Clarice "Cutie" Parks - 2/26/1946 to 11/8/2010

A beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. We released 200 Pink balloons after Cutie's memorial service. It was awe inspiring. Gage, Cutie's grandson, said when releasing his balloon, "Catch Grandma!"

We couldn't have asked for better weather on this solumn day. My heart goes out to Cutie's families and friends. She is another one of God's Angels watching over us!

Cutie, you touched each and every one you met. You are gone but will not be forgotten!

I love you Aunt Cutie!!!!

Konner @ Fair

My mom and I took Christopher and Konner to Lake Lanier Islands Haunted Nights of Lights. We ended up at the lame carnival, but the kids had fun. Konner loved flying! Such a daredevil!

Pebbles and Bamm Bamm-Let The Sunshine In

Special Appreciation Sale

20% OFF A special offer just for you! Dear Lynn, Customers like you make doing business a real pleasure. As a way to show my appreciation, I am offering you 20% off selected items. Now is the perfect time to stock up! These items make wonderful Bridal Shower/Wedding gifts. Who doesn't want to receive or need some Romance? The following items are on eligible for 20% off: Basic Instinct Between the Sheets Body Dew Bosom Buddy Come Clean Coochy Coochy Variety Pack Glow Great Head Ex-T-Cee Just Like Me Kiss Lickity Stiff Like a Virgin Nympho Niagra Whipped X-Scream The discount only applies to orders placed directly with me. You can email me atLynnForgue@PureRomance.com or call at (404) 384-7978. Who doesn't want to receive or need some Romance? I appreciate your business! Best Wishes! Lynn Forgue Pure Romance by Lynn Forgue Creating a better world, one "O" at a time! Find us On Facebook Follow My Blog Offer Expires July 18, 2010

Pure Romance

I am really getting pumped about my new business. I have apparently done really well so far. That will only fuel my competitive fire, lol! I am totally enjoying it! I am so excited about the parties I have already booked. They are with some old friends (not old in the age reference, lol). I am looking forward to not only opening their eyes about our products, but also to catch up.

I have decided that I am not a pushy salesperson and don't feel comfortable being that overbearing. I hate when I go shopping and the salesperson circles me like a shark. I have decided that for right now, my personality and reputation for being totally awesome, LOL, will book my parties....LOL!! I know I am so humble, lol! Once this tactic stops working, I will try something new!~

I look forward to my future as a Pure Romance Consultant and can't wait to see what the future holds for me!

My future's so bright....I gotta wear shades!

World Cup & Good Friends

Watching the World Cup with good Friends!

From 2010-06-26

Although USA lost, we still had a great time hanging out with friends watching the World Cup....Man I miss these girls!!!

Another one....

I really need to vent....This is no way pointed at any of the pregnant ladies I know and love...It is a frustration that you thankfully will never know.

Todd and I have dealt with infertility for the past 14 years. There is no one to blame exactly, it is a combination of us both. We were told about 4 years ago that our only hope of conceiving was through In Vitro. Which many of you know is extremely expensive and not any where near guaranteed. I have known ladies that go through multiple rounds at approximately $10 K a pop....OUCH!!!!

I am usually okay with my situation of not being able to bear children. I usually laugh it off, that I have a 40 year old child named Todd...I am not sure that we are ready...If God had wanted us to have children we would...I am okay either having kids or not...

Sometimes, though, I just want to scream "WHY NOT ME?"

I know I play it off that it doesn't bother me or that I have changed my mind about children, but in all reality, I would love to be a mother! I see women time and time again have babies and it really effects my self esteem. I start to ponder...why can't I be a mommy? Will I not be good enough? Am I not a good person?

I know these questions are not really the problem...Todd and I have medical issues that refrain us from conventional methods of conception, but seriously, I know others that have overcome much worse with miracles. Then I start wondering, did I do something that God doesn't like or does he think I wouldn't make a good Mommy?

What I am really tired of is the questions....So you've been married for 14 years? No kids? So when are you getting pregnant?

These questions make me feel like a 2nd class citizen...like I am a cold heartless woman who has no time for children....Like I am inadequate, because I can not reproduce.

I know these questions are not meant to directly hurt me, but they do. I don't show my emotions often, so when I get a rant like this...it is just from a lot of build up...

I try with all my might not to be envious of my friends or other women who are "conceivables", but that evil green little monster does rear its ugly head. Like I said earlier, this is not in any way pointed to the wonderful girls that are pregnant that I know and love...This is a me issue, lol!

One thing that does bug me though...is that the "conceivables" who aren't my friends and know my struggles, for the most part do not realize how difficult it is for most women to conceive and they blow it off like it is no effort to conceive. It is really a slap in our "inconceivables" face. Usually, we haven't done anything differently to prevent our abilities....Just because you can doesn't mean you should!

Now on a happier note...I am so happy that my baby cousin is pregnant. She was told that she wouldn't be able to conceive naturally and would most likely have to have a hysterectomy before she even turned 30. She tried In Vitro and it didn't take, but now she is pregnant with her first child....makes me happy that doctor's don't always know everything, lol!

So thanks for allowing me to get that off my chest....I do feel better. Sometimes just writing it down helps take away the bitterness I feel.

2010-06-15

John Wooden's Love Letter

This is the true definition of True Love! I can only hope that my love will come close to this.

Picasa Web Albums - lynn.forgue - 2010-06-04

Picasa Web Albums - lynn.forgue - 2010-06-04

The Cleavage Caddy: A Purse In Your Bra

The Cleavage Caddy: A Purse In Your Bra

Seriously, not a huge bad idea, lol! But coming next week, the Ass Crack Caddy for guys who don't want the wallet ass look, lol!

Thanks to Alanna, for sending me this, lol!

Pure Romance

So I finally pulled the trigger and decided now was the time to start my own business. I have contemplated doing the in-home demonstration business for years. I have been close but just couldn't get myself motivated to do it. I knew if it was a product I could stand behind, I could be successful.

I know I will only get out of it, what I put in. Over the last couple of years, I have proven to myself that I can literally do anything I set my mind to! That knowledge has given me confidence in myself.

I decided on Pure Romance because I know their products and believe in the goals set forth by the company. They have built the company on not only offering products that women will love, but also in the education and empowerment of women. I went to the Opportunity Rally in Atlanta, and left there with so much pride in being a woman! I knew this was the right one for me.

I have been approached by Tupperware in the past. My mom sold Tupperware as a way to get discounts. She never took it very seriously. I couldn't get excited about storage containers, and cookware, because frankly, I don't cook! I have also thought about Avon and Arbonne...but those of you that know me, I am not extremely girlie, lol! I do wear make up but it isn't a very important thing to me. So when I went to a party at my cousin's house in February, I thought to myself..."I could definitely do this!"

I am not shy about my sexuality! I am not all in your face either, but I believe that every woman, should harness their power! I also have a very easy demeanor that allows many people to talk to me about everything.

If only I wrote a book on the many conversations, strangers have told me, lol! The only part of Pure Romance that has me worried, is that I am not a pushy person! I hate when people get pushy with me and I don't like to beg. I am sure I will get over this, lol!

I am not doing this for fast money! I am doing this to supplement my income while I work full time and go to school at night. It seemed more logical than getting a second job. I can do a few parties on the weekend and make about as much.

Here's to my future...

Community Leads Growing Backlash Against Glee

Community Leads Growing Backlash Against Glee: "

Unfortunately for NBC, their corporate bungling over the course of the last three years and change — Ben Silverman, the Leno/Conan debaucle, the cancellation of Southland, etc. — has created a pervasive sense of anti-Peacock sentiment that hangs, cloudlike, over 30 Rockefeller Center in a manner reminiscent of the ball of dust that Pig-Pen never managed to shake. Sadly, this has prevented the network’s PR flacks from shouting from the rooftops that, each and every Thursday, they air the most magnificent hour of comedy going on television these days.

No, I’m not talking about the 9 p.m. tag team of The Office and 30 Rock, both of which still flash occasional moments of brilliance but are widely regarded as being on the downslope of their respective creative arcs. Rather, I’m talking about Community and Parks and Recreation, both of which have consistently outclassed their more established counterparts in both laughs and smarts this season.

In particular, VH1 alum Dan Harmon’s Community has proven to be a network sitcom almost without peer in its freshman season. After a somewhat bumpy start, the show’s eclectic cast has gelled together into a formidable and tight-knit comedic ensemble, and the writers and producers have displayed a willingness to take their show in the kinds of creative directions that most other sitcom showrunners would never dare to explore.

Take, for instance, last night’s epic (in every sense of the world) episode, “Modern Warfare” (written by Emily Cutler).

Not only did the show slyly work in meta references to classic films as varied as Battle Royale, Gotcha!, Roll Bounce, Hard-Boiled and Predator into its outlandish plot about a community campus wide game of paintball, but it also was bold enough to take a not-at-all veiled potshot at the current darling of TV critics everywhere, Glee.

Now, I recognize that a lot of you out there — including some of my esteemed BWE colleagues — are head over heels in luuurve with Glee. And while I understand the many reasons why it carries such great appeal to a country that’s unhealthily obsessed with Karaoke Culture, personally, I don’t get all the fuss. Don’t get it twisted, I’m a huge proponent of pastiche as a means of making an artistic and cultural statement, but to me, Glee seems little more than a boring string of flavorless interpretations of songs we’re all suckers for. But this isn’t about me, it’s about Community! Their critique of the show, as spoken by lead character Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), is brilliant in its brevity: “WRITE SOME ORIGINAL SONGS!” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Thoughts?

"

Pictures from Mother's Day Brunch 2010

Mother's Day Brunch, May 9, 2010

2010-05-09

Pictures - 5/14/10

Hanging with Aunt Cutie and Grandma

Friday night we were just hanging out at Ernie and Cutie's house. The kids just love their Graunt Cutie!

Click on the picture to see all the other photo's...

Stacey's Baby Shower

Stacey's Baby Shower

I attended Stacey's baby shower on Saturday. Here the photos I took while there...

There are a lot of Paisley because we kept trying to get her to do her "show me your teeth" face...She really doesn't smile like that, lol! I had a great time!

Google Blog Search

Google Blog Search

WOW!!!! This kid is talented...

'Hey, Soul Sister' Video - Train - AOL Music

'Hey, Soul Sister' Video - Train - AOL Music

This song makes me happy and feel all lovey...It's a shame the radio is wearing it out so quickly!

Car Accident

I had managed to avoid accidents for most of my adult life until April, 19, 2010. I had just left school and needed to stop by Wal-Mart for a few items. I was sitting in the turning lane at the stoplight, patiently waiting and....BLAM!!!!

I was hit from behind. I was rear-ended by a 1991 Suburban, you know when vehicles were still made out of steel. I sustained a whip-lash injury and damage to my vehicle. Meanwhile, he didn't have a scratch on him or his car (Note to self: Get a 1991 Suburban, lol!).

After spending 3 hours in the ER, I was released. It's always so much fun, sitting in the ER waiting room at 11:00 pm. You would be amazed the weirdo's it attracts. There was this lady hacking up a lung so much, I almost threw up. (Note to self: Congrats on quitting smoking and hopefully avoiding that in the future)

I am now fighting the good battle with the insurance companies. I don't understand why it is so difficult to even talk to an agent. It is like they lose all common sense and humanity when they sign up for the job.

The process is all new to me, but why must I be the one to have to call both insurance companies, come out of my own pocket, and not get a straight answer from either side, when I am the victim?

The other driver admitted fault, was cited on the accident and I am the one having to jump through hoops. Meanwhile, his insurance can't get in contact with him.

How is that my problem?

I just learned yesterday that I will need physical therapy and my medical insurance only covers 80% after I meet the deductible....OH GREAT more freaking money out of my pocket with hopes of recovery....

I was trying to avoid talking to all the lawyers, but now I know why victims, such as myself, are so frustrated. Even with my own insurance company, you would think they would be willing to help me out with at least the deductible....

Sorry had to get that off my chest before I went berserk.

Heed the warning....Avoid accidents at all costs, lol!!

Twenty down and...well, let's just say a lot more to go, lol!

I have lost over 20 pounds on my weight loss journey, so far. I am feeling so great! I want to shout from the rooftops....I am even starting to imagine how my life will be once I meet my goal. It is quite invigorating.

Last night, I took my last final for the semester. I feel so relieved. I got an "A" in Mike's class and am pretty confident I will get an "A" in Marni's.

I am savoring in thinking how much different my life will be next year, once I finish losing all the weight I have accumulated and have started down the career path that excites me!

Just wanted to drop a few lines before I forget. I might have to make this my homepage, so it reminds me to blog everyday...I am not as dedicated as I would like to be, lol!

My time is now

I haven't blogged in awhile but am setting a goal to start again. I am going to chronicle my trials and tribulations of my weight loss journey. This week I have lost a total of 15.4 lbs. I met my 5% goal! I am so proud of my success. It really hasn't been that difficult. I am handling it like I did when I quit smoking. I know if I have one puff of a cigarette, I will start up again. I am using that knowledge and power to keep me from the sweets and fried foods.

I can safely say that after 6 weeks of following Weight Watchers I am starting to feel in control of my eating habits.

My mom has decided, that after seeing me lose 15+ pounds relatively easy, she is ready to start her own journey. I am excited for her! I don't want to lose her early like she did her mother.

I am going to force myself to keep up with my blog so when I meet my goal, I can look back and see how I succeeded and maybe help others.

Todd teases me about how I can become a Team Leader someday. Not sure when I will fit it in, but you never know!

My love, my life, my best friend!

14 years ago, I married my best friend!

On April 6th, Todd and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. I can't believe that much time has passed. It really does seem like we are still dating at times. It is not always a bowl of cherries, but it is totally worth the good and bad times. Here is the next 14 years! I love you baby!

Our Mini-Vacation

This past weekend Todd and I went down to Tampa, FL for a mini-vacation. We were celebrating our 14th anniversary and Todd's 40th birthday.

April 1, 2010

The car ride down there was a little tense. Todd decided he wanted to drive and I was amazed. In the 15 years of being together, he has hardly ever driven anywhere, lol. Our car rides always tend to be therapy sessions. I think it is because we can't run away from each other, lol! It started out with me playing my playlist for Todd that I named "Songs in the Key of Todd". It was a compilation of every song that reminds me of him or us. It started the emotional roller coaster.

Todd is only good in the car for about 4 hours. After 6 six hours, he started to get pissy. My husband is like a toddler, lol! After the tears and screaming and eventually talking, we got everything off our chests and could regain our composure.

We arrived in Naples, FL to visit with my cousin Billy. His house was phenomenal! It was almost like a compound. Gorgeous!!! Our visit was far too short, but it was great seeing Billy, Ted and Jay. I always love seeing him, Billy keeps me cynical, lol! We met their puppies and I must say that "Puddles" was my favorite. Every time you touched her, she piddled. It was hilarious!

April 2, 2010

We woke up and had coffee with Billy and Ted. Before we got on 75, Todd wanted to stop and get breakfast at McDonald's. We pulled in to a McDonald Express. WTF is this? It is literally in the corner of a gas station. It looked as if they were sharing the microwave with the burrito guy. Needless to say, we left without ordering, LMAO!!

We finally got on the highway heading to Tampa! The drive today was much better, guess we got all the demons out, lol!

When we finally got to Tampa, we headed directly to Legends Field, well George M Steinbrenner Field. We were going to see the New York Yankees during Spring Training. Todd was so excited! He was like a 6 year old at Christmas. We walked around the stadium and were impressed.

We went to our seats, which were completely Awesome! We were on the left field wall. We had seats, kinda like bar stools and a table. We were about 10 feet from Nick Swisher.

Although, it was probably cool according to Tampa residents, It was hotter than Hades to us, lol! I put on 60 SPF twice and still got burnt.

Walking around the stadium, our future smacked us in the face. Everywhere we looked, we saw our future. Little old people complaining to each other and about everything. It was cute and scary at the same time. It was as if we looking in a crystal ball. We actually met my father's doppelganger. A Vietnam Marine who wanted nothing more but to talk to everyone and drink his beer.

Tampa is hot!!!! We watched the game and had a really great time.

We went to our hotel after the game. We were staying at the Crowne Plaza Westshore. Our reserved room wasn't ready yet, so the clerk offered us a suite at the same price. I said yes immediately, lol. The suite was pretty much the bomb. It had a separate sleeping area and a sectional leather sofa. It was all new furnishings. I fell in love with the bathroom. It was a shower enclosure made out of tile...You could have literally fit about 5 adults in the thing.

We ordered pizza and salads from a place claiming to be authentic New York style Pizza. They were pretty darn close...

Needless to say, after the excitement of the game, the heat and great food we were both asleep about 9 pm.

April 3rd

The game today was against the new Yankees. Everyone with a ticket was going to receive a replica World Series ring. You would have thought the fans were getting actual rings. I have never seen so many grown men, running up to the gate in order to get a ring. Todd was uber-excited. Once he received his, he ran to a corridor to open it up and look at it. His eyes were all a glow. We had decided earlier that we would keep one and give one to Christopher. It was so cute seeing Todd so giddy!

I woke up all nervous. I had arranged for a message to be displayed on the scoreboard for Todd's birthday. I couldn't relax. I was trying to figure out ways to keep Todd focused and in his seat. I was only told it would be on during the 5th inning. So what do you know? Todd wants to get a sausage and peppers to eat during the 4th inning. So he gets his food, and I am trying like Hell to get him back to our seats. He keeps stalling, which is infuriating me.

So just like typical Todd and Lynn fashion, we get in a fight.

He wanted to go get a napkin to wipe off his hands, I didn't want him to leave because I just knew the minute he left, it would appear. I couldn't tell him why I needed him to stand in the spot we were in because I would be giving it away. I walked away heading back to our seats, expecting him to follow. He did not...

I am sitting in our seats, alone and they play the message. I cry because I am so pissed that he might have missed it and realizing that I might have screwed the whole event up by stressing out about everything. I was so proud of myself for keeping it a secret from him (that is really hard for me to do).

(It says, "Happy 40th Birthday, Todd! Love, Lynn")

After the message, I get up and walk back to where I had left him. He was still standing in the exact spot. I was behind him and I walked up with a beer, as a peace offering. He turned around and I could see he had been crying. He said it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. That was all I needed to hear! I was relieved that all had not been ruined.

We then went and scooped up some seats in the shade (did I mention, it was freakin hot, lol). At one point, I smelled something burning, only to realize it was me, lol!

We left after the game was over and headed back to the Hotel. We enjoyed our leftover pizza. We watched TV and enjoyed our last night of freedom from our fur-kids.

April 4th

Todd ended up driving all the way home. I had woken up in the middle of the night throwing up. Must have been the heat and sun. He was awesome on the ride back. We sang songs and laughed. This trip seemed to remind us of why we put up with each other, lol!

We got home and immediately went to bed not wanting to return to reality.

I am so happy that we were able to escape for a few days and rekindle our love and romance. Thanks to the Yankees for giving us that opportunity, lol!

Also, thank you to my wonderful husband! I hope you had a great 40th birthday and 14th anniversary weekend.

I look forward to growing old with you!