A Wild & Crazy Week

This past week we had an earthquake, a tornado, a hurricane named Irene and of course my 50th birthday. It was crazy for us up here on the east coast.  I am happy to say that in my area, there were no major residuals from Irene.  We are all safe and sound.

But before the storm hit, my sister came drove to my home and presented to me a bag with some Birthday items and my favorite type birthday cake. I was so excited.  She had me take out one item at a time.  First a hat that she decorated and then a red boa, a red shirt and then a red ring....you know the kind us Divas wear. I changed into my shirt and put my red hat on and then we were both off to see the movie "The Help" in Red Hat Society Style.  It was so much fun....I love her so much.

Then once home I opened up the door and I was surprised with a "Mad Hatter Tea Party"  that my kids and their spouses threw me.   Everyone was dressed up and all wearing hats.  It really was a lot of fun. I sure ate and drank enough that's for sure.......so, I am 50 years old now and I am fabulous.  It's all good. I truly have the best family ever and I thank god every night for them.

50 and Fabulous !

Check out the cost of a new car and the gas prices 50 years ago today.  Wouldn't it be great if those prices were today's prices?  I know I would be out looking for a new car today.

The Average Cost of a new car is $2,850.00 & the Cost of a gallon of Gas 27 cents.

So, today I reached the big 50.  I am going with the phrase "50 and Fabulous"  No more sulking about my age.....I am now going with the flow.
Something my hubby said to me this morning that made me laugh.  He said with a very serious look on his face....."You know?  I've never slept with a 50 year old woman before?  I told him that I am going to smack him. He cracks me up.

I just came back from getting a Mani & Pedi and I also had a very relaxing hot stone massage.  It felt wonderful and so relaxing.  Off to my son and daughter in law's home for Pizza and some birthday cake.  So it's been a good way to start off my next 50 years...I am 50 and Fabulous!

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend I went down the Jersey Shore by myself.  I wanted to do whatever I wanted.   Let me tell you, it was just what I needed. I felt like my heart and soul became very light. I didn't realize how important time spent by myself could be. 

I took some time to read and make a craft, check it out here. (http://sharingfoodswithfriendsandfamily.blogspot.com/2011/08/mason-jar-candles.html)  Then I went to hang out with my dad for a while.
Once I came home, I took a nice long walk and I then watched two chick flicks.  Oh yes, I enjoyed a bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream while watching my movies. Yumm!

I made myself an affirmation while I was there, to thank God everyday for my life, health and love of a wonderful family and friends.  What else in life could be better?  Nothing!  I have the best family and friends and they mean more to me then anything. Life is Good and I am Blessed!

My weekly goals this week are to get in touch with my spiritual side as well as take a few more yoga classes.



A picture of my family, taken at my son's wedding. Love them!



Friday Evening Fun!

This commercial slogan came out in 1961.

Sorry, Charlie. Starkist wants tuna that tastes good, not tuna with good taste"
- Starkist tuna .
 
Also the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was released in 1961.

I had fun tonight with my hubby, daughter and granddaughter.  The hubby brought us some Chinese food for dinner and then we hung out on the porch, watching my granddaughter play.  I also enjoyed a glass of fine wine, while drinking from my Queen goblet.   : )   

 

I Love This Wine Glass!

Ya got ta love her with her construction hat and truck.

One Week from today I will be 50 !

Flashback 50 years ago:
Pampers disposable diapers were available for the first time.
A Gallon of milk cost .49 cents

My fun for today!

Well, it was raining really hard out, so I decided to go outside and sing and dance in the rain. Of course by the time I got out there, it stopped raining. That didn't stop me from goofing around and being silly. I had my daughter take a few silly pictures

At least I found a puddle to splash in.

It's Almost Here!

Tomorrow will be one week until I turn fifty.  I have never been big on birthdays and as you know I have been freaking out about this one.  So, I figure I will have some fun with my upcoming birthday by doing something fun each day and posting it here on my blog.  I will also post a fact about each day in history. 
Now, I am on the count down to fifty and I am going to embrace it.....but remember I am STILL in my forties for just a week bit more.

Some of my favorite candy when I was a kid.

This Weeks Goals

I have to admit I only went to the gym twice last week and I over ate this past weekend. I have such a hard time with my food program on the weekends. I just love my food!  But on the upside I did read my weekly chapter in my book and I went to one yoga class. I tried another recipe with more zucchini and tomatoes from my garden and I also followed through with a few personal goals.  I didn't get to take a cruise on my bike :-(    I will try again this week.

So this week goals are as follows:

Physical - 3 times to the gym and 2 yoga classes
Spiritual goals - meditation and prayer and finish up another Chapter in my Book
Emotional - positive affirmations whenever any self defeating thoughts come to mind
Creative actions - I have had a craft I have been saving for some time.  I hope to get to it this week.
Thankful for my life and the path that I am walking.  Thankful I still have another week to be in my forties, Ha Ha...

How true is this? 

My Journey

Taking responsibility for your happiness means making deliberate choices about how you respond to your past, present and future. You can bury your past and let unconscious self defeating habits sabotage the life you want or you can choose to explore your past and change any negative patterns that are getting in your way. You can assume a victim's stance in your present life or you can choose take charge of your life and create whatever circumstances you need. You can walk blindly into the future with little sense of where you’re headed, or you can choose to design an incredible future and act in alignment with that intent. The choices are yours.
The above paragraph came from the book. "Create A Life that Tickles Your Soul" written by Suzanne Willis Zoglio, PhD. You can take this powerful meaning of this paragraph, to help you in so many ways.

A few years ago, I used this powerful message to help me in making a change in my life. I needed to make sure I was making the right decision, and we all know that there are no guarantees in life. Still, I had to look at my past and determine whether or not I wanted, or better yet, needed, to make a change. You can’t just leave your past behind you, no matter what others tell you. Nor, would I want to leave my past behind me.

Your past is a journey that you take, and it leads you to where you are right now. You are the person that you are now, because of the journey that you have walked. That journey is not always full of roses. And God knows, I have made my fair share of mistakes and bad decisions and I have forgiven myself for them. But you know what? I have made so many good decisions too and I feel that my life journey brought me to where I am today. I am happy where I am now. I really am. I love my life. I know that I have been looking at life a little differently lately (again probably the age thing) but I am ready to take the next steps in my journey. I want to make my journey pretty, kind, loving, full of family and friends and with the grace of god, healthy.

Here are a few natural pictures that I think are beautiful.

After all, the doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.

Monday .....time to set my goals

Weekly Goals - I did pretty good last week...... so, moving onto this week now.

Physical Goals - Drink more water.  Weighing in day is Thursday. Thinking about going to a Yoga class

Spiritual Goals- "Create a Life that Tickles Your Soul"  Read chapter 3

Emotional Goal - I need to stop saying "I'm sorry all the time"  I say this way too much.

Creative actions- I want to enjoy riding my bike for casual fun as well as exercise ....

What Action am I thankful for - forgiving myself and then move on.

Enriching relationships - Share with others my positive  personal traits.

Some of these goals are on going and some are personal.  Some came easy, while others I forced myself to complete.  But, it's all good.
I am ready for whatever this week brings.

I Believe this is so Worth Reading

I Believe...
that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I believe…
that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I believe…
that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I believe…
that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I believe…
that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
I believe…
that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I believe…
that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
I believe…
that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
I believe…
that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I believe…
that no matter how bad your heart is broken that the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I believe…
that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I believe…
that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.  And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I believe…
that you shouldn’t be eager to find out a secret.  It could change your life forever.
I believe…
that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
I believe…
that you should always leave loved ones with loving well wishes. It may be the last time you see them.that you can keep going long after you can’t.
I believe…
that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I believe…
that we don’t have to change friends, if we understand that friends change.
I believe…
that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
I believe…
that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I believe…
that you either control your attitude or it controls you.
I believe…
that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, that passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I believe…
that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I believe…
that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I believe…
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I believe…
that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
I believe…

that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones who help you get back up.

Disclaimer: I did not write this, but loved it so much that I wanted to share. It is originally from a poem "I've Learned" - Author Unknown

My Monthly Diva Goals

 Monthly Goals

• Physical Goals  -  Weighing in once a week and to loose 3 pounds this month. ( I know this is an obtainable goal) 
• Emotional Goals - Don't let negative talk from other people, bring me down. Their thoughts shouldn't affect me. 
• Spiritual Goals- Read one chapter of "Create a Life that Tickles Your Soul" each week.
• Creative actions-  Try at least one new recipe per week. 
• What Action am I thankful for - Thanking god for the gift of a purposeful life.   
• Enriching relationships - Enriching my relationships by spending more time with my amazing family.  

I turn 50 this month, so I am going to work real hard on these goals that I just set.  I want to make sure this birthday doesn't get me down. Age has never brought me down before, but for some reason this upcoming birthday is challenging me. Okay, lets see how this month rolls out.

You don't have to be a frilly Foo Foo in order to be a DIVA!