She is the problem

To my brother’s girlfriend,
I wish you would keep your big mouth shut and mind your own business. I know you say things to my ex, you do exactly what you told my dad you wouldn’t do. He asked you if you were causing problems between my ex and I…you said no. Why did you lie? I’m not sure what you said to him but he put me on ignore. We were on friendly ground until you started talking to him. So fuck you, go mind your own business and grow the fuck up. I honestly don’t understand what my brother sees in you because he could do a whole hell of a lot better.

(via Bitch Mode)

Free?

I have had a weird few days. On Monday I found out my divorce was final. That caught me off guard because I knew nothing about it being final. I only found out when I went to do something with the health insurance and they told me it was canceled June 1st. I then emailed my ex husband to ask about it and he told me the papers went through May 27th, 2009. I was in shock because I never got any paperwork to sign or anything telling me that the divorce was final….I find they extremely weird. I called the court house and they told me I have to either go in or write to them. The lady I talked to was surprised I didn’t get anything either, at least she was nice. I don’t know if I go by my maiden name or still my married name now…lol

On top of all that I had to apply for health insurance (my Job does not provide it) and now I’m waiting for them to contact me to let me know if they are going to accept me or not. I wish companies would let people who live together but aren’t married share health insurance as long as you can prove you’re living together….oh well. I guess there is more involved then that. I know there are companies out there that do that, it probably depends on the state too.

So that has been my week so far. How was yours? I’m so glad we have a 3 day weekend this week. Tomorrow is our Friday.

(via Bitch Mode)

What would you do?

What would you do if you saw someone hitting and screaming at a child in public? I have stepped in a few times and would do it again. If people are going to do that to their child in public it’s everyone’s business in my book. I’m not one to walk away like nothing is happening and I have had to call child services many times when I worked in childcare because kids who were being abused.

I think Liv Tyler did the right thing.

What would you do?

(via Bitch Mode)

Dinner party

Justin and I had a busy weekend that last two weekend. Last weekend we went to see out friends who live in Maryland and went out to eat. We had a great time and can’t wait to see them again.

Last night we had different friends come over for a mini dinner party. I call it mini because there was only four of us. We had a blast and the food was so yummy. We made for a starter grilled asparagus which was so good. For the main course we made braised leak and panchetta pappardelle and for dessert we made baked blackberry and mascarpone. Our guests were blown away and loved the food and it made us feel great. I love dinner parties and entertaining and I’m glad Justin loves doing it too.

I took a few pictures. The first one is of the table set…

Full size here

and a close up of the miniature lillys

Full size here

I didn’t get any pictures of the food because honestly we were too busy to even think about that.

It was a great time had by all.

(via Bitch Mode)

Happy Father’s day!

I hope all the fathers out there have a good day!

A special happy father’s day to Justin who’s a great dad to his boys. <3

(via Bitch Mode)

Reality check

As some of you know my brother has a girlfriend who I don’t really like. The reason I don’t like her is because she controls him to the point where he is not aloud to have his own friends. In fact she told other family members that he’s not a loud to have any friends at all and no she was not kidding. Well in the past few months she has been contacting my stbx and being overly friendly. Now I don’t mind if my family wants to keep in touch with him because they have known for 8+ years, it doesn’t bother me. It does bother me when she all of sudden want to be friends with him because she never even gave him the time of day when stbx and I were together. She knew him for maybe 2 years and that whole time the most she said to him was “hi”.

So anyway I talked to my brother today on skype and expressed how I felt about this whole situation and how I didn’t like the fact that she keeps in contact with him all of the sudden. Of course he said I was over reacting. Maybe I should just share the chat we had in Skype (Names changed for privacy):
[7:09 PM] Diva: So are you going to visit stbx?
[7:09 PM] Brother: Maybe I am not sure
[7:10 PM] Diva: I don’t mind you guys doing that but to me it seems weird that she is now talking to him because when stbx and I were together she hardly talked to him at all.
[7:10 PM] Brother: I don’t know she seemed to talk to him
[7:10 PM] Diva: no, not when stbx and I were together
[7:11 PM] Brother: the most she said was hi
[7:11 PM] Brother: Oh I don’t know
[7:11 PM] Diva: just my 2 cents
[7:11 PM] brother: I wouldn’t worry about it
[7:11 PM] Diva: well…it does bother me
[7:11 PM] Brother: why
[7:13 PM] Diva: Why does she need to stay in contact with him? I don’t care if you do but you knew him for 8+ years.
[7:13 PM] Diva: she never talked to him before
[7:14 PM] Diva: I just feel like sometimes things are being done to start trouble but that’s just me
[7:14 PM] Brother: well she knows that stbx and I fly together and that if I want to stay in contact with him she is showing me that I can
[7:15 PM] Diva: you don’t need approval to stay in contact with YOUR friends
[7:15 PM] Diva: I love that you and stbx stay in contact
[7:16 PM] Brother: Its not that big of a deal
[7:16 PM] Diva: sigh..well now you know how I feel about it.
[7:17 PM] Diva: put yourself in my shoes.
[7:17 PM] Brother: sorry but I am getting offline.

He logged out while I was typing. I guess he won’t be talking to me for a while. Am I over reacting? I don’t know but I feel like I have a right to be upset.

(via Bitch Mode)

I love Summer

I love summer because Justin and I love being outdoors and summer is the perfect time for it! During the week it’s hard to go out at much as we want because of work so we spend our weekends going places and exploring.

Two weeks ago we went to a place called Oatlands Gardens. It’s a huge plantation with beautiful gardens and a lovely mansion. You have to pay to view the gardens and mansion but it’s worth it. There is a guide that takes you through the house at set times and you are free to roam the gardens on your own. The place is beautiful so if you ever get a chance to go you should! I have pictures to share of the gardens but none of the inside of the mansion because the rule was no pictures.

Here are a few pictures of the garden…

The old well

We thought this was cute

The mansion

You can view all of the pictures here

(via Bitch Mode)

Not much of an update

I really don’t have much to say lately but I do have pictures that I will be sharing in a few days. Justin and I went to a place called Oatlands gardens this past Sunday, it was so beautiful there and we took a whole lot of pictures. I need to look through the pictures and upload them.

Life has been busy since it’s summer. Justin and I love being outdoors and enjoying life.

(via Bitch Mode)

Diet Myths

Since I have been on a diet for a while (I have less then 20LBS to lose!) I thought I would share some Diet Myths with you. I got these from Redbook.

THE MYTH: The more you work out, the better
You already know that exercise is one of the best things you can do to maintain your weight and boost your overall health, but overdoing it can actually have the opposite effect. “Working out seven days a week can weaken our immune system, strain our joints, and tire us out,” Snyderman says. “Your muscles need time to repair so they can be more efficient during your next session.” And if you’re exercising with improper form due to fatigue, you’ll actually burn fewer calories than if you were exercising correctly, she says. To prevent workout burnout, schedule at least one day off a week, and change things up a bit each session — by doing arm weights one day, say, and leg moves the next — to avoid overusing one set of muscles. Be sure to keep your back straight and not to lean on the handles of cardio equipment, to prevent injury and maximize calorie burn.

THE MYTH: Muscle weighs more than fat
If you’ve been working out and the scale reading is higher than you’d like, it’s tempting to tell yourself, “Well, that’s just muscle weight.” After all, muscle’s heavier than fat, right? Not so much: There’s no such thing as “muscle weight,” Snyderman says. A pound of muscle and a pound of fat both weigh…a pound! But because muscle is more dense than fat, having more muscle on your frame than fat makes you look leaner. And there’s another benefit: One pound of muscle burns an estimated 50 calories a day, while a pound of fat burns about two calories a day — so the leaner you get, the higher your metabolic rate. “Aerobic exercise, like biking and running, sheds fat, while weight-lifting helps build muscle mass,” Snyderman says. “Doing both is a surefire way to rev up your metabolism.”

THE MYTH: Fresh fruits and veggies are more nutritious than frozen or canned
Frozen and canned produce can be equally as healthful as — and even more economical than — the fresh stuff, Snyderman says. Frozen fruits and vegetables are often flash-frozen straight off the vine, which helps them retain nutrients. And some canned produce is actually more nutritious than the fresh, raw kind, since we absorb antioxidants like the lycopene found in tomatoes and the beta-carotene contained in carrots more easily when they come from veggies that have been cooked. Bottom line: “It doesn’t matter how you get your fruits and vegetables, as long as you’re eating them,” Snyderman says.

THE MYTH: You gain more weight in winter
When the temperature drops, it makes sense that our bodies would inevitably pack on fat for insulation. Except that’s not what happens. In fact, our metabolism revs up to keep us warm in colder temperatures, which means we actually burn more calories every day, Snyderman says. So if you’re gaining in winter, a change in habits — like exercising less frequently and indulging in comfort foods — is likely to blame. To maintain your weight, try to stick to a balanced diet (even if carbs are all you crave) and your usual exercise routine. Swap indoor activities for your usual outdoor ones — or do some of your workouts out in the cold to boost calorie burn.

THE MYTH: Weight gain is inevitable as you get older
“This myth stems from the fact that belly fat begins to creep on as we get older, but a bulge is avoidable,” Snyderman says. Most of that fat isn’t gained — it’s weight that’s shifted due to hormone changes, childbirth, or weakening bones. And you can slow the shift with strength training, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health: Overweight and obese women who lifted weights just twice a week saw a smaller increase in intra-abdominal fat (7 percent over two years) than those who didn’t exercise (their intra-abdominal fat went up 21 percent in two years). The sooner you start pumping iron, the easier it is to keep that belly trim down the road.

THE MYTH: Yo-yo dieting wrecks your metabolism
It’s become common wisdom that depriving yourself of food — a.k.a. dieting — puts you into “starvation mode,” in which you burn fewer calories because your body needs to hold on to what little nutrition it’s getting; over time, the theory goes, your metabolism slows down for good. But “while extreme low-calorie diets do temporarily lower your metabolism, the effects don’t last,” Snyderman says. Researchers in Canada compared the resting metabolic rates of women who’d yo-yo dieted for an average of 18 years with what their metabolism should be for their height, weight, and age — and found no difference in 92 percent of the subjects. “Yo-yo diets don’t hurt you, but they do frustrate you because they mean you haven’t found the right way to keep the weight off,” says Snyderman.

THE MYTH: You need to lose a significant amount of weight to see any health benefits
Meeting your weight-loss goal can be daunting, especially when you have a double-digit amount to lose. But shedding even just a few pounds can have a huge impact on your health. For every two pounds of excess weight you lose, your cholesterol drops an average of 3 points. And in a study from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, men and women were able to bring their blood pressure down after losing as few as nine pounds. “Our bodies can tell when we lose weight, even when it’s a minimal amount, and they adjust very quickly,” Snyderman says. “So even if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, taking it a few pounds at a time will boost your overall health — and make your ultimate goal more manageable.”

I have to say that since I lost weight I feel so much better. I couldn’t do it without Justin and his love and support. I don’t want to think about what my health would be like if he didn’t help me get started on this diet. Every time I go to my parent’s house everyone always says “Wow, you look good!” I love it.

(via Bitch Mode)

What a weekend

So this weekend Justin and I went to Pa because my cousin Sarah and her 3 kids were coming up from Florida. When I talked to her on the phone she informed me that she was going to Knoebels the Saturday after she got to Pa and she got there on Friday. It made me happy because I love going there and it was a bonus because my family and friends were going too. So Justin and I got up early Saturday Morning and left for Pa. When we got to my parents we found out that Sarah decided she didn’t want to go because she was too tired. That pissed me off because she kept insisting she was going and even after I asked if she was sure she would be ok (because they drove from Florida to Pa) she said that she would be fine, I believed her because she had drove from Fl to PA before and she was fine. What also pissed me off was that Sarah didn’t call anyone to let them know. My dad found out because he called her to see what time they were leaving. I ended up calling her and trying to get her to go but she refused. Right before I hung up the phone she said “It’s ok because I will see you here for the picnic anyway tomorrow”. I told her that she wouldn’t because we had to leave early to get our dog from the “Pet hotel”. She wasn’t happy about that but whatever I was upset that she didn’t call anyone (or make any effort of any kind) to let them know they weren’t going. So Justin, my brother, his girlfriend and my parents went to the amusement park anyway and had a blast.

My other complaint about this weekend? Not seeing my brother a whole lot. Yeah we were only there for one night but when I go up there I never see him. The reason I never see him is because he girlfriend never lets him see his family. Everyone notices it and no one is happy about it. They go to her family all the time. If I was in Jason’s shoes I would put my foot down. I stayed in Pa for a week in March and I saw him for an hour each day, that was it. God forbid he doesn’t get to her house before a certain time because she only calls him 1315612315 times a day. He no longer sleeps at my parent’s house he now lives at her parent’s house. So my parents don’t see him except for work (they all work at the same school) and I’m sorry but that’s just wrong. Every time there is a Holiday he only sees us for an hour maybe but he’s with her family just about ALL day (except the hour he’s with us). It’s not like he doesn’t want to see us either. If he says he wants to stay longer she will have a fit and he will give in…I would tell her to grow the fuck up and deal with it but that’s just me. I can’t stand childish people who have temper tantrums when they wont get their way. So yeah we dealt with her this weekend but It was worth it in the end…Justin, Jason and I had a good laugh.

That was our weekend and now we are home safe and sound. I took some pictures but I have to get them off the camera and see if they came out ok. I will do that tomorrow because I’m too tired right now. Hopefully I will have some to share.

(via Bitch Mode)

Happy Mother’s day

SNL style….

(via Bitch Mode)

Our car

Justin has a 2008 VW R32, he got it the end of 2008. I promised pictures of the car a long time ago to a few friends but I never had the camera with me. Last weekend we washed the car and guess what? I had the camera this time!

This is an awesome car…:)

It’s a two door which I love and it’s not hard to get in and out of if you have to sit in the back. I had to sit there a few times when my dad was in the car too, you can either drive it manual or automatic (I love that as well), there were are only 500 of these made. The best thing is when it’s in sport mode….It’s great. Justin says it’s close to the Audi he had in the UK but that his Audi is still is favorite. I wish I would of had a chance to drive that car. Unlike some people I can handle powerful cars and love it. I got to drive my friend’s Viper back in 1997 and blew him away when I had no problems handling it and driving stick. I even got to race it against one of his friends, it was fun.

Anyway, I thought I would share pictures.

(via Bitch Mode)

Beautiful Va.

It’s been so beautiful that past few days Justin and I have been taking drives and spending the day outdoors. Near where we live we have some beautiful areas and of course I brought the camera.

It’s not a surprise that we love Middleburg, Va. we are always going there. While we were leaving Middleburg we stopped to take some pictures.



Now you can see why people love it there including famous people. A little known fact - Robert Duvall lives in Middleburg.

After that we went for a drive to “Snickersville Turnpike”. It’s so beautiful there as well and lucky for us it was pretty quiet so we could stop and take pictures.

This was near a bridge on the same road.

So there a little tour for you. If you click on the pictures you can see bigger ones.

(via Bitch Mode)

Jack is…

Jack is…

Originally uploaded by Divalicious (Natasha Burke in SL)

The cutest and most intelligent dog I know.

<3

(via Bitch Mode)

The stories full of lies

I have been on the internet off and on since 1997 and I have met all kinds of people. Some were nice and we talk on the phone even to this day. There were also the ones who were drama queens and made drama out of everything and those are the ones I can usually see a mile away because they just can’t help themselves.

I can still remember the time when I was in a virtual world with friends and the one girl that was there said that there was someone standing outside her window staring at her. The first thing we did was tell her to call the police because she was home alone. Well instead of getting offline and doing that she stayed online and gave us a play by play. When someone finally said that they thought she was lying she got defensive and then logged off. I’m sorry but if someone is staring at me threw my window the last place I would be is online. We found out that it was not the fist time she has said that. Other people said she did the same thing a few months before so in the end she did it for the attention and whatever else.

There was another time with a different person where she did the same thing. There was 3 of us that got along very well at first and we were all very close. Well the one who we will call “kin” told us that some guy had hurt her. The 3 of us ended up on the phone with her talking to her while she cried and told us what happened and of course we believed her. A few days later we were talking to someone and her husband happen to be there. We asked him how she was doing and he said “fine, why?”. We told him what she had told us and he was in shock then He went to ask her about it. We found out in the end that she lied about it and nothing like that even happened to her. After that we stopped talking to her and of course she wanted to know why. When we told her why we didn’t talk to her she made a big drama out of it saying that we were lying and that she never said anything like that. We stayed away from Kin but we watched as she did the same thing over and over again with other people. I guess she loved the attention and sympathy that came with her stories.

I don’t see the point in lying about something because we all know you will be outed in the end. Most people can’t keep their lies straight after a while, I’ve seen it happen so many times with those kind. There will always be something or someone there to out you.

(via Bitch Mode)

Victims

I think this needs to be brought up again. I wrote this 3 years ago. I can’t express enough how much I dislike people pretending to be a victim.

—
There are some people out there who act like they are ALWAYS the “victim”, even when it’s apparent that they are not. Such people really have no idea what being a Victim is. I have had this personal experience so I know what its like to be a true victim. There are also people who say and act like they are or have been abused, both physically and Mentally. I also know how it is to really be Physically and mentally abused. To those people who have this need to “Act” like they are the victim when they really aren’t, please stop crying wolf. It makes it harder for people who are actually Victims to get help and be understood and believed. If you are a true victim, please don’t be afraid to get help.

(via Bitch Mode)

Nightmare

A friend and I were talking about ex boyfriends and we got on the subject of one of my ex’s. We will call him “T” for this post. When I first met T he was sweet and fun to be around but after a few months with him I knew what he was really like and “sweet” is not a word I would use for him. When I first met him he had a job but after a few weeks he lost it and then he got another job and he quit that one saying that he didn’t like the way the boss treated him…..and this went on for months. T finally gave up looking for a job all together and started relying on family and friends to give him money saying he would pay them back when he got his business going. I would tell you what business that was but no one really knows what it was because he kept it to himself.

One day when T and I were out he asked me if he could borrow money…now at the time I had a job working in childcare but I didn’t make a whole lot of money. What I did make went to my bills and I also put some in savings So that didn’t leave me with a whole lot for myself. I told him no I wasn’t going to loan him money and he got angry and called me every name you can think of which doesn’t bother me. This is how he was always having a “tantrum” when he didn’t get his way. He was abusive both physically and mentally.

One night I was babysitting my brother who was 5 years old at the time when T came over to see me. Except he really didn’t come to see me he came to ask for something. When I told him “No” he got angry and proceeded to throw me across the room where I hit my head really hard on the wall. When the room finally stopped spinning I got up and tried to go for the phone to call the police and he grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I was about to tell my brother to call the police when my dad came home from work early. My dad asked what was going on as I fell to the floor. My dad took T by the collar of his shirt and held him up against the wall (feet off the ground) and told him if he ever came around again he would wish he hadn’t. That night be came back with flowers and tried to make up but I told him to fuck off as I pushed him off the porch and onto the sidewalk and threw the flowers in the street and watched cars drive over them.

That night was not the last night I saw him….the real nightmare began after that. I think you can probably imagine what I’m talking about. He ended up in jail for 5 years…that was it.

This is the first time I told anyone about this apart from a few family members, one close friend and Justin.

(via Bitch Mode)

Photohunt - Triangle

The theme this week for the photohunt was “Triangle”. Who knew candy would be so hard to put in a triangle? Anyway here is my attempted at the theme this week.

Since it’s almost Easter I decided to use the Mini eggs I had left.

Have a good Easter everyone!

(via Bitch Mode)