Friday, April 17, 2015

Denny Dance Rehearsal: Tomorrow

Just when I thought I couldn't love this sweet mama & this precious little man more!  Please keep the Schoonmaker family in your prayers, forever.  This is a loss that you just never get over.  #TeamDenny

Thursday, March 12, 2015

holden is talking!!!

I try to keep my bragging to a minimum, but after watching this awesome video over and over and over and over and over again, I just have to share! It just doesn't seem fair to keep it to myself, so hello world! Holden is talking!!!smile emoticon

Sunday, February 8, 2015

I hate Valentines Day...

Ya'll, I hate Valentines Day.

Always have, probably always will.

I'm probably one of the very few ladies who says this and truly means it.

For the past 15 years, Jenn & I have joked about how much we hate red roses and lace doilies and hearts and chocolates and all things Valentines day.

Maaaany years ago, I had a first date on Valentines Day.  It was with a guy I had noticed at the gym for quite some time, so I should have been pretty excited about it.  But... instead, I asked him if Jenn could join us!  No clue why that one didn't work out, but Jenn & I had a great night!  ;)  Possibly not my finest dating move, but I just hate that one day THAT MUCH.  It's just so commercialized and cheesy.  And then add a first date on top of that, too much!!!

But as much as I hate it?  There's still so much pressure!

Over-acknowledge it, and it's too much.  But fail to acknowledge it at all?  And it's a total slap in the face.

You love me?  Great!  Go out of your way to show me that every single day!!

You don't love me?  You clearly have very poor taste, and this day/night can only end with my telling you that.

You're still figuring it out?  Me too!  So why is February 14th the deadline to figure it out?!?!  Too much pressure!

Let's go out to dinner on Valentines!  No thanks, I've worked in fine dining.  It is worst night ever to go out to eat!

Let's spend it at home?  Now we're talking, but you better make it special.  Or... are you just being lame?

You had flowers delivered (#1, they better not be roses, I hate roses).  #2, what a waste of money, #3, I would rather you hand deliver them!

You didn't bring me flowers!?!?!  I hate you!

As far as I'm concerned, Valentines Day should be best known as the day that reminds everyone that my birthday is only 10 days away.  And, THAT, is a day worth celebrating!!!  :)

Rants from the one chic who seriously just hates Valentines Day.  In my mind, this is one day that you're darned if you do, darned if you don't.  Maybe I'll change my mind one of these days, but it hasn't happened yet!!!  ;)

And yet... it still seems to keep on coming back around!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Just a blessed single mom... keeping it real! :)

I have the BEST best friends in the world.  I can count my forever friends on one hand, and I am not lying when I say that they are just, simply, THE BEST!  And bless their hearts (I'm a born and raised, fat back fed, Southern Belle, I have to preface many a statement with that phrase)  ;) ... they are the first to say "Shea, you put waaay too much on facebook".  I know they are looking out for me, so I always smile and say, "Bless your heart!... I know I do, thank you."  And I mean that.  They are looking out for me, and I appreciate that.  But you know what?  I'm okay with what I put on facebook.  I'm just being me.  I'm just being real.  I have no interest in creating some kind of false persona of who I am or showcasing only the very best moments of our lives.  I just want to be me.  I just want to be real.  I don't divulge private family secrets or the password to our alarm system.  I am who I am and I'm okay with that.  I wish more people were the same way.

It has taken me a loooong time to figure out who I am.  And I am proud of the person I have become.  Are there still many things I would like to accomplish and many qualities, I would would like to focus on?  Of course!  But for now...  I'm pretty content with just being... me!  I'm intense, I'm deep, I'm introspective and I love to over-analyze.  I'm all in,  all the time!  But you can always trust that I'm real!  :)  And yes, my intensity can be a bit too much for some people.  And that's okay.  That probably just means that we are better off as casual acquaintances than as best friends.  :)

There is nothing I love more than deep conversation.  What I don't do is superficial.  I don't do pretenses.  I don't pretend to be someone I'm not.  It's taken me a long time to get to where I am now, and I wouldn't change a thing!

So... if I share something on facebook, I'm just sharing because that's what I do.

I won't lie... I probably post a bit more right now because at night, after the kids are in bed, I can get a little lonely.  I would love to be snuggled up on the couch with my soul mate watching movies and having deep conversations.  But, that isn't my life right now, and I don't have that person to share all of my thoughts with, so... I write.  I share.  I open up my heart to my friends.  It's too much for some, but it's just right for others.  And I appreciate the connection.  :)

I absolutely believe that there are limits as to what you should share online... do I divulge intimate details of my relationships, past or present?  Absolutely not!  Would I ever share details of my children's lives that might embarrass them (now OR later?)  No way!!  But I have no problem sharing the struggles (and joys!) my sweet little family of three encounters as a single parent family.  I have no problem sharing the struggles (and successes!) that Holden encounters as a child with Autism.  I have no problem sharing the happiness I feel from being the head of a HAPPY home, nor do I have a problem sharing the loneliness I encounter as a single mom.  So... that might be too much honesty for some, but it's the perfect amount of real for me!  Thank you for reading and for loving us through our highs and lows, our struggles and our successes!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... invest in us, and you've invested in a good cause!  We look forward to your continued support as we struggle through the hard times and we look forward to your shared excitement as we celebrate so many more accomplishments and meet so many more goals and milestones!  :)

Just a blessed single mom, keeping it real!  :)

Monday, January 19, 2015

Happy 4th Birthday, Holden!! :)





Keep it cute, keep it comfy, keep it cheap: Love on big brother edition


This was just a casual day at home this Fall.  Holden was having a rough day (can you tell by his face?)  Poor little man...  :(  But going outside and just sitting in the stroller and being left alone seemed to help a bunch... after about 30 minutes, he felt much better and joined us in outdoor fun!  #AutismAwareness

Little man wears:
Top:  Naartjie, yard sale, $0.33
Pants:  Naartjie, yard sale, $0.33
Shoes:  New Balance, yard sale, $0.33 (at this age, when you find shoes that are pratically new, from a clean home, just throw them in the wash and them wipe them out with a clorox wipe and you're good to go!  Just be selective!!  And look for "like new"!)
Total outfit (including shoes):  $1

Sweet little sister wears:
Top:  Naartjie, yard sale, $2
Pants:  Hanna Andersson, consignment store, $3
Shoes:  boutique, consignment sale, $1
Total outfit (including shoes):  $6

Keep it cute, keep it comfy, keep it cheap: backyard edition



Baby girl wears:
Mini Boden coat, hand-me-down: $0
Total outfit: $0

Mr. Man wears:
I am "3" tee, Old Navy, $3
Pants:  Wonder Kids, consignment sale, previously accounted for
Total outfit: $3

Play clothes for two:  $3

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Hunter Hayes - I Want Crazy (Full Lyric Video) HQ

I don't want good and I don't want good enough
I want can't sleep, can't breathe without your love...

Saturday, January 3, 2015

You can listen to your mind... but you have to follow your heart.

(you know, just another hallmark Christmas movie...)  ;)

Friday, January 2, 2015

The Notebook - Feels Like Home

this.  nothing less.



Things I've Done Since My Divorce... That I'm Pretty Darn Proud Of...

1. Stopped caring what most people think of me.
2. Traveled alone (solo!)... and traveled alone with both kids!
3. Confidently started saying "table for one" without being apologetic.
4. Laughed at my level of happiness.
5. Asked for help when I needed it.
6. Received help from the most unexpected places, even when I didn't realize I needed it!
7. Got my old name back.
8. Checked off "Head of Household" on more than one form.
9. Started every day off counting my blessings.
10. And ended every day by counting them again!
11. Learned to soak up every second and take pure joy just in being present in the moment with the ones I love.
12. Learned how to handle the logistics of "life" all by myself. That might sound crazy, but this was the first year I navigated "life" without my dad. It was rough. But I survived! (see below...)
13. Set up a special needs trust for Holden
14. Created a will.
15. Started thinking for myself.
16. Put more time and emphasis on relationships I had neglected.
17. Asked God for help.
18. Took joy in, and put priority on, the little things in life... like bi-monthly mani-pedis with Harper!
19. Regained a healthy outlook on the future AND released 18 lbs of toxic weight!
20. Genuinely began looking forward to the future!