15th & Madison

What's In A Name?

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

So you're probably wondering, "Why Fifteenth & Madison?"

I spent WEEKS trying to figure out a good name for the new blog. I searched the top 100 movies of all time rated by AFI. I searched my playlists on Spotify. I racked my brain for any cute name I could think of. I just couldn't find one I loved in my list of twenty potentials. Then, out of the blue, I stumbled upon the address of the Washington Monument.

15th & Madison

The Monument has always been like a beacon for me, a symbol that I am home. I make it a point every time I visit DC, to head straight there. It's the first thing I do, sit in the grassy area surrounding it and just take it all in. It made complete sense to me that as I start this new journey of my life in DC, that this would be the perfect name for my new blog.

I can't wait to continue my blogging journey with you guys from my new home, our Nation's Capitol <3

July 4th, 2009

This is Why I'm Blessed

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I'm blessed to have such awesome friends. To have friends like Wendy, who I've babbled on about over and over. I'll just say a picture speaks a thousand words. I love that both times before I left for DC, we met up to say "Bye for now." I just love that.

I'll be seeing lots of her this year as we prepare for her big day in November! Yay!

The next night, J squared (my soul sister) arrived in town from Georgia for a quick family weekend. I could not leave Orlando without picking her up at the airport and seeing her sweet face for even just an hour or two. We got some Five Guys, Pinkberry, and enjoyed each other's hugs and company. She's seriously been my saving grace y'all!

My first Pinkberry experience. WAY healthier than regular froyo joints.

Our froyo's. Mine is the fruity one on the right. Green tea and strawberry froyo with mangoes, kiwi , strawberries, waffle cone, and vanilla yogurt chips. Mmmm!

Our time was way too short being that we hadn't seen each other since Christmas, but one has to be thankful for even the little time right?

Love these girls <3

I'm Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

{{WELCOME to the NEW 15th & Madison! Eat, Pray, Love...Live! has finally made the transition over. Excuse our dust as we work to get out the kinks and get everything switched completely. For now, enjoy the new look and keep an eye out for the meaning behind my new blog!}}

I'm gone.

I'm not looking back.

I got up at the crack of dawn this morning and am heading to my new life in DC.

Pretty exciting. Pretty nerve wracking.

I won't lie, I'm so nervous about it, I could puke. It's so different this time.

The good news is that for two weeks, I get to stay with this awesome girl, my former roomie.

The great news, is I'll be working a contract for two weeks on Fort Meade, Fort Belvoir, Fort Myer, and Andrews Air Force Base. If any of you lovelies out there are stationed at one of those fine places, holler!

The other fantastic news is that I landed an AWESOME contract from now until September doing a series of events for a wireless carrier. The pay is frickin' incredible and is such a welcomed relief to me. I feel so, so blessed for this opportunity. Not having to look for work for a few months is a welcomed invitation.

I also got a phone call while I was in Montreal from a golf course where I applied to be a cart girl. After some serious talk with W&R at dinner one night (J's sister and FH), I decided this was something I should totally try to do on the side. I've always thought about it, I love golf, and all drunken middle aged men aside, it could be pretty interesting :)

*Knock on wood* the job stuff seems pretty solid for now. It gives me time to network my butt off and get closer to my goal of working for a military related non-profit. Perfection.

Now if I could just firm up housing!!! Keep your fingers crossed and say lots of prayers for Piper and I as we travel up the East coast this weekend. I'll be leaving her in Charlotte for a couple weeks with her dog besties (my heart is breaking!) and coming back to get her after this first round of events is done. Pray for the housing situation and everything else that comes along with this new start...again.

Thanks guys!

I'll Be Honest

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:04:00 +0000

I just got done sitting on the balcony in my little room at a quaint Bed & Breakfast deep in the mountains of Stowe, Vermont. I was breathing in the fresh air, staring up at the stars, and just thinking about everything I've been through. It's something I've been doing a lot of lately.

The truth is, I'm absolutely terrified at this very moment. Terrified of the uncertainty that is before me. It's something I'm not really used to. I trust God's plan for my life, but this time...it's just a little different.

I think about how just three years ago, I was passionately in love with someone who was serving in Iraq. I had known with every fiber of my being that he was the one for me. We got married, commited our lives to one another, and thought that was it for us. I thought I was finally done. I rejoiced at the thought of never having to play the dating game and being with someone who wanted the very same things I did. A family.

A few months later, I was pregnant. Then, that was gone just as fast as it came.

Two years ago, I left my husband. For the last time. I have no idea how I did it. At times, it feels like all of it just never really happened. But, it did.

Six months later, I was divorced.

Six months after that, I was back in my hometown, something I swore I'd never do, finding myself in a relationship with the person I always loved. The person I never stopped loving. The person I envisioned spending eternity with since I was 19. My best friend. My resting place. My safety net. (PS. We went YEARS without speaking, so he was a total non factor in my marriage) I figured surely after all I had gone through during our time apart, the things we went through...that this was it for us. We had done the whole "if it's meant to be, it will come back" thing. Clearly, I was wrong again. After 4 months, I was fooled, tricked, thrown to the side like what we had was nothing at all. I was "loved" by an imposter.

All of this hurt and heartbreak, letdowns and shortcomings have happened to me in the past three years. It's seriously a lot for someone to swallow at any point in their life, let alone in such a short period of time. Had things gone the way I thought they would, I'd be sitting on this balcony with my husband, maybe our son or daughter. If not that, at least with J as I had always envisioned it. I think about how much I've traveled and all I've seen since we broke up and it's just...a lot.

The truth is, as much as so many of you applaud me for my strength, and how much I share...inside I think I'm in total shreds. I think a lot of it has to do with this upcoming move.

You see, last time I moved to DC, things were so different. First, I had not been married, divorced, etc. I went to J and gave him the option of stopping me from leaving the day before I moved. He calmly looked at me and said "I know we'll get married someday." So I smiled and walked away. Totally. I left, left him behind, but always thought in my heart there was still that chance. That possiblity of finishing what was never done. Now, it's totally finished. For good. When I cross the state lines this time, there's no going back. It's for real. It's for good. I tried. It didn't work. This dream I've carried with me for 8 years, is no longer. It's done. One of the hardest parts about it, is coming to grips with the notion that maybe it was never what I thought it was. The person I thought I knew, that I put on this pedestal, and had such high regard for, never really was.

I know I've blogged about it many times over the past few months since we've split, but right now...it's just scary. As of this moment, I still don't have a place to live. There's nothing certain except for the fact I'm going. I'm making it happen and I'm not giving it up again. If ever a time to learn a lesson on trust, now it is so.

On the other side, I can look back and see all I've been through and be proud. Very, very proud. I haven't crumbled. I haven't faltered. My mission was to get back to DC and live my dreams and I'm making it happen. Nobody is standing in my way anymore. My future is all mine and that is pretty awesome.

Bachelorette Recap Week Three!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:17:00 +0000

Unfortunately for me, I was in Montreal during this weeks episode of our beloved Bachelorette. Thank goodness for being able to catch episodes on the internet.

So was it just me or were you guys seriously impressed with this episode? It made me feel all warm and cozy all over, as if for a moment I wanted to be in a relationship again. Then after 90 minutes I realized why I'm not. Never the less, our girl Emily did not disappoint this week, dishing her strong dose of reality. There's seriously something about having it in her hometown and her being a mom. I just can't get over it.

Anyway, on to the guys.

How presh were Chris and Emily y'all? I mean, seriously, they were adorable! I could feel the love through the screen, or maybe it's the like as of yet, not the love. Time will tell. They seemed so comfortable with one another and like they really clicked. With Luke Bryan singing, my heart pitter pattered even more. I saw him in Charlotte back when I lived there too. He's SO damn sexy it's unreal. I absolutely am in love with "Drunk On You" in the worst way. Did we not all see the fear in her face when she learned he was a year younger than her? I'd be concerned if I were her too, but I really think Chris is the kinda guy who can step up and be a man, and wants to. PS. Chris, if you're free after the show, holler ;)

Does she not look SO happy and at peace? I love it!

Watching the guys endure the grilling of the girlfriends and the playground time with the kiddos was awesome. Can this be a part of my dating life in the future? What a great test. I love it!

The whole thing with Arie, I just don't know. I was rooting for him a bit because of the racing connection, but I just don't know anymore. It seems Emily is clearly into him after their date and the kisses they swapped inside the house (CRAZY!), but I just don't feel as much of a connection. I don't know. So hard to tell I guess. Regardless, it was so presh to see Emily with Dolly Parton. Lucky girl!

I'm glad she's playing by her rules. Cutting guys when it just ain't working for her. Bless Tony's heart, but seriously dude? Could you cry any more? It's so not attractive to have to play therapist or best friend to a guy you're interested in dating. Clearly, that's how Emily felt.

~~Guido Deluxe~~ Stevie, glad to see him go. Better luck on Jersey Shore dude.

I have no idea why Kalon is still on the show after their conversation. Odd.

That whole thing with Allesandro was a nightmare. Some people are saying it was a language barrier thing. By "compromise" he meant commitment. The whole Brazilian/English thing can be tricky. I guess time will tell when we see the "Men Tell All" special.

Not happy Ryan looks to be douching it up going forward. Not happy at all.

What did you guys think this week?

Live Those Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

It's Thursday, perhaps my favorite day of the week because Goodnight Moon has given us a chance to shout from the top of the world our favorite song(s) for the week. Every week this pops up and I can truly never decide on just one song. This week, I totally don't. I'm in such a crazy place of fear, uncertainty, reflection, and questioning. Here are my songs for the week.

This song is right up there with "Crazy Girl" by Eli Young Band. I absolutely LOVE it. The lyrics SO describe my kinda guy. What girl wouldn't want a guy that thinks this way?!?

"Wanted" by Hunter Hayes

At first, I wasn't too sure of this new KC song. As always though, it's won me over since he brings back such good, close memories of a certain someone.

"Come Over" by Kenny Chesney

This song is just mesmerizing. Addicting. I love it.

"Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez

David Gray is sheer brillz. I just love him ever so. This song is so freaking beautiful, I can't help but play this over and over again.

"Please Forgive Me" by David Gray

NEW Blog Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 30 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

If you guys are fans of mine on Facebook, you've heard me mention this before, but I've yet to share it on my blog.

I'm excited to announce that "Eat, Pray, Love...LIVE!" will be no longer. I am doing a total overhaul of my blog and could not be more excited.

It will certainly be very different than what it is now. If you follow me on Pinterest, you have probably been seeing some of the inspiration going into the new blog overhaul. For those curious, I'm working with Fran @ Free Borboleta on my design and am so thrilled with how it's turning out.

The new blog will be:

*Clean & Simple

*Focus on my life, faith, food, but also fashion, DIY, makeup, travel, and so much more!

*The name is centered around a special DC landmark that means a lot to me.

*The name just so happens to have Tim Tebow's number in it, but not on purpose. Seriously.

The colors will be:

The font will be:

One of the main reasons I decided on an overhaul was to coincide with my moving to DC. It's such a huge step in the right direction for me, a total change to how life has been for the past few years. I felt that since my world was going to change so dramatically, it was time for my blog to change too. I started this out as a baby blog, when I was trying to get pregnant with my then husband. Then, it was named "Eat, Pray, Love...LIVE!" upon deciding I was going to walk the road of divorce and knowing the new life I would be living once it was over. Now, I feel I'm going to be finally settling into the life I've always wanted, in the place I've always wanted. I'm ready to pursue my dreams at all costs and share all of that along the way with you guys, along with some things I love like fashion, makeup, crafty stuff, and more.

I would also like to eventually brand myself and the name I've chosen could so easily be a brand of many things.

The good news for you guys is, you won't need to memorize a new website address or follow me at a different spot. Once the new layout goes up and everything is switched over, eatpraylovelive.com will forward you onto the new blog. All of my past posts will still be around for your viewing pleasure. It's important for me to keep it that way, so myself and others can easily look back and see how far I've come.

I'm super, crazy excited and hope you guys will continue to follow me after the overhaul. Can't wait to see what you guys think!

Denver, I Love You!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 29 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Not this past weekend, but the weekend before, I spent some time in Denver for work. I had never been to the state of Colorado before and heard amazing things from friends about the Mile High city. Seriously y'all, I fell in love.

I was only able to spend two nights in town and on the second night, I went back to my hotel and completely passed out. Being up at 4am the night before, traveling all day, and working was exhausting. None the less, I had THE BEST time. Downtown Denver is awesome, the people were so friendly, and the surroundings were just gorgeous. One of my new favorite spots for sure.

Mile High Stadium!

My event site was the United Club Level Suites @ Mile High, and seriously, I've never worked in a more awesome spot y'all. It was the coolest thing in the world being able to walk out and be INSIDE the stadium. If Tebow were still with the Broncos, it would have been even more amazing. As a former fan, walking through the tunnels and going behind the scenes was a super cool experience.

After being up since 4:15 am, flying all day, working all afternoon, I chugged down a few 5 Hour Energy shots and decided to go to a Colorado Rockies baseball game @ Coors Field. I snagged a third row seat between third and home for $30 from a scalper outside. GREAT seats!

These guys were my seat mates and were super fun. I was waiting for the typical drunk hit on thing to happen and it didn't! YAY! We had some great conversation and they got me a Colorado Rockies baseball to take home as a momento of my trip. Seriously, the people in Denver were super friendly. Such a great place!

What Memorial Day Means to Me

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 28 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I'm writing this on the Friday before Memorial Day. Sitting here at a local Starbucks in South Burlington, Vermont, I see a beautiful flag waving in the wind. I can't help but stare at it and reflect on everything wonderful about America.

One of the things that drives me insane about this "holiday" is not on the lack of understanding about what it really is, but on those who recall it as a "Happy" day. Folks, it's not.

I admit, before I was married to an active duty soldier, I proclaimed "Happy Memorial Day" with the rest of them. The truth is, when you think about it, there isn't anything happy about this day. Not that it should be a day filled with grief and sorrow, but it's a day of reflection.

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for our freedoms. It's a day to think about the family and friends who have been left behind in the process. I talked about this subject on my blog last year, and if you want more insight and commentary from others, check it out.

In the few years I've spent in the military community, I've met some incredibly outstanding people. There are still many whom I haven't met, but consider to be some of my most inspiring friends. They are a mix of active duty spouses, wounded warrior wives, and gold star families. They've all opened my eyes to more, to men and women they know who have been affected by the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Take a few minutes to peek around Facebook, the blog-o-sphere, or even the web, and you'll find families who have suffered such an astounding loss and continue to go on with courage. Something most of us cannot imagine.

This Memorial Day, I hope you all take a moment to reflect on what today really means. To do something to honor those who are no longer with us and to support those who have been left behind.

I am truly thankful for every single service member who has laid down their lives in the line of duty. I am thankful for the families who have raised and supported their children to be of such strong character that they would risk their lives for mine. Today, though I will be meandering around Montreal, I will be carrying the thoughts of all those who have gone before with me.

Always thankful.

I stumbled across this image that was just simply astounding to me and wanted to share it with you guys. Words just can't...

{Source: http://www.poyi.org/63/11/01.php}

Oh, Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sun, 27 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

If you're reading this, I'm crossing another something major off my bucket list.

I'm in Canada!

Yep, this American girl ventured over the border and is spending a couple days in the lovely city of...

...Montreal!

I'm so excited to enjoy the French Canadian culture and was shocked to learn that Montreal is the 2nd most French speaking city in the world, just behind Paris! That should be interesting since I know about three words total :)

I'm also excited to partake in some amazing culinary delights like:

{Photo Courtesy of Food Guy Montreal}

Poutine ~ French fries smothered in gravy and topped with cheese curds. Sounds interesting.

Smoked Meat Sandwiches

And sipping on fabulously decorated coffees and munching on French pastries at a quaint patisserie.

So excited! Can't wait to share my adventures with you guys when I return.

Bloggers Remorse

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

So here's the deal...

I've apologized before, but I've seriously been a bad blogger.

Part of what makes the Blog-O-Sphere so awesome, is not only being able to share your life stories and vent your frustrations, but hear everyone else's too. I haven't read more than 6 different blogs in the past 6 months. Seriously. It's awful.

A few days ago, I went on a comment spree, so if you got one of mine, take it as an apology for not being a part of your blogging life for so long.

The worst part about it is, as I was clearing out my lists of blogs I follow (more on that in a sec), I realized so much has happened to so many of you. Babies have been born, pregnancies have been announced, more losses have happened, loved ones have died. The full circle of life has played out and I've missed it completely.

I feel insanely guilty to those of you who leave comments on my blog, stay abreast to what is happening in my life, but I don't return the favor. Here's to hoping that doesn't happen again.

Now, one reason I never get around to blog hopping is that my Google Reader feed is one hot mess. I was following over 350 blogs or something insane. I'm not anymore. I realize that just like in life outside the blog world, things change and people go different ways. I was once a military spouse, trying to get pregnant, who lost her baby, and was dealing with infertility. That part of my life is over. So, if your blog consisted mainly of breastfeeding woes, diapering challenges, and gobs of pictures of your precious little ones, I'm probably not following you anymore. Don't take offense.

I also realized a lot of people fell off the face of the earth, either shut down their blogs entirely or haven't blogged in months or even years. For me, it's something I can't imagine. This little 'ole blog here is my daily outlet and giving it up is something I just couldn't do. Heaven help the next guy who dates me or ends up being an ex. More on that another time.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to now being able to better keep up with everyone. Like, seriously looking forward to it. As I was going through everyone's blogs and deciding which to keep and which not to, I was so thrilled with all of the amazing writers out there I've been missing out on. SO excited to step back in the circle again.

Friday Fancies, Memorial Day Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

We all know the true meaning behind Memorial Day goes beyond hot dogs, hamburgers, and cold beer with friends at a backyard BBQ. The true meaning of Memorial Day is to honor all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives and the family and friends they've left behind. I'll share more of my Memorial Day thoughts on Monday.

For today, it's Friday Fancies and a patriotic theme was chosen by AV @ Long Distance Loving. I'm super bummed I won't be in DC for it this year, but know I will have many Memorial Days to come in Capitol City.

For me, this is a look that can be dressed up with heels for work, or worn as is with sandals for happy hour cocktails. I adore the blazer and am searching for the right one(s) to add to my wardrobe.

PS. On a side note, I was so stoked to see Lifetime TV re-pin this! How cool!

Memorial Day 2012 - Friday Fancies by shanstinson featuring skinny fit jeans

Short jacket
€100 - mexx.eu

Skinny fit jeans
$100 - tenover6.com

London Rebel flat leather sandals
$42 - asos.com

Dorothy Perkins summer handbag
$110 - dorothyperkins.com

Dancin' Away With My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Ugh. I'm just plain obsessed with Lady A. Do you blame me?

This is a song that just takes you back. Reminds you of someone you once loved. Someone you wish nothing but happiness for. An awesome thing.

You headed off to college at the end of that summer
And we lost touch
I guess I didn't realize even at that moment we lost so much...

Hockey Hair & Makeup Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

One of my good friends is a hockey addict. Being the awesome girl I am, I decided to go and cheer him on. Here's what I decided to do with my hair and makeup after browsing Pinterest for some ideas.

For this, I started with semi-dry showered hair, parted 3/4 to one side. I sectioned off a medium sized chunk of hair towards the halfway point of my hair, combed it out, and sprayed it down with super hold hairspray. This would be the braided section.

I braided the section as normal and tied the end with a small, clear hair elastic several times over. Then, I pinned the end of the braid with two bobby pins crosswise underneath the remaining section of the back of my hair.

Once I pinned the braid, I made a ponytail with all of my hair, twisted it, and pinned the ends to the back of my hair with crossed bobby pins. I fanned out my ends and sprayed everything down with hairspray. Super easy and super comfortable way to have everything off your shoulders :)

Later in the day, I actually ended up dropping it all down and curling everything spiral style. I still pinned the braid underneath, but I loved the curls. I'll post a pic of this in the next few days for you guys.

For my eye makeup, I didn't want anything crazy dramatic and I'm absolutely addicted to my Naked Palette by Urban Decay, so that's what I decided to use.

I always use primer before applying eye shadow either Urban Decay's Primer Potion ($20) or E.L.F.'s Primer from Target ($3). They both work great and hold shadow all day.

For the base color on my lids, I used Sidecar, followed by Smog & Half Baked in the creases and bottom of my brow, & Sin on the top part of my brow under my eyebrow. I also put a touch of Half Baked in my eye corners too. Next time I do a makeup tutorial, I'll make sure to close my eye and label everything for you guys. Bare with me, I'm still learning ;)

I lined them with brown eyeliner and I always use Dior Show mascara, first a few swipes of Blackout, then finished with the regular Show in Black. And now, I'm hooked to Urban Decay's "All Nighter" makeup setting spray. I picked up the mini sized bottle during a recent trek to Macy's with a gift card. I wanted to try it out before I plopped down $28 for a big bottle. LOVE the stuff.

Bachelorette Recap: Week Two!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Okay. Where to begin. First, spoiler warning as usual.

I have to say, I am completely enthusiastic this season is more real than seasons past. I love that Emily is being true, dishing it to the guys from the start, and playing no fiddles. I have said it before, but I'll say it again...I *love* seeing the QC on TV. I love that they allowed her to still be a mom and be in the comforts of her hometown while filming the show. Way to go ABC!

So, for last nights episode...

I can't say I'm shocked my homeboy Joe got kicked off. Knowing him in high school, I didn't see them really working out. Sure, people change and nine years is a long time to do that, but most guys from my hometown don't. It sucks. They're still stuck in immature boy land, but I guess a lot of guys my age still are. Sigh. Anyway, his inability to answer Emily properly was my first sign he was gone. He had a great opportunity with her on a one on one date so early, but in the end, it really isn't a competition. Emily isn't a prize (like she said) but someone hoping to find real, true love. Be it different than most of us try to find it but hey, can't blame a girl for trying.

I still am loving Doug, Arie, & Ryan, but I'm throwing Charlie in there too. I love that he was man enough to walk right up to Emily and tell him his fear. That is so ballsy and I so appreciate honesty in a man. Doug is pretty close to my dream guy. In a superficial "I'm on a reality dating show" kinda way. I love that he seems like a mans man, loves the heck out of his son, and stands up for Emily hardcore. Something super sexy about that y'all. Who knows how he is in real life though?

I still do not understand for the life of me the Jef thing. Does anyone else?

What is the deal with this dude? He seems immature as all get out, arriving on a skateboard? REALLY GUY? I have no idea what Emily sees in him. Maybe something different? Something not super hot, muscled up, and tanned? Ugh. I just don't get it. There's always one or two each season you just don't see and they end up picking them most the time. Heaven help us.

What do you guys think so far? Any clues on who will be Emily's man? If you keep track of Reality Steve, what do you think of his predictions?

Lastly, Happy 2nd Birthday to the love of my life, Piper Annabelle! <3 Still can't believe she's all mine :) I wanted a small dog forever and have been so blessed to have her. She's my little trooper, going through everything with me. I've missed her so much with all this traveling and can't wait to show her around DC :)

When Things Aren't Going As Expected...

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 21 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

I know the cliche's...

"You can't get to the rainbow without a little rain."

"If it's meant to be, it will be."

"Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy."

Never in my life did I expect to have such a problem finding a roommate in DC. Ever.

It's become the most monumental challenge I've faced in a long time. I think I've had an easier time finding random employment, which is saying a lot.

When I first moved up a few years back, I was blessed with having a close friend there who had an open room. It worked out flawlessly, well the moving in part did at least. DC is such a huge place and I'm open to living all over the metro area. My budget is about average to normal for the area so that's not the issue.

This sweet face is.

Yep. Things aren't quite going my way in regards to my move to DC. Despite all of this, I know that the reason it isn't, is to allow something better to happen. The right and perfect thing to happen. One of the greatest things about having faith is believing 100% when things aren't going your way, that there is a reason. In relationships, in job situations, with everything...there is a purpose. Not to say it's not at times insanely frustrating, but perhaps God is preventing me from living with a psycho. For that I can be thankful.

It's this mindset, this idea that has been able to bring me such comfort in my most recent breakup. J was removed from my life on purpose. I 100% believe that, even if I don't like it. He was taken out so someone way better could step in. That makes me completely excited.

Regardless of the challenges I'm going through and the stresses I'm facing with trying to move in less than two weeks, I know it will all work out according to His purpose. The unbelievable calm I feel because of this is indescribable.

It will all work out.

My First Birchbox

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I've seen a lot of my bloggie friends talk about how awesome Birchbox is. My resolution for the new year was to get more into hair and makeup, and that's exactly what I've done. I figured getting samples of different products would help that mission, so I did a lot of research on all of the different monthly box options. There are TONS out there y'all, seriously. It was hard to figure it out but I watched a few video reviews on YouTube and found myself most impressed with BirchBox. For $10 a month (including shipping) you get little samples of trendy makeup and other beauty products sent your way. It's supposedly on a space available basis so I had to wait a good while before I got my first box this month. In total, I'd say I waited about six weeks between the time I applied and delivery. Was it worth the wait?

My box was Gossip Girl themed. I have never seen the show, but thought it was a cute idea since I know it seems to center around fashion and beauty.

Here's what was inside:

1 - Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Curacao.

1 - .25 fl oz Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer in Disco Nap

1 - .06 fl oz Dr. Jart + Water Fuse Beauty Balm with SPF 25

1 - Kerastase Cristaliste Bain Cristal Shampoo Packet

1 - Kerastase Cristalise Lait Cristal Conditioner Packet

1 - 3ml Kerastase Lumiere Liquide Hair Treatment

It also included some info on Gossip Girls season finale, a sweepstakes thing, and a savings pass for a clothing website.

So what's my take on it all? I'm torn on it. I was a little disappointed but it's worth giving it another try next month. I don't know who the heck wears blue eyeliner so that was kinda disappointing. I love Stila and I put some on my hand to test it out and it stayed more than 24 hours with lots of hand washing, so it's obviously a great product. I'd consider buying it in the more normal colors. I've always wanted to try Kerastase products because I've heard so much about them, but I was disappointed the "samples" were tear and throw away packets. The email Birchbox sent out made them look like mini bottles, which would have made my Birchbox experience much better. I'm really excited to try the Dr. Jart stuff, because it's got SPF, moisturizer, and tinted foundation which is just awesome. The nail polish, I could take it or leave it. I'm slowly building that collection so that just gets tossed in the bin too.

If you want a grade, I'd give it a C+. I really hope next month is better.

If you are interested in signing up for a spot, click here for more info.

~UPDATE~
I tried the Kerastase shampoo and conditioner and wasn't impressed. I felt it actually dried out my hair. The leave in treatment was great though. The Dr. Jart stuff was awful. It made me look like a ghost compared to my normal skin color, and that's saying a lot since I'm only moderately warm toned. Overall, not worth the $10 and I'm pretty disappointed.

Next to Her

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

"Truth and tears clear the way to a deep and lasting friendship."

- Mariede Svign

I am blessed beyond words.

The thing is y'all, sometimes what we hope for isn't what we were intended for. What we end up with is far greater than we could have imagined. I blogged a few weeks ago about still being confused over J & I's breakup. Trying to make sense of it all. I fumbled around with the idea that maybe, just maybe, my relationship with J was only to have a stronger one with his family. There's no doubt I believe that 100%.

We've been through more than you can imagine. Seriously, more than you can imagine. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, to choose sides, choose your son/brother over his ex girlfriend, and write it off as another casualty of a relationship that wasn't meant to be. That's never been the case with his family. It hasn't been easy, for anyone. There were times growing up that his family had to put their foot down when it came to inviting me over for family dinners and having me around the house while he was away to college. It was never a question. Looking back, I realize how truly incredible that is. Even recently upon moving out of his place, his dad looked in my eyes and shared the same emotion of knowing how hard that was for me.

One of the most momentous occasions in someone's life is happening to one of his sisters. She found the love of her life and is getting married later this year. You can read all about the proposal and such here. Again, it would be easy to say "I love you Shannon, but I have to think about my brother." Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen with ease, I'm sure she can attest to that, but I am so honored that I'll be standing with her on her wedding day as a bridesmaid. Don't think for a second I don't realize the gravity of it, the deep honor, and incredible amount of strength it took for her to make such a decision. If you guys only knew.

Adore their presh Save the Date. Her colors are AWESOME!

His sister and I made a promise to one another (one I reminded her of after she asked me) many years ago. We were walking through Central Park where we grew up in Winter Park, browsing through children's art work. She exclaimed to me then, "We have to promise each other we will be in one another's weddings okay?" I always held that with me over the years, knowing that whatever happened between her brother and I...a promise is a promise. For me, it meant much more than that. It was a promise to remain friends regardless of what happened with the circumstances that brought us together.I'll be honest, it's something I've thought about for a long time. I wondered during our relationship, if we ever broke up, how this would all play out. Now, I have 6 months until the big day and no doubt it will be one mixed with sheer happiness and a little tinge of pain. It will take all the strength I have within me to stand up at an altar across from him, the person I had hoped for many years to spend my life with, enjoy the presence of his ex girlfriend turned girlfriend again, without losing my marbles. The truth is I'm not standing at an altar across from him, I'm standing at an altar next to her. This day is simply about celebrating the love of a fantastic couple, the joining of two families, and my incredible friendship with an incredible person of who I am blessed.

Friday Fancies: The Chevron Trend

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

This week for Friday Fancies at Long Distance Loving, I decided to highlight the Chevron trend with a few fashion and home decor pieces I found floating around Polyvore. Do you guys own any Chevron?

Chevron Trend 2012 by shanstinson featuring blue nile rings

Cut Out-Shoulder Chevron Tunic White - One Size
$32 - yesstyle.com

Glamorous
£19 - bankfashion.co.uk

Red Herring navy blue handbag
£25 - debenhams.com

Summer handbag
£40 - awear.com

Brahmin leather tote
$295 - brahmin.com

Forever 21 jewelry
$5.80 - forever21.com

Bracelet
$118 - henribendel.com

Blue nile ring
$158 - bluenile.com

Four Blue-and-White Chevron Dinner Plates with Single Green Initial
$100 - neimanmarcus.com

77kids 77 Ruffly Chevron Striped Tunic Tank
$14 - ae.com

Nursery Girl Boy Art Alligator Chevron Green Navy Zoo Safari Jungle...
$48 - etsy.com

Urban Fringe Gray Chevron Pillow Cover
pinterest.com

The Curse

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Perhaps the creepiest video of all time, but a beautiful song.
Just close your eyes.
Link Up.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

So me.

Bachelorette Recap - Week One!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:15:00 +0000

{{Spoiler Alert!}}

Alright ladies! Who sat down last night and watched our beloved Emily and her 25 guys attempt to win her heart? This girl did! I've been so excited for this season to come ever since douchebag Brad broke her heart on The Bachelor. I love that Emily gets to make some rules, such as having majority of the season filmed in Charlotte so she could keep Ricki with her and close. I can't wait to see the QC on national television.

First things first, I love tweeting with everyone during the show. I know West Coasties get ticked, but I guess that's part of the deal. Some of the most hilarious tweets in the world come from The Posessionista. She's seriously a trip. I'm also thinking about starting my own Twitter called "ShitMyDadSaysWhileWatchingTheBachelorette." He was present while all of the ~~incredible~~ ridiculous guys were doing their intros. My dad could get paid for his commentary, no joke.

So the guys...

Never in my life have I seen more craptastic men in one room. I get the notion of making a first impression to stand out, but what about good old fashioned Southern charm and good graces? Even my dad said my hometown boy Joe acted like he was trying to be Peter Pan with his dancing shenanigans. And what about the dude with the old boombox and Flava Flav moves? Entrance by helicopter? Come on, that's a surefire way to get all of the other guys to hate you and the rest of America too. Comparing Emily and Ricki to an egg? Brillz dude, just brillz. I could go on and on and I'm starting to think poor Emily got the short end of the stick with these man boys.

My picks as of now:

Arie ~ Simply because of the racing connection.

Doug ~ Adore he has a son. I think that will help Emily relate and I thought it was so presh that he shared with her a letter his son wrote. I think these two could be great, but maybe too great.

Ryan ~ Something about him gave me good vibes. Maybe it's the fact he's driven. Maybe it's the fact he works with kids. Maybe it's because he's athletic. Maybe it's just because he's hot.

And naturally, I'm rooting for Joe...just because I want to continue to laugh every time he opens his mouth and sit in disbelief I went to high school with someone on the show.

Did you guys catch the first episode? What do you think of the guys on this season?

Saving and Smiling

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Alright you guys. As a girl who is forever on her journey of obtaining her degree, paying for textbooks is the biggest headache in the world. I recently discovered (thanks to my totally awesome law professor) that it's actually in their contract to only recommend books from the campus bookstore. WTH!??! If you're smart enough, you know not to fall for that garb. For one, when you sell them back you get pennies on the dollar. Ridiculous. I just sold my Fundamentals of Law book on eBay for over $80. That's close to what I paid for it.

In comes CampusBookRentals.com.

If you don't want to pay out the wazoo for your textbooks, don't want to deal with the hassle of trying to sell them and all the fees that comes with it, this is the best thing for you! You save 40-90% off bookstore prices, which we know are just so completely out of this world. In addition, there's free shipping both ways (shipping charges are crazy now!), you can mark in the books for easy note taking (WOW!), and they have rental periods for an entire term, longer than, shorter than, etc. all for different affordable prices.

The best part though is this...

Every time a textbook is rented from their website, a donation is made to Operation Smile. Their mission is to bring a smile to children from all corners of the globe, by repairing their cleft lip and palate. I was shocked to hear that every 3 minutes a child is born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Some celebrity ambassadors of Operation Smile include:

Bill & Giuliana Rancic and Jessica Simpson

What I love about companies like CampusBookRentals.com is their belief in giving back. I will absolutely support a company that is dedicated to furthering the lives of others as they grow themselves financially. We can all be better people if by our own success', we enable others to be successful too.

If you guys want more information on what Operation Smile is all about, check out this incredibly touching video...

This is a sponsored post from CampusBookRentals.com.

Holy Bachelorette Batman!

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sun, 13 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I've been waiting for this day. The day an ex or some guy I knew/know would be a contestant of some sort on the Bachelor or Bachelorette. Well folks, it's happened and I haven't stopped laughing about it. I'm serious.

First, I have to say, I'm not a huge fan of this show for a dozen reasons. I'll spare you, but this season I will be glued to the TV. I adore Emily. I adore that she's tied to the racing community. I adore she's from Charlotte. I adore she's experienced the tragedy of losing her fiance and father of her daughter and remained strong. Now, knowing someone in the show will make it even more thrilling for me.

Remember me talking about that small town-ish I grew up in outside Orlando? The one where we all still marry each other, and still date each other, and can't break the bubble? That's Winter Park, where contestant Joe hails from.

Mr. Joe Gendreau. I feel a little creeped writing about him, but since so many of my blog viewers are huge followers of the show, I felt it would be fun for you guys :)

So the back story. Joe was a WP hottie. I had a crush on his best friend whom he played lacrosse with. The luxury of living across the street from the practice field, was being able to watch them on a daily basis. Creepy 14 year old stalkerish, I know. But, there were plenty of times my friend (who had a crush on Joe, how perfect) and I would actually go to their games or their practices and cheer them on. Much to our broken hearts dismay at the time, it never went further than being friends. Something I look back on with absolute hilarity now. He had a Facebook for the longest time and now it's MIA. Probably part of the contractual agreements of the show. CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY! Could Emily be coming to our high school reunion next year?!? :-D Time will tell....

Anyway, when the contestants were announced online, I began thumbing through them and came across his picture. I about died y'all! I could not stop laughing for HOURS. I texted a few of my fellow WP friends who were laughing as much as I was. What's even more funny is all the comments online, the fury of the bloggers, and the dirt they are digging up now. CRAZY! If anything, it reminds me how not awesome it is to be on a reality show and have all of your dirty laundry aired for everyone to see. It's amazing how one picture of someone can justify so much judgement. I remember when my booty shot was on TMZ and receiving such crazy criticisms and analysis from people over it. Bloggers know this already, but putting your life on the internet and/or TV for all to see opens you up for a lot of crap.

Anyway, I'm freaking STOKED out of my mind to see how this all turns out. I'll be glued to my TV every Monday night and I'll be blogging the next day FOR SURE about the developments of the show.

Anyone else out there super excited for tomorrow night!??!

Being Challenged in Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Shannon) — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

As a Christian, having your faith challenged is so difficult. I imagine it is for any religion or for any circumstance. I've found myself in the past weeks being challenged continuously. I realize that we are to rise to the challenge and meet every dominating word with simple abundance, but it gets really difficult.

I went to private school up until the time I was in 8th grade. I loved it and often reflect on how much I miss it and what might have been different. Because of this educational foundation, I learned a lot about scripture and the Bible. We had "Religion" class each day and this was one of the most fascinating courses I took in middle school. I only wish I was able to continue taking them. They are never available at my college. We were also to memorize different verses each week, ones that got lengthier and tougher as time went on. I look back and am so thankful for this as it is the sole reason I can recite them now. Hats off to all of my teachers growing up :)

Despite all of this, I am not a scholar when it comes to the Bible. One of the most frustrating things to me, is that non believers expect you to know every word, every story, and every lesson of the Bible inside out. Yes, it is what is at the very core of my being and what I base my life upon but I do not know every word of the contents. Does anyone really know every word of a book so large? Should I be ashamed I don't? It confuses me so.

Being a person of faith, I don't need evidence. I don't need proof. I don't have a desire or a need to go back in time and trace every story, every spoken word, and the living history of the Bible. Do I want to someday visit the Holy Land? Absolutely, but faith is the measure of things unseen. To have faith, you do not need proof. I am absolutely confident in my faith and can't imagine living life without that concept. None of us know what lies ahead, but we believe it's going to be okay. It's all been taken care of. It's all been ordained. I have nothing to fear. That faith, gives me nothing to fear. Living life in a world of complete uncertainty seems so chaotic to me. I, personally, just can't imagine. Coming across those that need proof are totally the epitome of frustration. Proof goes against the very core of faith. How are we to engage such people?

The others who prove to be major challenges for me, are the ones who need an answer for everything. They come up with incredible stories of what they think the Bible means or how they decipher a story. They want us to explain to them how that could be when our Bible says "XYZ." I just don't find this conversation pleasurable in any way. Most of the time because they are simply non believers, they don't have all of the fact straight anyhow. They take bits and pieces of the entire puzzle and form it into something that just doesn't make sense. To understand something, you have to look at the whole picture, despite your feelings on it. Are they scared to read the whole thing for fear of possibly believing it or it affecting their lives?

I was in discussion with a fellow blogger weeks ago and explained to him as I was walking around the campus of Rollins College in my hometown, that for me, I have nothing to fear as a Christian. If the end comes be it by death or otherwise and there is no God, there is no Heaven...so what? Do I feel like I'm missing out on life by being a Christian? No. Sure, I try to live my life as close to Biblical principals as possible, but it's because that's who I am. Not what a book or religion forces me to be. I do not feel an ounce of pressure or force to be who I am in my faith. So if the end days come and there is nothing, at least I was happy, fulfilled, and lived my life in a positive way. Doesn't seem like I'm losing does it?

I do not claim to be the picture perfect Christian, nor do I judge those who choose not to be...BUT...I do get saddened when I learn of people who aren't of faith. They don't know what they are missing. I know that can sound crazy, but for me, imagining my life without my God and my faith...it would be one desolate wasteland. What do I have to live for if I don't have faith in better things to come? Knowing I was promised these things by my Lord & Savior. I don't know, I just can't wrap my head around it. However, I appreciate everyone's individuality and personal destinies. It's why I don't ever push my faith onto others. I try to live my life in such a way to exemplify it and when others ask, I can let them know why and how I've managed to go through so much and come out stronger, better.

For every time I feel spiritually drained from a conversation with a non believer, I feel doubly as full when I'm in the mere presence of someone who loves God like I do. That's a feeling that will never be taken from me.