Where I Come From, Home.

November 15th, 1980...10 lbs. 14 ounces...20 1/2 inches long.  The day I entered the world almost walking and eating table food.  My Mom was a saint with that delivery.  Because many of you may not know where I was raised, how I was raised or even the life I had before becoming a "citified country girl" as I have been named...here is an insight.  I wouldn't change it for the world.

LeRoy, Kansas...no stop lights, no gas station other than the Coop, no fast food. That pretty much sums up the size of this town.  The town where if you blink you may miss it, that's about true.  About 500'ish people give or take a few, this is the town I called home for 18 years and if someone asks where "home" is...that's still my answer but also proudly say Kansas City.

For 5 1/2 years I lived in a single wide trailer. My Dad farmed and still does and my Mom babysat. My sister entered the world 2 days before my 4th birthday and we shared a room...but it was okay at that point, she was just a baby. Our home was just steps away from my Grandparents, my Dad's folks, and I remember riding my bike over to their house which of course had a front basket, getting the newspaper and orange slices and back home I would pedal.  I still love orange slices to this day.  I remember having a jungle gym, pear tree and running barefoot in the grass.  We did not have a lot of money, but my parent's did everything they could for my sister and I. One of my fondest memories includes riding along with my Grandpa Walker, my Mom's Dad, in his baby blue VW van. A retired Navy man, shop teacher, greaser and a craftsman. He made me my very own chair that fit perfectly between the two front seats of that VW and our song was "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On".

Summer of 1986, I was just shy of being 6, an inland hurricane hit our small town.  The "Storm of '86",  I remember it like it was yesterday.  We were home, my Mom was babysitting kids and we were eating dinner and getting ready to head to VBS.  We piled in the bathroom, smaller than most people's closets these days, and waited it out.  The hail was as big as a tub of butter and when we emerged from the bathroom, my Grandma had walked her way over to make sure we were all okay.  There were holes the size of a cantaloupe in our home, almost every window broken, total destruction. How we survived, well I will let you decide...but I know someone was watching over us.  Our trailer was sat at an angle and some believe that was the only reason it didn't tip over.  The winds reached speeds of over 90 mph and 10+ inches of rain was dropped in just a short period of time. My jungle gym was found in my Grandpa's pond nearly 1/4 mile away.

So, we moved because we had no choice.  We rented a place for about 6 months before finding a house we would eventually call home.  A two bedroom, 1 bath farmhouse with 152 acres. A chicken house, detached garage because garages weren't attached in those days and a big white barn.  From 1987 to 1999, this house became my home and my Dad still lives there today.  My sister and I shared a room until we were able to split the living room and make a third bedroom...I had my own room and my own closet.  But even with my own room, my sister and I would still sleep together on Christmas Eve every year, anxiously awaiting Santa to arrive.

I attended grade and middle school which were the same building and high school here until graduating in 1999 as Salutatorian.  My class had 14 people, the high school which was 9th-12th, approximately 70, everyone knew everyone.  I played sports, all sports. Volleyball, Basketball, Track, and Softball in the summers.  You can do that in small town.  I was a Cheerleader, President of the K-Club and Student Council VP my Senior Year.  My Grandma Jane, my Mom's Mom, owned Jane's Place, the only Cafe in LeRoy with home-cooked food. I worked there also, from age 10-18...something else you can do in small town. My Mom and Sister also worked there, my Aunt Kim did the books...family cafe at it's finest, seriously...ask anyone about the biscuits and gravy.  I had a Farm Permit at age 14, which was 8th grade, and was driving my Mom's car to school until I bought my first car in February 1996. I was able to drive to school, work and church and you best believe I did. And by the way, I purchased the car with my own money that I saved from working. I had $2000 and my parent's matched that for the down payment. The rest, was up to me. I made monthly payments until my Senior year when I paid it off and decided I needed another new car. I was on my own on this one.

Sometime in High School I knew LeRoy would not be my forever home. I needed to experience the world outside of the town I knew would always be there.  One week after graduation, I moved to Manhattan, Kansas and lived in a 2 bedroom apartment with my cousin.  I got a job at DQ and was enrolled at K-State.  2 weeks before classes started, I dropped them. I had applied at Commerce Bank for a full-time job and got it. I quit school before I even started...I remember that phone call to my parents like it was yesterday. One year later, I moved on to Wichita, Kansas, transferring with Commerce Bank. I was slowly moving to bigger cities...this job was "downtown" Wichita too...I felt so city! Four years later I transferred to Overland Park with Commerce Bank. I remember that call too..."Hey Mom and Dad, I applied for a job in KC, I have an interview"...they loved moving me! I knew one person who lived in Overland Park, she took me around to show apartments in the area and I remember thinking that I would never learn my way around this big city.  Times have definitely changed.

Skip ahead...from 2004 to today, I moved five more times...and finally this last time I rented a U-haul...it's always been pick-up trucks and stock trailers before.  Next time, I am thinking "movers". Anyway, you don't need to know everything in the last 12 years...but I graduated from Johnson County, had about 102 credit hours, should have finished my Bachelors then but got a job at an Orthodontic office in 2005 and worked full-time there until I decided to change careers and go back to school. Nursing...something I never saw myself doing, but it has been one of the best decisions of my life. Truth.  I have been at Shawnee Mission Health for almost 3 years, am still doing Marketing part-time at the Ortho office and also managing to do well in Nursing School! I will graduate in May and then onto my Bachelors next fall! And who knows, maybe I will keep going from there. I used to think I was too old for this...and I occasionally still say "I'm the old one"...but I have realized it doesn't really matter...I mean I have been turning 30 for almost 6 years now and feel better than ever! So yes, 36 is just around the corner!

The Road to Home

So that's it in a nutshell...country girl, big city dreams, living them daily, traveling, helping people, happy, and loving life.

Shona

Real Talk, Real Me.

Time for real talk today...

Sometimes you just have to think about how far you have come, what you are capable of, how strong you are, and that generally most people are good people, even great people.  I have met some amazing people since moving to this place I love to call home, Kansas City.  I have also realized a great deal about myself and have done things in the past year that I never would have thought possible or even attempted.  Lucky for you, I will share what I now call, living.

• I made it into Nursing School. After leaving my Orthodontic job after 9 years which was preceded by a 6 year banking career in 3 different cities, I applied to go back to school.  Ok, so maybe I am still doing a little work at the Ortho Office, but Nursing is my passion.  I have managed to not flunk out, have a job, and a social life.  I have learned to study, a lot.  I once thought that I was too old for this. Too old? I have only just begun. 

• I moved, twice.  How is this a feat you say? Well, just ask my Dad and Sister who always seem to be the ones who get the pleasure of helping me.  I have managed to go from a four-bedroom house to an over-sized one-bedroom apartment with attached garage in the over priced Johnson County area to my River Market one-bedroom loft with concrete floors, a shared garage, and the smallest closet you have ever scene.  Who needs all that "stuff" anyway? I have realized what is important and kept only that.  Could I use a separate room for shoes? What girl couldn't?  But guess what, where I am works, and it came at just the right time. 

• I ran my second half marathon, I almost died from knee pain. But my time was much faster than last year so there's that. Moving on. 

• I took a road trip, alone. I drove out to Colorado this past summer to visit a good friend and also "see #3 above".  People were shocked that I was driving and by myself.  I looked at it like this...8 hours of alone time, thinking about whatever I wanted too, listening to whatever I wanted too, stopping at Starbucks, whenever I wanted too.  It was one of the best adventures I chose to take. 

• While waiting on a friend for dinner in Denver, I went into a Amato's Ale House, ALONE. What?? No way in h-e-l-l would I have done that even two years ago.  I walked my orange-wedge-wearing booty right up to the bar, sat on the end, and had two amazing local beers that the bartenders recommended.  The food was good too and the company, when she arrived, was even better.  

• I went and ate at a restaurant. You guessed it, alone.  I had some free time to kill one day between appointments and decided, no time like the present.  My Mom has told me for years that she has no problem doing this, I always said, never. Never say never. 

• I have reached out to local KC folks and been given many opportunities because of it.  Whether it be volunteer work, photo shoots, or showing off fashion on the news, it has led to good things which has led to great people and many new friendships. 

• I learned to paddle board which seemed to come pretty natural to me, spent a lot of time at the lake and went camping more than usual.  Sometimes getting out of the city is good for your soul. 

• I have managed to keep blogging and attended my first Go Blog Social Event and was invited by The Blog Guild recently to attend a Makeup Mastery Event at Macy's. 

• I sang at a Nursing home with my super talented step-dad Phil and also recorded my rendition of a song by Foo Fighters.  #bigstep

• I have traveled. Vegas, Dallas, Iowa, Tulsa, Denver, Colorado Springs, Georgetown, Fort Worth, Dominican Republic, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC. I am beyond thankful for those who made some of these adventures possible.  It's not always about the actual adventure, but rather the person who you choose to adventure with. 

Some of these things are simple, some are not.  I have found myself, finally.  Hey, isn't that what your 30's are for? Don't get me wrong, it's always a work in progress but it always should be.

Find your power...

Shona

Me, Myself, Friends, and the Rockies

From a night out in Denver to running at 10,000 feet to hiking a one-mile, 2000 foot elevation increase at Manitou Springs...I have to say, my last trip to the lovely and always amazing Colorado was one to be remembered.  I decided to take a solo venture across the state of Kansas to visit friends, run my second half-marathon, and take on the incline...just 8 hrs of driving by myself.  Stopping whenever I wanted too, although there just happen to be a Starbucks at every stop, listening to any genre of music or even just listening to silence...this journey alone was something I had never done. What it turned out to be was something more than expected.

I arrived in Denver during rush-hour, I planned that perfectly...driving through what seemed like never-ending traffic to get to my destination.  I was meeting a friend for dinner and arrived early so I decided to scope out the spot but then venture into downtown Denver to hit up a favorite of mine, The View House. I also timed that perfectly...the Rockies were playing and as drove into the area, I realized getting a seat let alone a parking spot wasn't going to happen.  So back to the Highlands area. I scored a close parking spot and decided I was going to tackle my fear of going into a bar alone, having one hour to waste, I really didn't want to sit in my car.

As I walked into Ale House a Amato's, I felt instantly comfortable. I marched to the bar like I'd been there before, hopped into a seat on the end which meant I wouldn't have to worry about anyone sitting next to me and started looking at the beer menu. The bartenders, both male and female were informative and gave me info about the local beers and offered up samples.  I sat there for an entire hour, drinking a beer...ok beers...and watched the Rockies game.  My friend Katie joined me later and we had an awesome time catching up and enjoying some wonderful food!

The next 4 days were amazing too! I spent my time with one of my besties Alec and her family... I hadn't seen her since last August. We visited the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, my favorite mainly because of the giraffe exhibit, ate lots of food and I was able to get plenty of Baby Cohen time.  We dined at Amanda's Fonda, The Loop (a must), and Narai Thai for carb-loading!

I planned this journey around the Slacker Half-Marathon, which I ran last year as a relay, running 9 out of the 13.1 miles.  This run starts at Loveland Ski Basin and ends in the cutest little town of Georgetown; 10500 feet elevation at the start and ending around 8500 feet.  I decided this year, I was doing it all and I was going to run it faster than last year. My goal was to be under 2:30 and I hit 2:26...the damn bathroom spot wasted about 7 minutes, but there was no way I was going it make it the last 7 miles without stopping...too much water!  Breathing at 10K feet is much different than in Kansas, but this year, breathing wasn't my issue.  I started having left knee pain about 3 weeks before the race, so I started wearing a knee brace to help. The race went well, I beat my goal, I felt good, but I did have issues with my knee...I often wonder if I didn't, what would my time had been? That night, after carb-loading at the Thai restaurant, I soaked in the hot tub...with a view of the Rockies.

The next day, Alec and I decided to tackle the Manitou incline.  I did not know what I was getting in to.  I figured I would go for it, who cares that I just ran 13.1 miles...let's beat another goal of getting to the top! I.almost.died.  A little over half-way, she asked me.."How do you feel?", my reply "I'd rather be running another 13.1!" It was tough and I know I was worn out from running, but one mile straight up, even being in shape, was hard as hell!  But guess what, we did it; 1:20 later and we made it to the top. The only thing left to do was go back down.  3.5 miles down a winding trail and we managed that in about an hour...that tells you how hard going UP is!  I could admit that old, "older" age was the reason for part of my pain...at this point both knees and my left hip was aching, but I refuse! Now, where is my margarita at The Loop?

The next day, I awoke early to get a head start back to Kansas and back to reality.  Another 8 hours of driving by myself meant more time to let the last 4 days really sink in.  I realized I had conquered fears, beat goals, and spent time with people who are very important to me.  You never know what life will throw at you, but I have decided to make the most of mine. I am 35 years old and in the last year and a half allowed myself to take risks...and what I realized is that those risks have paid off. Live your life...no one else can do it for you.

Thank you Carpenter Family...
Thank you Colorado...
Shona

Don't Give Up The Ship

Many, many times I have felt like just giving up...not with life, but rather my dreams, goals, school, and the new career path that I chose earlier in 2015.  It would just be easier to go back to the job I had for 10 years, making decent money, working four days per week, and being "comfortable".  Starting over with a new career at my young age of 35...34 when I made that scary decision...was not going to be easy.  I hadn't actually had to study in years, I was used to being an "A" student always, and just had a routine.  Work, work-out, travel some, family time...it was just starting to get too repetitive for me. With the life changes in 2015, if you don't know already, go back a few blog posts and read "Goodbye #2015, Hello #2016" and that will fill you in, I was starting over.  By starting over, I mean completely.  Did I like it? Hell no. Was it scary? Hell yes.  Was it the best thing that could have happened to me? Double hell yes.

I was encouraged by many people during the change in my life. Friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers.  My Beachbody family was amazing and I have made some amazing new friends just by coaching!  My friends wanted me to be happy, to keep pushing.  Be you, take time for yourself, stay busy, don't sit at home, do what makes you feel good about yourself and don't give up.  Many times I heard, you have too much going for you to quit now.  You were being held back, and for whatever reason why, they were right.

Many, many opportunities have come to me in the last 8 months.  I was fortunate enough to be on television twice. Once for a Nani Nalu Swimwear segment and the second time just recently for Spring Trends with Jana Meister, both segments on Fox 4 Morning Show and both so much fun! I also did a Fashion Show last June with Jana for Summit Fair.  These events were amazing and led me to meet even more people and open doors for more opportunities. I attended my first Go Blog Social Event to learn more about blogging, and I was a nervous wreck! I had never attended any event like that, was going alone, and didn't know what to expect. I met the most friendly and amazing people there and I can't wait to see them all again!  Definitely out of my comfort zone, but I sucked it up and loved every minute of it!  I attended two KC Fashion Week Shows, Spring and Fall.  The designers were amazing and it is now a must attend event for me yearly! You may even see me on the media side of it :)

I traveled, ran my first half marathon (well, only 9 miles of it) but I just signed up for my second one in June in Colorado and this time, all 13 miles will be mine!  I had the best summer with friends, family, and prepared myself for Nursing school! I was crazy scared to get started but I did it! First semester under my belt!

The point of this blog is that no matter what life throws your way, dig deeper, work harder, play harder, get out and be happy with yourself and have fun! Did I cry alot? You bet your ass I did...Did I feel down and unhappy? Yes, yes, yes! But, I picked myself up, finally...with help from those who love me, and pushed through the hard times!  Therapy wasn't for me, but I found ways to cope, to succeed, to keep going! And I did...and I am here to say HELLO 2016! I can't wait to show you what I've got! Adventure awaits....Remember, don't give up the ship!

Xoxo,
Shona

One of my Favorite Sweatshirts,

 My Favorite Quote.