Hello. I love you.

Hey Everybody.  I hope that everyone is staying safe and to the best of their abilities, helping someone else to stay safe as well.  I am working from home; I'm not suffering from cabin fever...yet, and working from home does pose some challenges, however I do realize I'm extremely blessed and I'm praying for my country and it's people as we navigate through all this uncertainty that coronavirus (COVID)-19 brings.  

I'm sure some geniuses saw this coming, I wish I had.  I will say though that I have learned a lot from this; one thing is when the CDC speaks, listen.  I have a great deal of respect for those scientist who work tirelessly to educate us and save lives, whether it's through creating vaccines, spreading knowledge, closing down cities, whatever!  THANK YOU.  

I'm hopeful that in time we'll heal, we just have to get over the hump.  One of those obstacles for me is social distancing. It's needed and may become mandatory so the spread of this disease can be contained, or at least kept from swiftly spreading. You just don't realize how much you miss the gathering of people and loved ones until you're not permitted to be a part of one.  I think it is most urgent especially now, that we make phone calls to check on or speak to our loved ones, our circle of friends, our associates, neighbors, colleagues, church members etc.  Download some fact to face message apps and let's show our faces.  We're all in this together now; it's no longer a one country thing  it's a global world thing.  

If you're looking for something to read, I hope you have stumbled across this message from The Diva Journals:  we are thinking about you, we love you, and we are praying for you relentlessly.  Be patient, show compassion, be kind and be safe everyone.  Much love. TDJ 

I Emptied That

Hey!  How you doing? The Diva Journals here, you know Queen She known as Me with some word rambling.  

Ever heard the phrase “I bodied that? Well today I’m using the phrase “I emptied that.”  How’d that come about?  Well here you go.

Last month I wanted to track my purchasing habits, look at what I purchased (for myself and other’s) and used during a month’s span.  So, I decided to save all the empties of what I used or consumed and at the end of the month take a photo. This month wasn’t too bad; a couple of things I will purchase again, some maybe and two I will NEVER purchase again.  I’ll let you guess which ones they are.

I won’t give a review of the products (unless you want me to, and if so request me to do so in the comments) but I will post the name of each down below.  

What I noticed is that most of my empties this month are body wash and body spray products. Heeyyyy, I smell good!  It’ll be interesting to see next month if it’s the same. 

Do you spot one of your favs?  Anything that you’re wanting to try or have tried and like or dislike?  Wanna know if I liked or disliked a certain product? Any recommendations? Comment below or email me, and we’ll chat!

From left to right:
Nivea Care and Orange Blossom Moisturizing Body Wash
Bodycology Pure White Gardenia Mist
George’s 100% Aloe Vera
Calgon Morning Glory Fragrance Body mist
Dove Nourishing Secrets Replenishing Ritual Body Lotion
ULTA Lemon Agave + Ginger Super Juice 3-N-1 Smoothie Shower Gel
Burt’s Bees for Kids Fruit Passion Flavored Toothpaste
BIC Silky Touch 3 Disposable Shavers

Happy Monday!

Hey There!

Diva’s and Gents!  Hey there, how are you? It's Queen She known as me here, and I’m hoping 2020 has already blessed you with health, wealth and happiness.  In my NeNe Leakes voice: whew chile 2019 has gone quicker than the Hostess chocolate cupcake left on my countertop while around my toddler grandchildren – it’s outta here!  

I’m hoping you had a successful year and that you accomplished at least some of your goals; like me, I got at least half of em!  Even though I didn’t learn 50 new words, I did learn at least 30, I didn’t read 12 new books, but I read some good stuff! And I’m still that avid reader.  In summation, I’m not going to beat myself up, or harshly self-bully, but I am self-critiquing in healthy doses.  I’ve found some new ways to connect, become more self-aware, be patient with myself, listen more, and slow down so I can become more of an intentional human being, living a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Self-care is a huge topic on my list of things to learn, conquer, share and pass on.  I had to and still am deliberately doing things/ activities/ acts - in order to care for my mental, emotional and physical health.  In theory, it’s a simple concept, with huge benefits like improved mood and reduced anxiety and stress, but the tricky part of it is when asked by health professionals what you do for self- care, and you have nothing….uuhh, blank stare, well, I guess…yeah I learned none of that works!  And they don’t want to hear it!

Coming up soon I’ll be sharing some of my self-care knacks on The Diva Journals.  Stay tuned for that post.  In the meantime, if you have some that you’d like to share, drop them below in the comments.  Let’s converse, let’s chat! 

Still A Few Of My Favorite Things.

"Raindrops on roses

And whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things"

-Julie Andrews, The Sound of Music

I am a practicing minimalist.  I still have some things to learn, I am not as strict as some, but I comfortably can eliminate any excess and keep my living simple.  However, I still have a few of my favorite things.  Wanna see?  ok, let's take a look!

                                                                      

From top left to right: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Room Freshener, in Lavender, Raw Aquamarine crystal, Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner, Hempz Herbal Body Moisturizer in Pomegranate, Glaceau smart water, M.A.C.'s Retro Matte Liquid lip color in Feel So Grand, and Poo-Pourri Before You Go toilet spray in Original Citrus

Wednesday Word of the Week.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hope your day is going well.  Queen She known as Me here with the Wednesday Word(s) of the Week!

Jejune

je·june
adjective

naive, simplistic, and superficial.

Synonyms: naïve, simple, innocent

Jurisdiction

ju·ris·dic·tion
noun

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

Synonyms: authority, control, power, rule

Karma

kar·ma

noun

destiny or fate, following as effect from cause.

Synonyms: fate, aura, kismet

Ken

noun

one's range of knowledge or sight.

Synonyms: knowledge, awareness, perception, grasp

Lethargic

le·thar·gic

adjective

affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic.

Synonyms: slow, inactive, lifeless

Lucid

lu·cid

adjective

expressed clearly; easy to understand.

Synonyms: intelligible, comprehensible, understandable

Melancholy

mel·an·chol·y

noun

a feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Synonyms: desolation, sadness, woe, sorrow

Tell all Tuesday

Today is Tell all Tuesday here at the Diva Journals!  I’m getting a little more personal and sharing a tiny secret; my vice is I am obsessed with Corner Bakery Cafe.  Now it’s not for the pastries and bread, the pasta, sandwiches or homemade soups (even though they too are super good) but for their doggone COFFEE!  There! I said it!

I have managed to position myself near a corner bakery if I’m home or at work; if I’m just out and about I have googled the closest location.  If there is a meeting at work, I have my mouth under the cardboard coffee carafe (well not really, that would be extremely gross) (but once everyone has theirs and they don't want seconds....) If I’m traveling out of town, I’m looking to see if one is near.  At my favorite one, one of the servers have seen me and my family members so often she now knows the gender of all five of my grands…okay the ages too.  It’s a problem, I know it, I like it! 

What can I say!  In the words of Stockard Channing in the movie Grease, “there are worse things I could do!” 

Hey, I got issues but you got em too!

Enjoy your Tuesday! Make it terrific

Image from Corner Bakery catering