11 Sep 2019
Uncategorized No Comments Permalink

My Favorite Accessory For the Fall | JORD Wood Watches

September 11, 2019 No Comments

 

Fall is one of my favorite seasons and this year I have the perfect watch to go with my wardrobe. I needed a watch that was simple but chic and this watch is exactly all that and more. The watch I have is the Cassia Walnut & Vintage Rose by JORD Watches. I told myself that I would be more intentional with my styles because I can’t have a husband and 3 children in these streets looking a mess. HA! So, adding an additional accessory that would make my outfit pop is a must have for me. I needed something I could wear every day while I’m on the go with the family that keeps me looking stylish. The Cassia is vintage inspired and a very popular ladies watch series. I love wearing this watch because it’s easy to pair with my everyday style and I feel like my outfit is complete when I wear it!

 

Besides the Cassia, JORD offers many other watch designs. Jord watches are for Men and Women and are handcrafted, lightweight, and stylish! Their watches make great gifts because JORD offers wooden box engravings and watch engravings on most watches! JORD’s newest watch series, Frankie II, comes in two sizes: a larger watchface of 45 mm and a smaller size of 38 mm. It’s one of Jord’s most popular series and they’ve redesigned it for an updated look. JORD is releasing new watch designs and I’m looking forward to them! And if you own an Apple watch, they also design wooden and leather Apple bands! 

 

I am so excited to be partnering with Jord (pronounced Yode) with a giveaway to gift one of you with a $100 off gift code for a watch!

 

If you’re loving what you’ve seen so far then today’s giveaway is for YOU! One lucky winner will be chosen at the end of the contest to receive a $100 off gift code to spend on a Jord watch and all entrants will receive 10% off a watch of their choice as well. These watches are uniquely made so I think entering this giveaway would be a great idea so you can get one of your own. And if you own an Apple watch they also have unique bands for those as well.

 

Click this link to enter the giveaway: https://www.woodwatches.com/g/tina_shines

 

**Disclaimers: Must be 18 years or older to enter. One winner will win $100 gift code toward a timepiece of their choice (limited editions and sale items excluded). Everyone else will receive a 10% coupon for entering. Free shipping and international shipping is offered! Everyone will be emailed after the giveaway has ended (one month). Must enter through link in bio to be considered the giveaway prize!

 

Good luck and thanks for reading!-

-Martina

 

04 Sep 2019
Marriage, Uncategorized No Comments Permalink

Seasons in Marriage

September 4, 2019 No Comments

Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter are the 4 seasons we go through each year. We can’t avoid it, we can’t change it, and we definitely can’t run away from it. So, that’s how I view life and that’s how I view marriage. 

We get excited that we’ve met “the one” and we “get the ring” and then we “get married” and we “get the baby” but what about all the in-betweens?

Me and my husband went through a lot of things, and sometimes I didn’t realize it was just a bad season that we were in. I was quick to say “I am done”, “you don’t want me anyway so leave”, or “I know you can find someone else that’s better than me”. I’ve learned that words have power and I’m still learning to just be quiet sometimes. Ya’ll I have grown so much because my mouth was sharp (and still is) and I can honestly admit that!

Through those seasons, I’ve learned more about myself and my spouse. It hasn’t always been easy and sometimes I want to drop kick him in the neck lol… but marriage and the seasons I’ve experienced have taught me so much about patience, real love, and forgiveness. It’s a journey!!!! I don’t say that lightly. Every year of our marriage, there has been something that has caused us to experience turbulence in our relationship!

For Example:

Spring– I cried myself to sleep, wishing I never married him and wishing I never ruined my life getting married so young.

Summer– We had amazing sex for months and I thought he was the greatest man in the world and I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

Fall– One of us is hit with a health situation or the kids have hurt themselves and require surgery. So, there’s a curve ball in our marriage that we don’t have control over but we’re making it work.

Winter– We’re super happy but then we have an argument that continues to spill over for months because we haven’t communicated, so now that small thing is a big mess that neither one of us are trying to address.

 

This isn’t just for women either… Men how will you handle a stressful season in your marriage? Will you sit in silence when she’s asking you to communicate with her? Will you ignore when she’s crying out for help? My mouth wasn’t always sharp just because I just wanted to say something to get on his nerves, but I just wanted him to hear me, communicate, and comfort me when I needed it the most. We as spouses need to learn how to be there for one another when we’re experiencing turbulence in our relationships.

Seasons come and go! They will make you or break you! How will you handle them? I’ll admit, I didn’t handle every season in the right way and even now I’m still learning, but marriage will definitely test your gangsta! HA!

Some seasons are worse than others and some may cause for divorce but sometimes going through those challenging seasons together will definitely make you shed a few tears or even think about Divorce but difficult seasons also birth amazing testimonies and a strength that you never thought you’d have.

Lastly, in those difficult seasons, I’ve learned that giving my husband space (even though I hate that sometimes) helps him gather his thoughts so he can open up to me. Btw- What is it with y’all not talking? Opening up or expressing your feelings? It’s like pulling teeth sometimes BUT that’s how some of you are and I understand you need your space to communicate freely. And men we aren’t nagging you but we just want to know you’re listening and that you’re comprehending what we’re saying. We just want to be heard!!

Successful Marriages have had difficult seasons but the reason they are successful is because they took the time to fight for it and work out the situation the best way they knew how and if you’re in a difficult season, remember trouble doesn’t last always and things will get better, if you put in the work to overcome that challenging season you’re in!

 

Until next time,

Martina

30 Aug 2019
Uncategorized No Comments Permalink

The Hover-1 Journey Electric Scooter is Perfect for Back to School

August 30, 2019 No Comments

Are you back to school shopping? Are you on the hunt for the perfect electric scooter for your child? Well, this blog post is specifically for YOU! #AD

 

If your child is in elementary, middle, high school or even college, scooters are in style and something most kids want! They’ve become another form of transportation that kids love. My 11 year old gets tired of walking long distances but she believes with a scooter she finds it easier and a lot more fun to get to point (a) to point (b). So, if your child wants to get around the neighborhood or even back and forth to school in style, the Hover -1 Journey Electric Scooter is perfect for you.

 

*This post is sponsored by Best Buy but all opinions are my own

 

This Electric Scooter has a range of 16 miles before it needs to be charged and it tackles hills at angles of up to 15 degrees effortlessly, so you can ride almost anywhere. I personally love it because it’s simple to charge with the provided easy-to-use charger and it has electronic and foot brakes that help the scooter come to a complete stop safely.

 

As a parent, you’ll be able to save on gas and that’s something we all love to do :-). I also know we want our children safe because we are responsible for their well-being, no matter what form of transportation they may have. So, I’ll provide you with a little more information so you’ll be at peace with your purchase.

 

– This electric scooter has a full 16-mile battery life, a 14 MPH top speed, and a bright LED headlight for safety.

– It folds neatly in half for easy storage.

– At 27 pounds it’s light enough to lift and stow after it gets you where you want to go.

Put a smile on your child’s face buy purchasing the Hover -1 Electric Scooter to complete your back to school purchase. You’ll be happy you did!
Shop this and more electric scooters plus electric bikes and boards at Best Buy https://bby.me/fb6f6
@RideHover1
@BestBuy
Ride Responsibly:
The purchaser and rider of this product are responsible for knowing and obeying all state and local regulations regarding the use of this product. It is highly encouraged that you read and follow the product instructions including all safety precautions and use protective gear. Protective gear can be found at http://www.bestbuy.com/protectivegear.
Until next time,
Martina
22 Aug 2019
Uncategorized No Comments Permalink

Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich Review!

August 22, 2019 No Comments

 

 

Hey Ya’ll! I wanted to let you know how much I love this sandwich just after trying it for the FIRST time!!!! I’m honestly not sure how long Popeye’s have had their sandwiches on the menu but it is absolutely amazing…. 

 

This is a picture of the sandwich Hot & Fresh:

The chicken it self is not spicy but the sauce you see hanging on the side on the sandwich is spicy and the pickles are so good.

 

This is after my first bite: 

If I can be completely honest, I really thought there was a lot of hype on this sandwich. BUT after the first bite, I literally was sold on it. 

 

Reasons I love this sandwich and why you will too:

  1. The spicy sauce gives the sandwich SO much FLAVOR and it’ll make you wanna slap ya mama
  2. The meat was so juicy and tender
  3. The crunchiness of this sandwich is perfection
  4. It was hot and fresh
  5. The bun is soft and has a sweet flavor
  6. The pickles on this sandwich left me speechless!!!! I’m getting extra pickles next time….

 

All I can say is try it for yourself and let your taste buds do the talking!!

 

-Martina

 

09 Aug 2019
Motherhood No Comments Permalink

My Top 5 Simple Baby Items

August 9, 2019 No Comments

 

 

Becoming a mom again after 7 years was exciting but it also had me a tadbit nervous because so much had changed since I had my oldest two. So many new gadgets were avaiable so I wanted to make sure I purchased a few simple items that I felt I would need while we were home or out and about. The items that I have listed below are items that I found that have been useful for me and my husband almost everyday!

 

1.) BABY BUM BRUSH AND MINI BRUSH W/ CASE: This is my absolute favorite thing to have at home as well as in my diaper bag. I absolutely hated putting diaper rash cream on my oldest 2 children with my bare hands. I just didn’t like to do it. So, when I saw this on Amazon I just had to get it. All I do is put whatever ointment and/or cream I desire to use on the tip of the BabyBum and wipe it on my son’s bottom or the affected area and then wipe it off with a baby wipe. It’s sort of like a spatula for babies bottoms. I purchased these on Amazon and I am so glad I did. This is One of my best purchases yet!

 

2.) BURT’S BEES BABY DUSTING POWDER: Just so you know, I am not an “all natural” kind of girl but there are some things that I use that are all natural and this is one of them. This baby powder by Burt’s Bees is all natural and smells so good. My son is 7 months old so he’s drooling a lot as well as sweating like a grown man. Lol. This powder goes over his entire body to keep him fresh and clean. If you’re looking for an all natural baby powder, you won’t go wrong with this one.

 

3.) Munchkin Arm and Hammer Diaper Bag Dispenser: This is a must have!! I attach this to my diaper bag for easy access when baby boy has a blowout or an ordinary dirty diaper:) Blow outs can be quite messy. So, I use these bags for not only dirty diapers to keep the smell away but I use this for dirty clothes for when the poop sleeps through on his clothes. These bags come in 2 scents, citrus and lavender and they help keep the smell away and it’s an overall nice way to get rid of dirty diapers when you’re out and about.

 

4.) Aveeno Eczema Therapy Nighttime Balm: If your child has Eczema I would definitely recommend this! When we give our son a bath at night we put this on him because it helps keeps his skin soft and moist. It doesn’t have a scent but its thick and caters to baby’s skin to help keep it smooth. If you’re interested I have a video on my youtube channel on everything I use to treat my son’s eczema!

 

5.) Good ole Coconut Oil: I love using coconut oil because we use it for his hair and for diaper rashes. I’m sure it can be used for other things as well but that’s why I love this so much because it has a light scent and it keeps his hair moisturized as well as helps get rid of diaper rashes.

 

Of course I have a ton of other baby items that I love but these are some of my everyday favorites that truly help in ways I never thought they would until after I used them. I hope you found this post useful and I hope you’re able to pick up these amazing items for your baby as well!

 

-Martina

 

 

 

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10 Jul 2019
Marriage No Comments Permalink

I Almost Lost my Marriage

July 10, 2019 No Comments

When I met my husband in college, he was so amazing and oh so fine…lol… We were 19 and in LOVE and after ONLY being together a few months, he proposed and my family allowed me to get married at 20 years old. Everything was good until a few months later. After only being married for 2 months, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Madison. Things started to slowly turn for the worst. Although things were turning for the worst, we were trying our best to maintain and love each other the best way we knew how. I’ll be perfectly honest that me and my husband were young individuals trying to heal each other from the brokenness and voids that we missed in our childhoods growing up and within that alone, we knew we weren’t supposed to be married but because we already were, we were trying our very best to make it work and save ourselves the embarrassment a few months into being married…lol.

Let me just put it out there and say, my husband, Mel, and I had both done and said things on our own to screw up our marriage. Neither one of us were perfect but he always came off as the perfect one to people and that really made me angry. I use to hate when people would say you gotta good man so you need to make sure you do everything right to keep him, it would make me upset because he had a good woman too. Like, is he married to himself?? I just didn’t get it. Our biggest issue was church! My husband could NOT find balance. He wouldn’t miss an engagement, a service, or rehearsal and I was over it. I remember one day, I told him I was going to tell the pastor he needed to be sat down because he wasn’t paying me attention at home and my husband threw his bible across the room and said forget it all and punched 2 holes in the wall of our apartment. Chile, we have had some very eventful days. HA!

It was then that I knew I needed to fight this battle a different way. I tried to pray, fast, get marital advice but nothing seemed to be working. So, I am asking God what do I do?!?!? By this time, my daughter was here and things started to at least seem like they were getting better but the problem that we had when adversity would come, was that we didn’t know how to work through those small arguments, we made everything bigger than what it needed it to be. We would go days without talking, being intimate, or even praying together because this thing that we thought we wanted began to be a bit much. I started to question if he was really the one for me or if I was the one for him. My husband was/is great but I wanted everyone to know that I was too and my husband started to devalue who I was too him. So, 3 years into the marriage, I decided that this marriage was not something I wanted anymore and I was adamant about it. I felt like my husband didn’t love me, his music was more important and so was everything and everyone else. I felt like I was the last person he had on his mind and I didn’t want to stay with someone who didn’t want me.

We didn’t go on vacations, we were broke, overwhelmed with life, and exhausted from the daily arguments over trivial things. My husband was the only one who could make mistakes in the marriage and I had to be the one who was always forgiving, he had control over the finances, I felt like I had to consult him about every little thing and I was like ummmmm this ain’t the life I thought I wanted. LOL. I had a job since I was 16 years old, got my first car with the help of my Papa, and I was always on the go before I got married. My mom raised me to be very independent and I was! So, to lose all of that for a man who was too concerned about his self. I was like dueces…..

I knew that wasn’t the will of God for my life…..

God was telling me to fight for everything but I felt like I was fighting alone. So, I was done! Once he knew I was done, it got his attention and he fought hard for me. I mean hard! It was the first time since we dated that I felt like he saw me, wanted me, and I mattered to him. But I was done and I was afraid to give him my heart again. People in the church thought I was cheating on him and I wasn’t. People began to spread horrible rumors about me and it hurt me to my core that I began to rebel and resent him even more. I will let my husband tell his own story one day but our marriage being jacked up wasn’t just me. I probably shouldn’t have hung around certain people, had certain conversations, but I was a lost girl with a broken marriage, trying to find herself and some people took advantage of that but I was the one who was looked at with the side eye. However, I was called everything but a child of God because of the company I was entertaining. It was innocent but it didn’t look right and I can admit that. So, the things people said about me were NOT true and NO ONE came to my rescue. We had no help. No one to pull us aside and pray for us or counsel us. It was the worst season of my life!

He moved out, and me and my daughter stayed in our apartment alone. I would go to work every day. I felt like I was getting my life back, I pulled away from certain company and I started to create an atmosphere for God to come back into my life. It was hard, to say the least. The love I had for my husband was not there and I was still bitter from the neglect. But one day, my husband asked if we could go on a date. I agreed to go because something in me was shifting. I begin to see that I couldn’t let it go that easy. Although my flesh was fighting against it, my spirit was saying fight for it.

As time went on, God began to slowly heal our broken hearts. My husband apologized and so did I. We apologized for the mess we created, the unstable environment we put our daughter in, and for giving up on each other so easily. Our sex life was amazing and we begin to truly seek God on each other’s behalf. It wasn’t easy all the time and even now we still have problems but we realize our responsibility to one another and the call of God that is on our lives is greater than what we can even expect. So, we intentionally fight every day in prayer and in the natural to maintain a healthy marriage. We’ve just celebrated our 12 year anniversary this past June and I still can’t believe we made it this far! BUT GOD!

I want to encourage every woman to hold on to what God said is yours. I would not only pray but I would also seek professional help. You may be going through some things and your feelings may be valid but put that man in your heart and get on your knees and fight on your husband’s behalf, fight for your marriage, and pray that God will keep you in perfect peace through the up’s and down’s of marriage so that you can stand through it all. It’s not easy and it may take time but there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. Truth be told, sometimes it ain’t even worth fighting for, and that’s my honest opinion. Some people really do have it worse than others, so I would also suggest, you do what’s best for you sis!! Without a test or trial, we would never know what our greatest strengths are. Be vigilant and stay on the wall and try not to curse mister out lol…

I know my first blog post was extremely long but I couldn’t help myself!!

I hope you come back again soon!

Martina

19 Aug 2018
Marriage, Motherhood No Comments Permalink

Baby #3 is on it’s way!

August 19, 2018 No Comments

Yes, you read that right! I’m pregnant and we are very excited about this little one growing on the inside of me. Now before I continue, I must let you know that I hate that I haven’t blogged in the past 5 months and I hate to have one of those “I’m back” post but what had happened was…. I didn’t really know how to use wordpress properly and I had a few issues with my site on top of me being so sick, I didn’t want to do anything!!!! Anything? Yes, anything!!!! lol

However, back to the pregnancy part! We tried for months to get pregnant and nothing seemed to happen. I started to question myself, Am I too old now? Does my body not want to cooperate because the last time I had a child was 7 years ago? Did I wait too long to have a another baby? Was God letting me know 2 was enough? All of these questions were going through my head because I wasn’t sure why it was taking so long for us to conceive.

We kept trying and then it finally happened. I found out I was pregnant on April 28th and my body feels like it has been through hell and back since I found out. I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. EVERY time I ate I was extremely nauseous and I had morning sickness all day and I just wanted to sleep all day, everyday! The funny part is that we have 2 girls, ages 10 and 6 (soon to be 7 in 2 months) and I never thought at this point in my life I would be having another baby but it’s our reality and we are very excited!

 

  1. I am currently 20 weeks= 5 months! Half way through my pregnancy….
  2. I was diagnosed with Pupps at 15 weeks
  3. I am still nauseous but not so much… Sort of wish it would go away
  4. All I want to do is sleep, sleep, sleep, and sleep
  5. Everyone is excited:-)

 

Please follow me along on my journey as I document this pregnancy and some other things. Follow me on Instagram @tina_shines and Youtube @martinashuntay!

28 Feb 2018
Marriage, Motherhood No Comments Permalink

Nervous about having another baby!

February 28, 2018 No Comments

No, I’m not pregnant but we have been thinking about it and we are strongly considering giving this thing a try after 7 years. We already have 2 girls. A soon to be 10 year old and a soon to be 7 year old so the thought of starting over gives me the shakes. I shouldn’t be nervous because I’ve done this twice already but I am. It’s been so long that I feel like I’ll be giving birth for the 1st time.

It’s been the 4 of us for so long, it seems as if that was going to be our fate but the talk of having a son has been the talk of in our house for months. I’d get excited about it and then I’d get nervous.

So many questions go through my mind like…

1.) Will it actually be a boy? The fact that we can’t determine the sex of the baby really makes me anxious because I really want to give my husband the boy he’s always wanted.

2.) Will I be a able to handle 3 kids???? I mean I am always late to stuff now. Yes, I know. I need to prioritize but can I actually handle another human and not lose my mind and be on time? lol

3.) Will I have enough love for each of them? I want to love them equally and I don’t want them to feel like this new baby will take their place. I know there is something about having a newborn in the house that makes me all mushy inside but I don’t want them to take it as mommy loving the new baby more than them.

4.) Can we actually afford another human?? lol… Babies/children are expensive!!

5.) Will I actually be able to get pregnant? Because it has been so long, I wonder if it will take me a long time to conceive or will it be as easy as it was to conceive with my girls.

I have so many questions that run through my mind but I literally have to calm myself down. Majority of my nerves are really happy thoughts but I do have that small percentage that makes me wonder about if this is really for us. I am excited about trying but extremely nervous and I really can’t put it into words. Although, I’m nervous I do feel at peace about it and I haven’t felt this way since we decided to have our youngest.

I found out today that one of my girlfriends is expecting her 3rd child and it literally gave me butterflies!! I even felt like maybe it was a sign from God that it was time for us to get things rolling over here. The two of us have actually talked about it briefly while we were out with some friends last year about having a 3rd baby and I never thought it would be the following year.

Anywho, I just wanted to share my thoughts on how I feel about having a 3rd baby and how I have been thinking about the whole thing because we have to make up our mind like right now and no later than next month because I would prefer if the baby was born in November or December. Wish us the best!!

23 Feb 2018
Uncategorized 2 Comments Permalink

Movie Review: WONDER

February 23, 2018 2 Comments

 

On our most recent family movie nights, we watched the movie: Wonder!

I had to do a review on this movie because it was absolutely amazing. This movie moved me to a TON of crocodile tears. At the end of the movie, I literally cried uncontrollably and I was full of emotions and not in a bad way but they were happy tears. Let me explain….

This movie is not only an amazing family movie but a movie that should touch the heart of every human being who has a heart of true love, compassion, and someone who is empathetic toward others. Wonder is a movie focusing on the life of a young boy by the name of August Pullman. It not only focuses on the life of August but it focuses on each individual that has played a roll in his life as well. August has Treacher Collins Syndrome (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treacher_Collins_syndrome) and this movie guides us through this families life on how they as well as August are adjusting to him growing up and accepting who he is to fit in with those in society. It also addresses one of the most sensitive subjects in our world today which would be: Bullying, as well as self-love, acceptance from others, the toll it had on his family, the defining moments of friendships and most of all the love of a parent and the sacrifices we make to ensure our children are safe and well-grounded in the world we live in today.

This world can be very cruel but I realize as parents that no matter how much we try to keep our children away from certain things, they have to eventually learn how to navigate their way through life. As long as they know that we as parents are here to help them and encourage them with every mistake, accident, bump, or offense they may receive I believe they will be fine. August had a lot of emotional breakdowns but his parents didn’t allow him to give in to his emotions and I must add that Julia Roberts who played the mom (One of my absolute favorite actresses) and Owen Wilson (who played the dad) gave stunning performances as the parents of August Pullman.

However, I don’t want to give too much information on the movie and spoil it for you but please watch it with your family. You won’t regret it!

I’ll leave you with this line that Principal Tushman played by Mandy Patinkin said…. “Auggie can’t change the way he looks but maybe we can change the way we see”.

*This is not a sponsored post*

20 Feb 2018
Faith, Uncategorized 2 Comments Permalink

The Freedom to be YOU!

February 20, 2018 2 Comments

 

How many of us have compared ourselves to others? Starting and not finishing because we see someone else doing it better? Allowing what someone says to determine who you are as a person? I really could keep going with these questions but I won’t because I think you all get the point.

I put a delay on my life and what I had to offer the world because I wasn’t free to be me! I allowed other peoples opinions to get in the way of my destiny. I really believe I would be further in life, if I “freed” myself from the fear of worrying about what people thought and the excuse of believing the lie they spoke over my life.

My truth: Life was challenging for me because fear controlled my life. From childhood through adulthood.

Honestly, I literally got tired of fighting with myself, having emotional meltdowns, and contemplating leaving this life because I was too overwhelmed with the thought of not being good enough for myself or for anyone else. Because of the freedom I have within right now, I honestly wish I could get those years back of wasted time and energy….

Below is a list of 4 things that not only helped me with being comfortable in my own skin but these 4 things brought forth true healing:

1. I spoke over my own life and I began to see the change but first I had to believe what I was saying and even if I didn’t believe what I was saying at the moment, I said it until I did.

2. In order for me to conquer the fear of being comfortable with myself, I decided to do or better yet say things that made me uncomfortable so I could get comfortable with who I really was. Remember, no one can be you but you!!

3. I read books on self affirmation or books that would shape me into being a more confident person.

4. Having a great support system! My mother and my husband and a few others a long the way encouraged me, supported me, and prayed me through some tough times. Man… I was truly a mess!!

 

Let me just be clear though… I don’t have it all together and I have my moments of doubt and I get overwhelmed with life and I scratch my head sometimes, like “lord, did you forget about a sister?” lol… But I don’t stay in those moments and that’s the key to overcoming.

 

Being free from low self-esteem, self-pity, regret, embarrassment, shame, guilt, mistakes, and so on is not an easy process but trust me working toward the goal of freedom is so worth it in the end. You’ll look at yourself and people in a different light and you’ll discover who you truly are.

 

I want to leave you with this….

 

There’s so much freedom in being your version of yourself because you won’t get much joy mimicking someone else’s.