because we’ve just been too busy getting settled.   I hope the other chicks don’t mind but she needed a name for the blog and calling her a pig just seemed rude, and we in the Diva Den are all about positive reinforcement and supportive words and all against negative energy or tearing each other down. We are  our own greatest support network and Rosie being a part of the team she needs to be treated with respect.  Besides she has a tiara which makes her a princess like the rest of us in the palace so Rosie it is.

The original purpose for Rosie was all loose change would be fed to her and over time we’d build up quite the savings to be put toward a yet to be determined goal.   We have a household emergency account set up so we will probably use the sow savings for something fun.  Either way Rosie is quickly putting weight on her ham hocks as each day we all add any left over change from our pockets and purses to her tummy.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that in the this household we say ‘fuck’ a lot.  We get it, not a lady like word but hey, we’re Divas, we do what we want when we want.  Mom noticed over these past few days that we have a lot of little kids in the neighborhood, several living on either side of us.  The houses are not on top of each other, there is good distance between, but the little tykes trek through the back yard to each others to play.  Inside the house we really cannot hear much room to room as the house is very large,  and the walls have great insulation that buffers the noise quite well.  However if you walk around the house, as mom did,  you will hear a good deal as you pass under windows.   This means those adorable children are unwillingly enrolled in Cursing 101.  We all know we need to eliminate the F-bomb from our vocabulary and now we have good reason to make it a goal.  Let these kids parents educate them in swearing, we need to set a better example.

Mom decided that every time one of us drops the big F word, we should have to deposit  50 cents in Rosie.  At the rate my sister and I let that one fly we could fatten pinkie up to her tiara in a week!  In fact just yesterday my sister walked out and fed Rosie $5 to cover her extensive use of the big bad word.  I managed to squeak by on $1.   We all agreed to come up with a more acceptable expression and now Farkle (a favorite game for many of us on Facebook) has become the substitute for “fuck” in our house.  We Divas know that if Farkle is used it is a big curly tailed deal, but the neighbor kids won’t be taking home any new words that might get them a time out on the naughty step.

To go along with her new status as the language monitor Rosie has been elevated to the top of the refrigerator.  We needed her spot on the counter for the toaster and frankly she looks more appropriate up high looking down on us all keeping watch over our phraseology and reminding us that too many trips to the contents of the fridge and we’ll start rounding out like our little pink porker.

Rosie Sow