Gratitude Poem

Be Thankful For...
by Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~~Blessings Divas~~

Back-to-School Savings & Tips

After lots of thought, discussion and planning, I've come to a major decision that I plan on following through with - returning to school to complete the degree program that I've been working on for longer than I care to dwell on.

Two of the struggles with returning were time away from home and the costs associated with returning.  

I was attempting to not take out any additional student loans and pay for classes out of pocket using the payment program my school offered.  The payment plan does not account for books so that's an expense that I'd have to pay upfront on my own - one that I was definitely dreading.

From previous experiences I knew that purchasing textbooks could be a headache - a very expensive headache.

One of my textbooks this semester brand new is $202. Used will run me $151.50. Honestly - that's still a bit out of my budget. We're talking almost a week's worth of daycare for a book I'll use for 3 months and then never look at again!

Enter textbook renting! I love this concept and wish it was more popular when I first began taking courses umpth years ago! The cost to rent the same book for the semester is $77.06 on Campus Book Rentals:

Another trick I learned a few years ago is to speak to the professor about using a previous edition.  Many times the difference between one edition and another are barely noticeable and doesn't affect the your ability to use the book and follow along with lectures and complete assignments.  Most professors will let you know if it's okay to use the older edition because they understand that most adult students have so many other expenses they are attempting to balance in order to complete their educational goal.  The previous edition of this same book is only $12.62 to rent for an entire semester! I will definitely be reaching out to the instructor for this course to see if she's okay with me using a previous edition!

Another reason I enjoy renting textbooks is that you're allowed to take notes and highlight in the books as use them - meaning that I often get valuable information from previous users of the books that help provide extra insight into the course objectives.

Campus Book Rentals has been in business since 2007 and there's no shipping costs involved with receiving or returning the books!  They, also, offer:
~ No membership fees - you pay to rent the book(s) you need and there aren't any recurring monthly costs
~ 30 day risk free returns
~ live customer support
~ flexible rental periods (you can set your return dates if you need the book for a specific date range other than a semester or quarter!)
~ they give back to the community by partnering with Operation Smile and setting aside funds for textbook scholarships in our communities

As far as time away from my family - this upcoming semester I will be doing a mix of traditional face-to-face and online courses.  The face-to-face course will be during my lunch break three days a week.  I'm open with my kiddos and they know the long-range benefits of Mommy finishing this degree and we're all willing to make the short-term sacrifices.

Any other divas taking the back-to-school plunge this year? How do you balance work-life-school-home? Have you used an online book rental service before? Any tips on how to cut costs with back-to-school expenses?

Wish me luck, Divas!!!

~~Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but all experiences, scenarios and opinions are mine.~~

Nope, Not Again

That friend called me again. Many of you may have one just like her (or him). There's always something! No matter how good things are going, no matter how positive the outlook - there's an urgent problem that will put their entire world in chaos and they try to suck you into the madness.

DO NOT FALL FOR IT

For those that have been around DWP for awhile, you'll know how I feel about these people.  There comes a time when you just have to let go and move on.  Send positive thoughts and prayers up in their behalf - but don't engage in the pity party with them.

For whatever reason, they are in a season of their lives where they enjoy being down.  As silly as it sounds - there truly are some people out there that thrive on the negativity in their lives.  No matter how many silver linings there may be - they are content with focusing on the rain clouds and thunderstorm.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THEIR MINDSET

Until they get a shift in their mentality and attitude, they're not going to change.  In fact, they may even succeed in changing you and your positive outlook.

So, yes, I did answer the phone and I did engage in conversation for about 4.3 minutes before I felt the shift. After offering 2-3 positive solutions that were all shot down without any real rationale as to why they wouldn't work, I put an end to the foolishness and expressed that it seemed as though they wanted to be down and I would let them stay there on their own.  I gave an open invitation to call back whenever they were ready to think positively and take action to control situations that could turnaround.

I HOPE I GET A CALL BACK....ONE DAY...in the meantime, I'm continuing to focus on the positive aspects of life and changing those things I have control over.

Some may feel I was too harsh...however, after dealing with the exact same scenario for years (yes, multiple years!) there comes a time when you have to just say enough is enough.

So, nope, not again....time to move upward, onward and forward. Perhaps one day soon that friend of mine will decide to do the same.

September No Spend Challenge

Happy Monday Divas!

For those of you that follow Divas With A Purpose on Facebook, I put out a challenge this past weekend for the month of September - to not purchase anything new (excluding food) for the entire month.

What's the point? For me it's to focus on what I have, use it and appreciate it more.  I'm pretty frugal to start off with, but by putting myself on a serious spending diet I see areas in my budget that I can cut even more or eliminate.

Anyone up to the challenge with us? Even if you can't do the entire month, perhaps you'd like to join in for a week or weekend? If so, please chime in either here or on our Facebook page to let us know. We can cheer each other on and share ideas and tips to make it through the month of September.

Letting Go to Receive

“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell.

Am I the only one that has a hard time letting things, people, thoughts, etc go?

I was driving  around running errands earlier today and a thought came to me - when we release something we're, also, opening ourselves up to receive something.   By holding on to things past their expiration date, we're keeping dead, moldy, unfresh things in our lives.

 Why???

Sharing Saturday

Happy Saturday Divas!

I hope you all have had a fantastic week and are enjoying your weekend!

Last week, I started something new on the blog - Sharing Saturday where we respond to random questions. It's just a time for some silliness and a chance to get to know my readers a little better...would love if you'd participate or chime in.

What is your least favorite mode of transportation?

Definitely the bus! I had to ride from Texas to North Carolina on a local express Greyhound bus (meaning it stopped in every single small time you could imagine plus some!) one Thanksgiving to visit my parents. I called my dad in tears about half-way there because it was such a miserable experience. If my little sisters didn't make me feel bad about my promise to spend the holiday with them, I swear I was ready to turn around and go back home. The sacrifices we make, right?

Giveaways Galore...MVM Link-Up

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

• List your giveaways below.
• Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.

FLASH CASH: $30 Target Gift Card

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** Fan Favorites Week!!! **

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Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday Divas :)

I hope you've all had a fantastic week! This week started off fantastic for me because my oldest son came home after spending 10 weeks in Texas with his father! It feels great to have everyone back in our household and get back to our "regular" routine.

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*Fan Favorites Week*

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Movie Reflections: Simon Birch

I got up early this morning - enjoying the peacefulness and solitude of my home while everyone was still asleep.  After some meditation and reading, I decided to see what was on television. It turned on to a movie that intrigued me from the start - Simon Birch. I know! I know! I know! I'm way behind since this movie came out in 1998. In my defense, I've never been a huge movie-goer.  From time-to-time I'll go with friends or family, but for the most part I'm content with watching right from the comfort of my home where I can pause, rewind, and just plain change the channel if needed :)

Let me preface by saying this would not have been my movie choice to start the week off with - I boohooed through most of us (darn postpartum hormones!) and was angry with many of the characters throughout the movie. It made me feel, I was connected - a great movie in my book :)

In case I'm not the only one who hasn't seen it, I won't ruin it for anyone else but I would highly recommend it.  It makes me wonder what I'm teaching my children about how they interact and respond to people with special needs or who just don't look like them.

 

The biggest thing I got away from this movie was that the main character truly believed he had a purpose in life and made it his mission to find out what it was and live it through - despite the obstacles and doubt that was placed on him by just about everyone around him (including his parents and clergy).  It taught me that you can never judge a book by its cover and tenacity will take you further than others (and yourself, sometimes) could ever imagine.

Sharing Saturday

Hi Divas! Hope you're all having a fantastic Saturday so far! Busy weekend in store for me and I'm excited, as usual, about spending some time my family and friends - celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and a bridal shower :)

I'm going to try something new here on Divas With A Purpose for the next few Saturdays and would love if you'd all join in.

Sharing Saturday Random Questions

What is your favorite movie line?

"You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. 

You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life." 

- The Lion King

What TV show are you embarrassed about watching?

This week it would have to be "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" - why oh why am I addicted to this show and the foolishness it entails???

What was the first big thing you bought with your own money?

Contact lenses - I ditched my glasses with my very first paycheck because my parents told me that was the only way I'd get them before 18.

Your turn divas :) I'd love if you'd chime in with your responses.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Giveaways Galore...MVM Linkup

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

• List your giveaways below.
• Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.

Thankful Thursday..Better Late than Never, Right?

I woke up this morning slightly disappointed in myself for missing my weekly Thankful Thursday post yesterday.  So much went on in our household - along with my husband's weekly Internet radio program where he hijacks my laptop during my normal "work" hours.

I had a serious conversation with myself because many of the issues I've been struggling with came to head this past week and I've had to make some tough decisions - including ones that affected my children and I hate making drastic adjustments to their normal routines.

Did I really "forget" or get "too busy"? Subconsciously, did I push it aside because focusing on what I was thankful for this week was just too hard and I preferred to just wallow in self pity? ***Sigh*** Honestly, I'd like to believe I just got side-tracked with mommy duties. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 This week my husband and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. You can check out the post I dedicated to him earlier this week here.

I've had people step up and provide motivation, encouragement and blessings in ways that I never expected this week and for that I'm eternally grateful.  I'll be paying it forward for quite awhile after this week, but it's more than worth it and I enjoy doing it so win-win for me!

What are you thankful for this week, Divas?

Anniversary Reflections

Six years ago today I married my best friend.

The past six years have definitely been a journey.  There have been plenty of tears shed - some of joy and others not so much.

We've doubled our kid count and tackled the land of blended families

No matter how I upset I may try to get, a smile from him will still melt my heart.

Prior to us getting married, we both agreed that this union would be "til death do us part" and even though there may be rough patches we vowed to give 100% and then 100% more if necessary.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not the easiest person to be around all the time, but he's able to take my "Michelle" moments in stride.

He's the first person I think to call of when I have great news to share or need a hug after a trying day.

We've celebrated each others successes. Pushed one another to the next level.

Where I'm weak, he's strong.  When I'm slipping, he pulls me up.

I'm able to be the strong woman that I am because he's not threatened by my independence. I'm able to be the independent, motivated woman that I am because I know he has my back and supports me in all that I do.

For that and so much more, I thank him.

Here's to a lifetime of joy, love and laughter!

I Am...

I came across this on Facebook this morning. 

When I read it, the first words that come to mind are "pressing forward" - for that's the season of my life that I'm in right now.

I am motivated - striving to be better and do better in all aspects of my life.

What words immediately come to mind when you read this and reflect on the purpose behind it? 

What is your I am?

MVM Giveaway LinkUp

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

• List your giveaways below.
• Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.

Flash Giveaway: Victoria's Secret

$40 Victoria's Secret Gift Card 12-Hour FLASH Giveaway!!!

**Beauty Week 
at 
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Pay it Forward Back 2 School Hop

:

We love our fans and want to pay it forward

That's why Emptynester Reviews, Couponing 4 You, Powered by Mom, Mom Does Reviews and Mommy and Baby Reviews and Giveaways decided to put together the Pay It Forward for Back to School Blog Hop!

We contacted companies and people we know and have secured some wonderful prizes for the GRAND PRIZE for all of you. In addition to that there's all the prizes available in the blog hop, so start hopping on to the next blog using the links below!

 
Divas With A Purpose definitely supports paying forward and was more than happy to join in on this awesome giveaway! 

One of our readers will win a Thirty-One Gifts Backpack filled with school supplies!

 

In addition to the individual giveaways we have a HUGE GRAND PRIZE that is valued at over $300! So don't forget to visit Emptynester Reviews (entry on the rafflecopter) for the grand prize!

Disclaimer:

Please understand that Emptynester Reviews,Powered By Mom, Mom Does Reviews, Mommy and Baby Reviews, and Couponing4You along with the other "Pay it Forward Back to School Event" bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. However, we are responsible for contacting our sponsors regarding the winner's prize at the close of the giveaway. We expect that our sponsors will fulfill their prize agreement and ship them to the winners in a timely manner.

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Thankful Thursday: August 9, 2012

Happy Thursday Divas!!!

I hope you've all had a fantastic week!

This has been a very special week as I celebrated my oldest son's 11th birthday on Saturday :)  He's spending the summer with his dad in Texas (another time zone away!) but we called and tortured him with our rendition of Happy Birthday at the crack of dawn his time.  I even had ice cream in his honor with my youngest two and sent him pictures of us scarfing it all down on his behalf...he didn't really appreciate that gesture, go figure...LOL

This week I'm, also, thankful for:

~ a break in the heat here

~some much needed rain - my grass, outside plants and water bill definitely appreciate it

~ random conversations with my 4 year old

~friends that always have a way of making me literally laugh out loud

~ sneaking sweet treats with my husband once the kiddos go to sleep

What's  on your gratitude list for this week, Divas?

Watch Your Words

A conversation with a friend brought back the words I wrote in a post entitled Dreamkillers a couple of years ago:

I remember years ago, someone very close to me said some very harsh words that stayed with me for years. Many times when I would go to do something new, their words would come back and I would freeze in fear believing I was unable to succeed. I blame no one but myself for what I have or have not accomplished in my life. The supportive words of those close to me though have had the ability to push me to the next level; while the lack of support sometimes "helped" me to decide not to accomplish a task or give my all.

I truly believe in the power of words and the effect they have on us - especially the words spoken to children by adults.

Think about it. Can you remember a time when an adult you loved and/or respected spoke to you harshly? Even though it may have happened decades ago, the feelings those words evoked may still be with you.

We have the ability to crush someone's spirit and dreams by speaking negatively to them.  Adversely, we have the ability to lift someone to another level and motivate them to do bigger and better things.

Let's make a conscious decision to speak positively into the lives of the people we come in contact with.  You never know what impact you will have.

Bagluxe Giveaway

Hosted by Bella Savvy

Co-hosted by Momtobedby8, Powered By Mom, Couponing 4 You, Two Classy Chics, A Spectacled Owl, News Wahl, and Hott Mama in the City.

Bagluxe, a specialty online retailer of fashion-forward chic, affordable handbags, purses and accessories (influenced by the latest runway and celebrity trends) knows that every girl has a passion. Well, Bagluxe has a passion too... it's handbags, of course!

Their website features a wide range selection of fashion handbags and related accessories -- all priced at under $85.00. The company aims to build a trusting relationship with women who love handbags by ensuring superior customer service and offering quality, inexpensive products that are always on-trend.

This diva is definitely a handbag fanatic! I love finding trendy, sassy, divalicious bags at an affordable price. For some divas it's jewelry, for some it's shoes, for some it's clothes or make-up - I'm definitely a handbag girl! I've got a nice little wish list after browsing the Bagluxe website!

READY TO WIN ONE OF THOSE FASHIONABLE BAG?
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EVENT DATES: August 6, 2012 - August 20, 2012

Open to US & Canadian residents, ages 18 and over.

To enter, please use the rafflecopter form below. And don't forget to come back daily to gain additional entries. The more entries you have, the better your odds of winning.

~ A huge thank you to the lovely bloggers who are helping to promote this fabulous giveaway! ~

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Flash Cash - Bath & Body Works Gift Card

$30 Bath and Body Works 
Gift Card 
6-Hour FLASH Giveaway!!!

**Beauty Week at 
Show Me the Money**

A few AWESOME Bloggers have teamed up 
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We believe in quick, small, and easy giveaways! 
Our giveaways only have a FEW entries to
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WHAT FUN! 

SOCS: Random Thoughts

The purpose of Stream of Consciousness writing is to do just that - write. Whatever comes to mind on a particular topic or what's in your thoughts and perhaps needs to just get out of of you.

I'm in one of those growing seasons in my life where there are many changes and it seems as though I'm constantly trying to catch-up or make life-changing decisions.

Remember the term "growing pains" - well, even in your 30s and beyond they can still affect you. Only they are more emotional rather than physical.

I've embraced many of the changes that have been thrown at me because that's life - you roll with the punches, you fix what you can fix, adapt to what needs to be adapting and keep on moving, growing and getting better.

Free Journal Offer

I love journaling (hence the blog outlet). Journaling is something that I've been doing since I first learned to write. Even as an adult, I still keep journals for different aspects of my life - prayers and meditation, blogging ideas, business ideas, letters to my children and, even, random lists and thoughts that come to me and I have no idea how they'll be implemented in my life but I want to have them written down for future reference.

When I first heard of Paper Coterie, I was intrigued to say the least. I could combine my love of journaling with my passion for photographing memories and create personalized journals for myself. This Diva loves it!


Paper Coterie is offering free journals to first time customers (you do have to pay shipping and handling costs) with coupon code welcomejournal at checkout.

, 

Some of the benefits of journaling include:

~ Stress reduction

~ Personal growth 

~ Healing

~ Easier problem solving

~ Captures your life story

Are there any regular journalers out there? Have you passed the practice on to your children?

Have a fantastic weekend, Divas!

Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. In fact, I oftentimes am able to negotiate a lower rate (or bonuses) not available elsewhere. Plus, when you order through my link, it helps me to continue to offer you great content and awesome giveaways. Thank you, in advance for your support!

Giveaway Round-Up ... Good Luck Divas!

Welcome to the best Giveaway Linkup on the web hosted by Moms with Voices Media! This is a great place to list and find giveaways hosted all around the blogosphere by some great bloggers.

• List your giveaways below.
• Hop over and enter 1 or 2 (or all) of the giveaways! If you're the lucky winner, we'd love to hear!

For more giveaways, sweeps and contests, check out our Giveaway Group on Facebook.

Recap of a Role Model

Over the past few days I've been writing a post in my head in regards to the social media foolishness surrounding Gabrielle Douglas' phenomenal performance at the Olympics and the well-deserved honors bestowed on her.

The Pro Diva over at The Martini Chronicles summed up all I wanted to say and more. I encourage you all to check out her blog post, About Role Models and chime in with your opinions and thoughts.

The real unfortunate thing is that many young women do not, cannot, and will not recognize or identify Gabby as a role model. They've been programmed for so long to spot faux role models that the real thing has gotten lost. Case and point: instead of focusing on the monumental accomplishment that Gabby achieved this evening, these "lost ones" chose to focus on her hair, her skin color, and her makeup. ~ The Pro Diva

Having a daughter almost 10 months ago truly changed my perspective on lots of things.  Who she'll look up to pattern her lady-like behaviors and life patterns is something I think about a lot. Yes, I know I will be the main role model and am and will do all I can to live up to the expectations that I'll have of her.  I, also, know realistically there will be other women that shape her views on divatude and womanhood. I'm careful even now about who I let in her world as an influence.

As adults we need to do better.  We need to provide better examples for our children. We need to stop being so fascinated with the foolishness of reality television and embrace real life success stories and heroes.

Kidsme Food Feeder Review

Miss V and I had the opportunity to try out the Kidsme Food Feeder sold by BabySquare.

One thing about this little diva is that she's super independent! When it comes to doing things on her own - she seems to be on fast forward mode. This includes self-feeding.  I definitely encourage her to try out new things and be independent and the Kidsme Food Feeder made us both happy!

Baby food - schmaby food! This little diva has been eyeing our dinner plates for a few months and her pediatrician suggested about 2 months ago that we could start letting her test out table food to start filtering out the jar foods.

Daddy is a worry-wart and swears she's going to choke on water, so we were quite limited with what items we could try out.  Enter the Kidsme Food Feeder! To me it looks like an over-sized pacifier - which was a fairly familiar shape to Miss V so she wasn't too hesitant about using it for the first time.  You put the food for your little on in the the top, snap shut and baby can gum away :)

Thankful Thursday - August 2, 2012

 

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

~ William Arthur Ward

Ever put into a situation where your forced to react to something that you really wanted to ignore? Ever been content with the way things were and something or someone throws a wrench in life and you have shift and switch your entire outlook on life?  That's the season I've been in recently.  I have to make some major changes that I've been really trying to ignore and ***hope*** they took care of themselves - yeah, that didn't happen.

This week I'm thankful these experiences even though I'm not quite sure what the end results are going to be. I'm going to remain positive and optimistic that all will work out the way it should.

My gratitude list for this week:

~my baby girl's first tooth finally broke through (any parent that's gone through teething knows the fun - yes, sarcasm - that entails)

~wonderful friends who always know what to say and when

~the gift of life

~a sense of humor

~half price drinks at Sonic from 2-4 PM :)

~half price desserts at Sonic after 8 PM :) :)

What are you Divas thankful for this week?

Project Health

Okay, Divas...let's be honest with ourselves - when's the last time you had an annual physical or got your vaccines updated? And, no, doctor's appointments related to pregnancies and childbirth do not count.  Remember this a no-judgement zone, so we can be real and honest with one another.

As women, we often focus so much on taking care of our loved ones and leave ourselves out when it comes to scheduling annual visits to our physicians.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month - the perfect time for you and your family to get caught up with routine check-ups and to encourage other relatives, friends and co-workers to do the same.