Hiatus

Sorry everyone for the 2-3 week hiatus. I have been grasping reality and everything that has been going on. 

Update on stuff with my tumor:

I went and saw a doctor at St. Luke's hospital and I hated him. He was awful, no bedside manor whatsoever. So I asked for a new doctor. So I am now being sent to the UW-Madison hospital since that's the only place that has the 2 surgeons I need for my brain tumor removal. I got an update on the procedure and what's going to happen. So basically they are removing a part of my skull on the left side and drilling a hole about 3 inches deep into my brain to remove the tumor. I will then spend 2 days in ICU and 5 days in the hospital then 4-6 weeks recovery time. Blahhh....so not excited. 

I suppose I have plenty to be thankful for though. Andy and I both have really good jobs and make really good money. So we were able to save up to buy Christmas presents and have money to live off while I'm out of work. Plus taxes are coming soon and I usually do pretty good with them. Which will be nice because we are gonna go on family vacation early this year. All three of the boys are healthy and happy. 

I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately. You seriously learn a lot about your life when you have something you can't control. When you're faced with challenges that you thought "that can never happen to me". Well just when you think those very things they do happen. So when you're crying over a break-up, a broken ornament off the tree, some spilled milk (unless it breast milk because let be serious anyone who has ever spilled 6oz of breast milk is sure to cry) or bills you can't pay...just remember these are all small things. Things you can change and fix and move on and get over and that it could always be worse.

I strongly dislike when people complain and complain and are always feeling sorry for themselves or they can never do no wrong it's always someone else's fault. Life is what you make it. If you wanna do something don't talk about it be about it. Andrew and I were in a lull for a while with money because he wasn't working, thankfully I own my own business and make great money but still we had to sit down and do a budget. No more random purchases. We were living with my parents and I refused to turn 26 and still live at home and we have kids. We needed to do the responsible thing and move out. So we buckled down and stopped spending money on reckless materialistic shit. And after 2 months we moved into our beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bathroom place. We have 2 cars, brand new furniture, a brand new tempurpedic California king size bed, the boys have brand new oak bunk beds and an Avengers themed bedroom and little man has a brand new crib and Finding Nemo themed nursery. All things we got ourselves from hard work. It just shows it pays off.

Now I know this blog post is all over the place but I don't care. I just started to type and let my mind run. That's what blogging is right? So again sorry for the hiatus. I look forward to being back. 

Btw I have awesome bright red ombré hair now! I figure since I have to shave half it off anyways might as well have fun now!

-Shannon

Not what I expected

So my post today is quite late...I've been kind of keeping to myself today. It's been a rough one. Please keep in mind this is something I wasn't going to post about but after sitting here and thinking I decided I really needed to vent. It's also inevitable that people will find out.

So this weekend on Saturday morning I went in for a MRI of my brain. I have been having severe dizzy spells, mood changes, balance issues, hearing loss and taste loss and really bad headaches amongst a few other things and the docs weren't sure what was going on. So they ordered the MRI and a spinal tap. 

I went to go in for my spinal tap today and it was really awkward. The doctor who was supposed to do it asked me if I had gone over my MRI with my doctor and I had told him no. He then looks at me and says "I'll be right back, I don't think we need to do the LP (lumbar puncture) today. I'm going to call your doctor". So he comes back and says that he doesn't need to do it and I should call my doctor right away. At this point in losing my marbles like WTF is going on?!

Fast forward I call my doctor and he asks if I wanna come into his office or if he could talk to me over the phone. I cautiously said "phone is fine, go ahead and shoot". His next words were, "well after looking at your MRI Shannon we have discovered a brain tumor". UMMMMM WHAT?! I just kind of swallowed hard and the next 20 mins on the phone are pretty foggy. 

I looked at my mom and just started to bawl. WTF...I'm 26 years old and super healthy what does he mean I have a fucking brain tumor. This sucks. I don't know how to wrap my head around it. I don't know how I feel. I'm sad, angry, confused and really fucking scared. 

Well I opted out of radiation so they are just going to surgically remove it and see how it goes. I have to be on a harsh steroid regime for the next 2 weeks before surgery...I'm going to see if they can push it til after Christmas. I'm not so excited about getting a Rihanna haircut not by choice...but I guess it's what I have to do. 

Really makes you think tho at least it made me...people are so worried about petty shit. Hurting one another. Getting revenge. At the end of the day where does it get you? The harsh reality is tomorrow is never promised so don't waste today making someone's life hell. Worry about you and smile. 

Gahhhh it scares me that I may not be here for my little guy. I'm having a huge scary surgery. I'm gonna have a wicked scar. It may come back. It may still need radiation. Sooooo many feelings I have right now. I leave you with just be thankful for all that you have cuz EVERYTHING can change in a second. 

Wish me luck. This little guy needs his mommy. 

-Shannon

Soapbox Sunday

So here I sit on this rainy Sunday in my bathtub...contemplating writing a post. I have a lot on my mind as of late and if you read my post the other day I have some major health issues going on. Tomorrow morning bright and early I have to go to the hospital and get a spinal tap done. Yuck...so sitting here thinking about that made me want to go off on a tangent about other things. So here goes...

I'm sick and tired of people bitching and complaining about people talking about them and their lives when they put it all out there for the world to read. Calling people "creepers" and "stalkers" when you have a public page be it simply your blog, your Facebook, your Vine, your Twitter, Instagram WHATEVER it be just doesn't make sense. If you don't want people to talk put your shit private. So easy. You're also the same type of people who "hate fake people" and "hate drama" . Get off that high horse, we all love a little drama and we all pretend to be something we aren't at one time or another.

I have my Twitter private because it's just less drama that way, things can be misconstrued and start "Tweefs" as I call them (twitter beef). So I just keep it on lock. I have my Facebook private which I don't even know why because I barely use it. It's not very interesting. Mostly pictures of my kid and future step-kids and stellar deals I run at my work. I'm not the type to "put it all out there" on Facebook and Twitter. I've been known to angry tweet or "subtweet" but that's a thing of the past now. I also HATE those couples that are all mushy EVERY GOL'DANG DAY on social media. Get real...no one likes one another that much. If you are TRULY happy you don't need to put it out there for the world to see. Who are you validating that to? Yourself? Okay cool. Get a diary. 

People assume because my boyfriend and I don't post shit every day or whatever being all lovey that we are miserable. NOPE. Wrong...it's the exact opposite. I enjoy my time with him and our child(ren). I don't need to tell the world that every day. Just him. That's it. I'm not dating everyone else. 

Social networking is just that NETWORKING. I use my Facebook like I said solely for business and pics of the kids so distant family can keep up. My Twitter that is private I use for whatever else I want. My blog is for bitching and moaning and sitting on my damn soapbox. 

So I end here today with...if you put it all out there and people talk about you, don't play victim. Because you're not. You love and strive for the drama. You put it out there for a reason. Attention. So when you get that negative attention enjoy it, embrace it. It's what you wanted right? Don't run for the hills and cry wolf that you're being attacked and bullied. Scroll down that roller coaster of emotions timeline that draws attention and take a good long hard look in the mirror and make sure you point that dirty finger at yourself and smile. 

End of my soapbox for the evening. Enjoy these funny ecards! Haha!

-Shannon

:)

Sunday Love

Aghhhhh! I am SO happy this last week is over. It has been a long dragging one. I have had so many doctor appointments it's insane. I have another one on Thursday to hopefully get some solid answers or some more testing. I don't really want to get into detail but it's not good what's going on and I really hope they can find the cause because it's driving me bonkers.

There is so many things I have to look thankful for at the end of every week when I sit back and reflect on the week. Busy or not there is always something. 

My things for this week are as follows in no specific order of importance:

1. Modern Medicine: man, where would we be? I cannot believe how many different tests I have had to endure. Using things like contrast in someone brain, dilating pupils with just a tiny drop of liquid to see into their eyes. It just marvels me. 

2. My boyfriend: somedays I wanna curse the man and run the other way, as I am sure anyone with a significant other feels. Lol. In reality though, I wouldn't leave him. I can't. He's good to me. We fight but we make up. We learn new things about one another every day. We drive each other crazy but at the end of the day we goto bed happy with a kiss and an "I love you." It's something we mean as well.

3. My job: gosh, I honestly don't even feel like I've worked a day in my life. I LOVE what I do. I make extremely good money in small amounts of time. I make my own hours and I get to stay home with my son during the day. I'm so passionate about doing hair. I mess with my own hair constantly at home. I've been rocking the ombré look for about 6 months now and recently just lightened it up to a blondbré as I call it. Haha. 

Yup I did that. It's all my REAL hair too! Love it! 

4. My son: Nash has been such a blessing to me, Andrew and our families. He was so unexpected but I wouldn't have it any other way. He has better my life tremendously. Andrew and I went for date on Saturday and I couldn't even stand to be away from him so we went home early. We miss his boys so much too it just is heartbreaking. I'm not really sure how moms can be away from their kids and party every weekend and sometimes during the week and not feel guilty. It literally makes me ill. So I will just spend every waking minute I can with our boys. Children are the greatest thing to be blessed with. 

Ughhhh my little love...

So as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches make sure you reflect a little on the things you are truly thankful for. Make sure you also don't just think about them during the holiday season but all year round.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

-Shannon

Who pissed in your Cheerios?

It's Wednesday! Your new day for the Who pissed in your Cheerios? Link up with Natalie and I! All you need to do is talk about something or maybe it's a few things that really irk you! With that being said let's begin!

I get so irritated when it comes to being a woman and going to do things such as:

•buy a car 

•go get your car fixed 

•buy lumbar 

•workout at a gym

Why is it that upon entering the facilities needed to do these things people treat you like you're an idiot? Listen if I needed someone (a man) to hold my fucking hand while doing this crap I would ask. I think it's unfair to assume I don't know jack about a car or some cuts of wood or drywall. Society has definitely taken its way with this one. 

The days of being a damsel in distress or needing a man to do everything for you are over. I agree when in a relationship/marriage you should do those things together or obviously discuss...but dang what ever happened to independence?

-Shannon

It's my birthday!

So it's my 26th birthday today! Wahoooo! Kidding, I could care less. It's just another day to me. I'm so happy where I am at in life right now I don't care what day of the week it is. Time sure is flying right by but that's the way life goes.

At my age I have already lived in 3 different states after the age of 17 all on my own. California, Illinois and my home state Wisconsin. I have been married. I also have been divorced. I now have an amazing boyfriend whom I will be getting married to when the time is right...I have an amazing little son and two future step sons who light up my life! 

I am in such a good place I wouldn't trade anything for where I'm at. So on that note! Happy Birthday to me and here is to many more I hope I can spend this happy! 

-Shannon 

Motivation

As everyone who comes to my blog can see I had a baby 8 weeks ago! I love him to the moon and back and I LOVE being a mommy. 

(Hehe showing our pouty lips)

My pregnancy was horrible. I was sick every day (no exaggeration) throwing up. I would gain 3lbs and lose 5. So I actually didn't end up gaining weight during my pregnancy. Sounds great sure but it was miserable. I also ended up with preeclampsia and had my little guy 5 weeks early! 

So now that he's here he is my motivation to do so many things. 

•be a better person

•be the best mom possible for our family

•not only be a mother but a girlfriend too

•not let the little things in life bother me

•work smarter and not harder at my business

•make lots of money to provide things for him and his brothers that they deserve

•lose more weight (I want to drop 20lbs by Christmas. I don't need to but I want too)

•give onto others and not expect anything in return

Amongst so many other things...it's crazy to me how such a small being can make you want to change so much. These are the most impressionable years for Nash and his brothers. I wouldn't trade time with them for anything else. 

These two pics are from 6 days before I had Nash. I miss my little belly. I LOVED it.

This is my progress at 7 weeks out after having him! Still have work to do but I am extremely happy with my results thus far. 

What are some things that people in your life motivate you to do? 

-Shannon

Side note: Nash was THE cutest little Dork yesterday for Halloween to hand out candy to the Trick-or-Treaters. We have costumes for Nash's brothers but that's a long story as to why we didn't get to have them AGAIN as planned. But either way get a laugh out of this guy. 

Who pissed in your Cheerios 2.0

Well it's Tuesday folks. That means another round of "who pissed in your Cheerios" from me. 

Today I'm only going to go off about one subject because it's a huge problem for me when people do this. I am a parent now so I feel entitled to speak on this subject now.

People who spend all their weekends and even some week nights in the bars when they have children at home! 

Okay...so let me get this down to detail. I seriously HATE when parents go out to bars on the weekends and even go out during the week sometimes. I'm not talking your occasional go out have a good time ask grandma and gramps to watch the kids. I'm talk your every weekend bar trash. 

Listen you might think it's cute, or that your "just doing you" and you "deserve to be happy". Well let me tell you this, when your children are young you will NEVER get that time back. Ever. You can pawn them off all you want and then post a few pics on your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc. and act like you truly are a great parent when in reality you're putting yourself before your kids.

If you are receiving state aid, living with your parents or child support or all of the above...maybe you should rethink your spending habits. Is all of this really fair to your kids? To not have a life outside of being raised by grandma and grandpa while mommy or daddy goes out and get plowed all the time? No, no it's not. People are selfish. If you wanted to party you never should have had kids. 

The people who do this shit and then go home at night and sleep or pass out peacefully shouldn't have their kids. It's time to grow up and stop being selfish. If that's the life you want to live then give your kids to the other parent or someone who will show them unconditional love.

Just remember in 5-10 years when your child looks at you with resentment and hatred instead of respect and love...you can only blame yourself and your dirty selfish habits. Children are innocent. Don't let your selfishness and lack of priorities taint them. 

I look at this little boys face and cannot imagine going out and getting plowed having my parents watch him then snuggling up the next day to him hungover smelling like yesterday's trash from the bar...I will never give up these years with my children or my boyfriends kids. They are too precious to not make as many memories as they deserve.

Get it together people. Stop being losers. Be the parents your children deserve. 

End of rant. 

-Shannon

Tutorial Thursday

Happy Thursday all!

So I absolutely LOVE make-up. Which is kind of strange because on most given days I don't wear make-up. Nonetheless I LOVE it, any kind of it I can never have enough.

Today I am going to show you how I do my natural glam look. Sounds contradicting but it's really not. It's a glamorous look using a natural/neutral palate. 

So here is the look I will be teaching:

Step 1:

Start with a fresh face. I like to prime my face with Revlon Photofinish Primer. (Eeek...excuse my no make-up face.)

Step 2: Contouring. I like to use MAC Conceal and Correct palette in Medium. I take the lightest color and go underneath my eyes, the corners of my eyes, my to-zone. I then take the darkest color and swipe under my cheekbones, sides of my nose and my forehead and my chin.

 

Step 3: Blend! Blend! Blennddddd! And add your brow powder to your brows. I use Ardell brow powder on mine. I do not like pencil. It's too harsh. Anyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with my eyebrows. In the pic I did one brow and left the other. It's a subtle difference but you can tell. Also note the difference after contouring. 

Step 4: Eyeshadow and liner and mascara. (Now I'm an idiot and didn't take pics as I did it but I will explain in detail.)

1• Prime eyelids with a shadow primer. I use Urban Decay Primer in "Greed".

2• Start with a light shimmery shadow an pat all over lid and up to brow bone. I used my Naked palette color "Virgin".

3• Take a slightly darker color shadow and pat all over your lid only. I used my Naked palette color "Sin". It's a slightly pinky brown color.

4• Crease color. Now this is where it gets tricky. You want to start slow and you can always add more. You want to put the shadow on your brush and tap off the excess as you want to be smooth with this. Put it only on your crease of your lid. I like to make it heavier on the outside of the crease. Make sure to then take a fluffier eye shadow brush and BLEND! The biggest mistake girls make is lack of blending. It will ruin any make up look. I used my Naked 2 palette color in "Busted".

5• Eyeliner. On the top lid I like to use a liquid pencil. I use one by Lorac. It gives me complete precision. On my bottom lash line I like to use Urban Decays liner in "Zero".

6• Mascara. This is self explanatory. I use "Lashgasm" by Too Faced.

Step 5: Bronzer. Now you want to be delicate with bronzer if you don't have a tan. I do, so I can use it a little more heavily. Swipe bronzer with a fluffy Kabuki hair brush on your cheek bones upward to your temples. Also on the outside of your forehead and down the nose and chin. 

VOILA!!! There you have it! The natural glam look my way. 

Any questions please feel free to ask! 

-Shannon

Oops! Sorry for the hiatus!

Aghhh!!! I apologize for not posting in over a week! Andrew and I have been SO busy moving into our new place. 

I hate moving. Okay wait, I hate packing and unpacking. I love being in a new place and having new things. 

It took us FOREVER to find the perfect place. We wanted a nice neighborhood, we wanted good neighbors, a big place, two bathrooms, 3 bedrooms and newer everything all with a reasonable cost. When we walked in we knew this was it. The neighbors are all so sweet. There is a HUGE playground here for the kids and there is kids on both sides of us around Rylan and Landon's age and our one neighbor is pregnant too! It's perfect. 

Here is pics of the place. It's not all unpacked and settled yet. We are painting the boys rooms. Waiting on the boys bunk beds to come and a few other things. 

Our bedroom 

LOVE my big ass walk-in closet!

Bathroom in our bedroom 

Nash's room 

I love how big the rooms are. Pics don't do justice! Nash's room just got painted two days ago. His nursery is baby Finding Nemo themed. It's gonna be amazing when it's all done.

The boys room. Now if it's any size perspective that's a king size bed in that room. They are huge! I can't wait to paint their room. We have Avengers wall clings and blankets and curtains! The boys are gonna freak! 

The other bathroom. It's super big too. 

The living room and new couches we got!!! 

Our kitchen. 

Now like I said. All rooms are getting painted and everything isn't unpacked so it looks a freight. But as soon as everything is finished I will do a post about it. I CAN'T WAIT!!

Side note: While doing all this moving and stuff we've had a sicky little baby. :( 

My little bean is still so cute tho...sick or not. Lol I'm biased tho being my own child! 

Baths are this guys saving grace. He loves them. So when he really doesn't feel good we sit in the bath tub. Mawwwww just love him! 

Anywho...I'm sure everyone else hates moving as well! Hope you all had a great weekend! 

-Shannon