healthy and loving life!

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given

to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you

must honor God with your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

(isn't she cute?!?!)

6 months after college....AND I AM LOVING LIFE!

life is really going soooo well! i am working as a pe coach ("Coach Shea, do your friends call you Coach Shea?"), a behavior interventionist (working with children who have autism) and now....(drum roll please)...a health and wellness coach! (i guess i like to wear many hats!)

as a health and wellness coach i get to help others lose weight, gain energy, gain lean muscle, and the best part is to educate them on how to live a healthy, active lifestyle without a fad diet!

i started my nutrition program about 2.5 weeks ago and everyday i feel amazing! (no joke!) i have a ton more energy, my bum knee has stopped hurting while i run (now i am running miles and miles without having to stop or "baby" my knee for the rest of the day), i have lost 3lbs of fat and i am really toning out now! but best part EVERDAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR ME!

matt started on a program this week and he has already felt changes with his body. more energy!

with the nutrition program it is NOT a diet! (when you start a diet your first question is "when do i end this diet?") it is a healthy lifestyle! BUT no need to take out your favorite friday night meals (buca di beppo for me!) just tips on how to get all the nutrition you need throughout the day!

some interesting facts:

- it takes 3,000-3,500 calories per day to get all the recommended daily allowance of nutrients one needs

- green tea works wonders for energy

- 1 billion people in the world are overweight and in 2015 about 2.5 billion people will be overweight! and 1 billion people are underweight :(

i have learned so many wonderful things and already have helped others their own nutrition programs. with helping others i start off with their own health profile (tell them their BMI, let them know how much protein they should get a day, tell them their resting metabolic rate, etc.) then with the information i map out a nutrition program that will work best for them! i have been helping those overweight, already living a healthy lifestyle, and those who just need some more energy.

please feel free to call/text 951.233.0979 or email me shannon.r.shea@gmail.com if you would like me to do a wellness profile and nutrition program for you!

happy autumn and no yoke

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

happy fall/autumn!

fall is one of my favorite seasons! it reminds me of going back to school, halloween, thanksgiving, wearing sweats and uggs, baking, drinking tea with the momma and sister, etc.

the past 19 years i have been going to school with fall begins, and the past 4 i have spent the beginning of autumn in malibu. this year it is great to spend my fall at home.

i have so many autumn plans for this season and my first was to bake some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. but thanks to the grocery store, there is still no pumpkin puree to be found! so instead i decided to bake some chocolate chip, oatmeal, coconut cookies. after getting all the ingredients ready, i noticed that i had forgotten to get eggs! (we were never really a big egg family) being that it was 9pm and i didn't want to go back to the grocery store, i decided to google "no egg chocolate chip oatmeal coconut cookies" I found a website. though i was a little skeptical (replacing the eggs was boiling water mixed with baking soda) they actually came out really tasty!

i am going to bring them to our bible study tonight...hopefully everyone will like them!

Ingredients:

Servings:

0

cookies

• 1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 46 mins

1. 1Beat butter or margarine, sugars and vanilla until light and fluffy.
2. 2Add flour and salt, mix well.
3. 3Dissolve baking soda in boiling water and add to mixture. Stir in rolled oats, raisins and chocolate chips.
4. 4Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes.
5. 5Don't over cook.
6. 6(There are no eggs in this recipe, I didn't forget to type it down). Makes 3 dozen

WHO SAID THAT YOU NEED EGGS FOR COOKIES!?!?!?!

pink ribbon and vayda

a family friend is having a baby and asked me where she should get a cute baby shower banner...me being the crafty person i am (ha) said how bout if i made the banner. we got some ideas off of etsy (one of my favorite crafty websites). after getting the idea lauren and i were off to joann's with some of our craft coupons

materials included: 1 yard each of pink and brown felt material, 1/2 yard of three cute material (from the sale corner), a 3 yard roll of cute ribbon, printed letters. total cost $10.07

after cutting the felt into circles (i used a bowl and large plate as a stencil for the circles) and the material into letters, i based (a loose stitch to keep material together) the circles together and used my gma's sewing machine to sew the circles. after 5+ attempts and i got frustrated and my amazing gma came to the rescue. she helped me figure out how to sew in a circle (pretty difficult)

once i finished sewing i used fabric glue to attach the letters. then i tacked and glue the circles to the ribbon. after i used the left over material and and cute into 1.5 by 6 inch strips and tied them in between the letters.

the new bundle of joy got her name from one of my favorite movies My Girl

(it is pronounced VAY-DA)

l.o.v.e.j.o.b

i started my new job at the beginning of august...and I LOVE IT! everyday i fall more and more in love with it! i have learned soooo much and really found what i think i want to do the rest of my life.....now you might be thinking what is this incredible job? why is she sooo happy and loving it?!?!?!?!

drum roll please....i am a behavior interventionist! (next question: what the heck does that mean?!?)

i work for a company called SAGE BEHAVIOR SERVICES http://www.sagebehaviorservices.com/ i assist children who have developmental disabilities by helping to build skills and minimize challenging behaviors in all settings including the home, school, and community. we implement research-based ABA interventions and protocols as defined in an individualized, positive behavior intervention plan. most of the children i am working with have some form of autism. i get to go into their homes and work with kids by playing games and helping with their build their skills. i have worked with a handful of children and each one already has a special place in my heart. though i am still a "trainee" i do get to work with the children and build rapport (building a relationship, a fancy word).

there is one little girl who has Rett's http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/rett/detail_rett.htm and reminds me of Boo from Monster's Inc. the cutest little girl. I have gotten to work with her a few times and love every second of it. during one session we were helping her with walking with her walker (Rett's makes it hard for children to walk). while she was walking we use bubbles to get her motivated to walk forward. when i was blowing the bubbles she was trying to blow but she kept blowing up until i showed her how to blow forward like blowing bubble gum. When she tried she almost got it but forgot to the let the air out...she pretty much looked like she was holding her breath (it was really really cute!) also today she leaned against me and by default i gave her a lil kiss on the head. she is just sooo adorable!

another little girl (about 8yr) who has autism is a very hard worker and has a very loving caring family. her father always is helping and working alongside us during the sessions. during this past week i was able to work one on one with her. she sometimes makes these really loud noises (it is her stim). when we were working together she made a loud noise and i imitated her (you know me and weird voices). she looked at me and looked like she was thinking "that's my noise you, can't make the same one as me!" haha throughout the rest of the session she really was examining me and looked like she was thinking "this new girl is kindof cool..." though most of the kids i have worked with can't speak, you know that there is alot going on inside of their head.

i already have sooo many more stories about the kids so please when you see me next ask me about it! also if you don't know much about autism, please research it (1 in 110 children will have some form of autism) and also different ways we are working with children with autism such as with ABA.

blessed are those

I. Blessed are those who stop and listen to my chatter. You may not understand me; but I love when people talk to me, for I long for companionship, too.

II. Blessed are those who take my hand and walk with me when the path is rough, for I easily stumble and grow weary. But thank you, too, for letting me walk alone when the path is smooth, for I must learn independence.

III. Blessed are those who take the time to tell me about special happenings, for unless you make special effort to inform me, I remain ignorant.

IV. Blessed are those who wait for me. I may be slow, but I appreciate your patience.

V. Blessed are those who are not ashamed to be seen in public with me, for I did not choose to be born thus. It could have been you as well.

VI. Blessed are those who do not pity me, for I don't want pity. All I want is understanding and respect for what I have learned as well.

VII. Blessed are those who notice my accomplishments, small as they may seem to you. I must work long and hard to learn many of the things you take for granted.

VIII. Blessed are those who include me in their games, even though I may not understand the rules, I still like to be included in your activities.

IX. Blessed are those who think of me as a person who loves, and hurts, and feels joy and pain just like you do, for in that respect I am normal.

Author Unknown

lupus free cookies!

i have a co-worker at work who has lupus and since i love baking i decided to make her cookies that are "lupus free." Though the first batch were kindof gooey (but oooo sooo good!) my sis added some more flour and they came out perfect!

1 1/2 cups white flour or whole wheat pastry flour (i used wheat flour from Henry's farmers market)
1 heaping TB arrowroot or cornstarch (i used arrowroot also from Henry's)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup flaked coconut (i used shredded coconut instead)
approx 1/4-1/3 cup semisweet choc chips
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup maple syrup (i used honey instead)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp orange extract (this makes the cookies very citrus tasting, i probably would leave out next time)

1. Mix dry ingredients together.
2. Stir wet ingredients together well and add to the dry. (Optional: 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts)
3. Form balls of dough ~2" in diameter, place on parchment lined sheets and flatten.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-16 minutes until lightly browned.
This recipe can be doubled.

"a balanced diet is a cookie in each hand"

a cup of berries, a squirt of lemon and growing up

"growing up is never easy. you hold on to things that were. you wonder what's to come. but that night, i think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. other days. new days. days to come. the thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. we just had to forgive ourselves...for growing up."

the Wonder Years

a few weeks back i received a very exciting phone call from susan. she wanted to let me know that there was a position opening at ADP www.adp.com (the company she has worked with for years). needing something to take up my free time and also wanting to make a little mooo-lah, this opportunity couldn't have come at a better time! so here i am after almost completing 2 x 40+ hour weeks: exhausted, busy and loving life :)

at ADP i am working in the accounting office as somewhat of an administrative assistant. filing, data processing, billing, filling the coffee machine and so on and so on... it is somewhere i never thought i would be, but i am really enjoying it and also learning a lot about the "real world" ;) and life after college.

not having much free time during the day (working from 7am-4:30pm) i have made an effort to not come home everyday after work and "veg" on the couch. i try to work out after work everyday (still training for my november half marathon) i have also fit in some baking and creating time. tonight lauren and i made this yummy lemon cake for our wonderful g-pa's birthday.

we decided to make what we call a "martha stewart cake." the cake part was lemon and the frosting was a buttercream-lemon frosting. we layered our cake with strawberries and gpa's favorite, blueberries. after a little splitting of the cake (yikes!) we tried to fix it by frosting the entire cake. it seemed to work and we added blackberries around the base and some lemon slices on the top. not sure how it taste yet...we will find out tomorrow! happy 82nd birthday G-PA!

"spread love everywhere you go. let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." momma teresa

lilia's bridal weekend

(photo by claire)

may 28th-29th

lilia is becoming a mrs. in a few weeks! so to celebrate we (diana, kapua, molly & me) had a fun filled weekend celebrating lilia's singleness.

friday

first stop was godmother's cafe in malibu:

(lilia and her grilled cheese w/ tomato soup; turkey,avocado sandwich w/ tomato soup; tortilla soup w/ a yummy sandwich)

we later had a nice relaxing day at the getty villa:

for the evening we stopped by ralph's and picked up some cheese, salami and wheat thins to bring with us to SIP (malibu wine tasting room). we really enjoyed sitting around, sipping our wine, eating our snacks around the outside fire:

saturday

for the bachelorette party we decided to go to hollywood.

we ate at cafe WAS:

(

(gnocchi; frog legs; burger with a quail egg & fries;

crab, tomato & avocado; beet salad)

at midnight we saw the BEST WORST MOVIE ever "THE ROOM" and was able to take a picture with the lead actor/producer/director/creepiest man that has ever touched me (just look at my face!):

it was quite fun seeing this movie! it was very packed (5 theaters) where we yelled at the movie ("water" "hello denny") and threw spoons at the screen. if you want to have an active, fun experience at the movies and don't mind seeing the worst acting/movie ever i suggest seeing this movie!

some extras from the weekend:

lilia and all her presents:

the card i made for lilia out of her wedding invitation:

i like to call these hanky panky cupcakes (too bad they melted the next day :(