I HAVE GIFTS? SERIOUSLY! WHAT ARE THEY?

I am excited to be participating in the launch of a new website for women called Girly Gazette. This week they are celebrating us, as women, and challenging us to recognize ourselves and our talents. They are promoting POSITIVITY and I am all about that. (Because in all actuality, negativity doesn't really get you anywhere.)
Today they are challenging us to talk about our gifts and how we are applying them to our life.
What is your gift? Think about this…what brings you joy in life? What have you always been drawn to doing? Do you have ...
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I GET TO MEET MY SISTER AFTER 27 YEARS

I have been trying to write this personal post for days. I have started over and over so many times. I have wavered from trying to be matter-of-fact to writing from the third person point of view. I have since decided to throw all properness out of the window and just write from my heart and soul. A lot of time and tears went into this post, and I hope that this is just as meaningful to my new sister, my family and my readers as it was for me.
I have an older sister I've never met.
For the majority of my life, since I was old enough to un...
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MY FRUGAL DINING ROOM MAKEOVER

I have been without a formal dining room for over a year now. When we moved from Alabama to Florida we gave away our gently used dining room set (that was given to us for free) because there was absolutely no where to fit in our storage unit. Now, a year-and-a-half later, I am beyond ready to have a nice dining room area for my family to enjoy our meals and gather together to play games.
I had a budget of $400 and that amount had to include the dining room table itself.
Most people would have found that to be impossible. Me? I saw a challen...
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STANDING ON MY SOAPBOX: MY OPINION ON MTVs 16 & PREGNANT

I was a teen mother. I make no qualms about it, nor do I hide the fact that I was. There are no if's, and's or but's about my story. Straight to the point: I had my first child when I was 18 and then turned around and had another baby when I was 19. I cannot sensationalize my story.
My life from that point on was hard.
Not only did I have to take care of a child when I was still a child myself, but I was now in charge of a household, working, struggling to finish high school while I was pregnant and married to an abusive person who thought ...
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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY – MY BIG, BROWN EYED BABY

I love my big, brown eyed baby. (And those eyes are big & beautiful.)
...
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VALENTINE’S PARTY PICTURE POST {LINK YOUR VDAY POST}

For every holiday, no matter how big or small, I always throw a small party at home for just my boys. I try to keep it simple and prepare a new recipe, make a dessert with them, play a game and then give them a treat bag. I started this tradition a few years ago when I had my baby boy. He was born right before Halloween and we couldn't go trick-or-treating. I have been doing it ever since.
This year I decided that our new dessert recipe would be Tye Dyed Cupcakes.
They were really easy and simpe to make. (I will be posting the recipe fo...
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THERE IS SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN – MY SON IS DOING WELL

I know that it has been some time since I have written a post about my two year old son Tooty. From the crazy fiasco that was his broken nose to the scare that he may have autism, the last few months have been a whirlwind of emotions for my family.
He has undergone several blood-glucose tests within the past few weeks. All of them have been above normal, but they fluctuate so much the doctors really can't tell if it's juvenile diabetes or something else. I have altered his diet and have tried to eliminate as much sugar from his meals as possib...
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TO ALL OF MY READERS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT

Blogging has been such a relief to me. It is the place where I come to seek solace, inspiration, friendship or just peace and quiet from the daily stresses that I am inundated with 24-7. What started out as something small on Blogspot has progressed into friendships, opportunities and so much more. I have learned so much through the awesome people that I have the chance of meeting online and all of that is possible because of Penny Pinching Diva.
I am beyond grateful for the readers that stop by here on a daily basis to give me the encourag...
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THE DIVA’S SEAL OF APPROVAL: 5 THINGS I AM LOVING THIS WEEK (01-24)

Writing my "Diva's Top 5" article is one of the highlights of my week. I get to feature people/websites/products/places/events that have influenced me or inspired me for that week. I have also gotten a lot of feedback on my previous Top 5 features, as well as thank yous, for inspiring my readers as well.
For this week's Top 5 article I am featuring quite a few great products made by women, websites written by women and events run by women. I have always been a supporter of supporting women owned businesses, so this week's "Diva's Top 5" is ...
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A BABY BUMP UPDATE

I'm not sure how far I am along yet, but wow.
I am really excited about this pregnancy, not just because it's my last pregnancy, but because I have a feeling that this is my little girl. My husband and I already have a few names picked out. (We are currently bumping heads because I have my favorite and he has his.)
So far with this pregnancy I have been feeling okay. For the first couple of weeks I had horrible morning sickness. I couldn't eat, couldn't drink anything, morning sickness. It was awful and a new experience for me because I had...
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IN REMEMBRANCE OF KARISSA – REST IN PEACE

Your light shone brightly, but didn't grace us long enough. You will be remembered. And loved always.
Picture courtesy of my sister.
For more dedications, please visit MomDot....
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CAN YOU HAVE A VIRTUAL FAMILY ONLINE – WITH A PERSONAL STORY

Recently there has been a media frenzy around a mother’s use of Twitter to request prayers for her son. In a time of need she reached out to her group of friends and in one simple message she sent out a plea to those that were closest to her to say a prayer for her son.
In a time of stress, in a time of need, she reached hundreds in one message instead of picking up a cell phone and placing individual phone calls.
Now that I sit back and think about it, I have done the same thing on several different occasions. Technology and the internet...
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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: CAPRISUN FUN

Hmmm, I think the straw is the best part.
For more Wordless Wednesday's visit 5 Minutes For Mom....
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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS

I just wanted to wish all of my readers a Merry Christmas this holiday season. I hope that your family enjoys this holiday and that plenty of wonderful memories are created this year. Never forget the original reason for the season. May everyone be blessed on this day.
Take care and love always,
Shynea
P.S. Here are some pictures of my Christmas tree this year.
...
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WHEN GROWN WOMEN GO WILD: CYBER HARRASSMENT AT ITS FINEST
I have been grappling with myself for a few days on whether or not I would write this post. After much thought and consideration, I have decided that I don't owe it to the other person to protect their feelings because my feelings, or my family's well being for that matter, weren't taken into consideration.
About six or seven months ago I came across a woman online. What started out as a "cordial" acquaintance soon turned into a person whom I regularly chatted with on Skype, but soon after the relationship changed. She was in the midst of laun...
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