Happiness Is

Happiness is:
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favourite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake ... (or vanilla ... or strawberry!)
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20-pound note in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Eye contact with a hot member of the opposite sex.
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful/good looking.
23. Laughing at an inside joke.
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29. Playing with a new puppy.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies (and eating them...!).
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
-Author Unknown.

What are you listening to right now?

It's Friday, what am I listening to?   I got the iPod turned way up; this is the only way I like to listen to the reggaefusion  Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Jamaican soul/dancehall singer Cherine Anderson from his All Rebel Rockers album.

I put this on, immediately I envision myself riding around in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, reggae bouncin.   What are you listening to right now?

The Journals has a new Diva!

Meet Stephanie Lewis, The Diva Journals March Diva of the Month.
March Diva of the Month

The Diva Journals is still reading!

"Slavery robbed us of so many critical pieces to the puzzle that when we started writing our own history, we told only stories of tragedy, struggle, and loss. The other stories of triumph, beauty, and achievement, faded into myth and left our young people wanting to be part of someone else's history." - Daniel Black, Author of Twelve Gates to the City.

The Diva Journals is reading Twelve Gates to the City, the sequel to They Tell Me of a Home, by Daniel Black.  I am captivated by the storytelling of this gifted author.   I find myself trying to read at a slower than normal pace, because I just don't want the book to end, but because the book is such a page turner, the chapters are flying by.  If you are in need of some good reading material, first get a copy of  Perfect Peace, then you'll be anxious to get these two sequels.

 I am enjoying the savor of remarkably written novels.  Aah. The bliss of being engulfed by a good book.  

February's Diva of the Month

Ms. Angela Ferrell-Turner is the Diva of the Month.  Check out her article, and other interesting topics at The Diva Journals February edition.  Enjoy.

Don't let the cold kill your stroll

Hey Divas! With most of the country experiencing cold winter and in some places brutal weather, exercise seems more appealing if done indoors or not at all.  Walking and running are still great cardio exercises, even in the cold.  Here are a few tips to help you continue on in exercising and staying fit during the winter season.

• Remember to layer.  Wear several light layers, and be sure your first layer is made of one of the synthetic fabrics that wick away perspiration and let it evaporate. Your outer shell should be made of a breathable, wind-repellent fabric, to let the heat escape, but not let cold winter air enter. 

• Don't forget your hat and gloves.  Body heat escapes through the body especially through the top of your head and through your hands.  Walkers need heavier gloves than runners, so please invest in a wool pair if you're strolling instead of running.

• Pay attention to the wind chill.  Even if you are dressed properly, windchill extremes can make exercising outdoors unsafe by penetrating your clothes and removing the insulating layer of warm air that is surrounding your body, and it can make any exposed skin vulnerable to frostbite.  If the temperature is well below 0 F (-17.8 C) or the wind chill is extreme, consider taking a break by choosing an indoor activity instead.  If you choose to exercise outdoors still, use extreme caution with weather conditions.  Be safe.

• Stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of fluids when exercising in cold weather, just as you would when exercising in hot weather.  Dehydration may be harder to notice in the cold, so drink water or sports drinks before, during and after your workout, even if you're not  thirsty. 

Hey!

The Diva Journals has a new Diva of the month, Kristin Dexter.  We got new ideas, new recipes and new health tips. Take a look at January's edition of The Diva Journals.  We'll be waitingand hoping to see you.