Here we go...the last installment of Shay answers. I hope I was able to answer all of your questions in some form or fashion. I will definitely be doing this again...it was obviously a hit based on the feedback I've received. I'm pretty sure I was asked everything but my social security number and bra size!
1. What is my favorite place to visit inside the US? Outside of the US?
I love, love, love Boston. Love it. And not just because my Red Sox are there...I love it for the food, the history, the shopping, the weather and of course, the baseball. Outside of the US, my favorite place to visit is London. London makes my heart happy. I just love London.
2. What was my biggest misconception before the Bachelorette/Bachelor?
That it wasn't 100% real. I assumed there were re-takes, staging, lines, a little script....but I was wrong. The producers go out of their way to make the show real. When I've filmed, there have been no re-takes, no cues, no lines...just me, a microphone, several cameras and a conversation. It really is real.
3. What are my tips for balancing my work/family life and tips for getting up so early?
Balance is hard if you're not organized. I am very, very organized. I have lists, I have specific tasks and I don't get away from them. If while working on something, I find something else to do....I write it down and add it to the bottom of my list. I try really hard not to get side tracked. How do I get up so early? Coffee.
4. Favorite drink at Starbucks?
Tall Pumpkin Spice latte, non-fat, no whip with one Sweet and Low.
5. What has been my favorite vacation with my kiddos?
The big boat! That's what we call the cruise we took with them last year. My kids looooooooved it and talk about it all the time (even more than Disney World). Cruising with kids is a lot of fun!!
6. What's my favorite piece of jewelry I own?
Hmmm...I wear a lot of costume jewelry that I love but that's probably not the answer you're looking for. I don't wear my original engagement ring (gasp!), but I do love it and what it represents, so it's my favorite. I keep it in a safe place and will cherish it forever, but I've up-graded so to speak in the last decade, so I don't wear it any more. That might sound really strange to some of you but I come from a long line of women who "up grade" their engagement/wedding rings, so it's perfectly normal in our family.
7. What is my skin care routine?
I get this question a lot! (Which is a good thing because I work on my skin like none other!) My family is a big believer in visiting the dermatologist. All 15 of us visit one on a regular basis. First and foremost, we do it to keep us safe from skin cancer. Unfortunately, that is something we really have to worry about in our family, so we take that seriously. I also understand that it's a lot easier to be preventative then correct damage. That being said, I avoid the sun (sunless tanner is my friend), I use SPF every.single.day and wear sunglasses. This, I think, helps with wrinkles. I would rather prevent them than treat them. I love my Clarisonic Facial Cleaner, I use Cetaphil to wash my face and I've recently discovered Journee Skincare (which is my go-to for serums and creams). I have also been using Retin-A on my face since I was 14. And finally, when I turned 30, I decided to start getting chemical peels at my dermatologist's office every month. I think they make a HUGE difference! Yes, they're kind of pricey but this is the only face I'm ever going to have, so I better take care of it!
8. How do you stay so slim eating rich and heavy food?
I get this question a lot and I have to say, it surprises me. Go check out Mix and Match Mama...I'm not eating rich and fatty food. I don't fry things, I don't use shortening and rarely use vegetable oil (I almost exclusively use olive oil), I only use whole wheat pastas and breads, I eat a ton of veggies in my food (almost every recipe has spinach or another veggie tucked inside), I eat lean proteins (96% lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey, and rarely will you see me add butter, cream or half and half to anything. My food is pretty balanced. Yes, there is cheese...but I'm not sitting around drinking milk, so I need to get my calcium from somewhere! I also eat one portion (not three!). As for my desserts, desserts are for fun occasions...you'll notice, I label my entrees Dinner Tonight...I don't label my desserts Desserts Tonight. You should probably not be eating whoopie pies every single night :). I just really believe that all things are good in moderation. I indulge occasionally but I don't over do it. I like to feel good when I'm done eating...not like a stuffed pig. :)
9. How do I workout? With my kids or without?
I'm a big believer in just moving. I don't sit around much. At all. I'm pretty much on the go...even if that's just running around my house with the vacuum cleaner. I love playing outdoors with my kids, almost every night after dinner, the 4 of us load up for a family walk, and we hit the park about 4 times a week. We move. When Kensington was 6 weeks old, I joined Baby Bootcamp (they're all over the country) and loved it. Not only did I get a good workout in, but I met some of my very favorite friends. I continued this stroller based workout for 3 years. Last year, I decided it was time to let my kids out of their stroller, so I joined a gym with an awesome kids' area. My kiddos love going every morning. I get a good workout in and they get to play, play, play. We go 3 to 4 times a week. I work out one hour each time.
10. Do I know everything about Sean's season?
Yes. I mean... I wasn't there the entire 11 weeks, so of course there are little details I don't know, but for the most part, yes. The producers want Sean to tell us everything. They encourage it. He needs people to discuss this with...and so, we know. I know which girls go home when...what dramatic things happen on each episode...how it all ends. How do I keep it a secret? I signed a big fat contract with the production company where they said they would sue me for $5 million if I talked. That keeps me quiet.
11. How do I manage to get dressed every day?
For starters, I'm typing this now from my gym clothes, hair up and no makeup. I don't get dressed every day. In fact, go back and look at the blog...you'll see many days where Shay isn't dressed (usually I'm hiding behind my aviators, so you can't see the lack of makeup!). However, I do love getting dressed. I'm obsessed with accessorizing, nail polish, shoes, makeup...I love to get dressed, so I try and get dressed when I leave the house. If I'm just going to the gym and home, I don't bother but if I'm dropping off my kids at school or grocery shopping, I try to get myself together. I just feel better when I've made an effort with myself. Again..this isn't every day. Right this very second is the perfect example!
12. Did my blogs grow due to the Bachelorette?
Yes. A lot. I'm happy to have my new "friends" and I hope they stay a long time.
13. Is my husband the spiritual leader of our house? Do we pray together?
I feel very blessed to say that yes, Andrew is a great spiritual leader in our house. He strives to know the Lord more personally, he reads his Bible, he prays for our family...he is a true blessing to Kensington, Smith and me. Do we pray together? This answer might surprise some of you...but the answer is (with the exception of meals) usually we don't. We both wake up at 4:30 AM, grab our coffees (his black, mine with lots of Truvia and creamer) and he hits the family room while I go back to my office. We both start our day in prayer, read scripture from the Bible and any other devotional book (right now, we're both reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) and then he goes to the gym while I begin my work. We're both studying God's word...just not together. We just kind of like the peace and solitude of doing it by ourselves. However, sometimes, one of us just needs a little extra prayer about something in particular and we do pray together...but for the most part, we enjoy the quiet. After all, it is 4:30 AM! If your husband is not the leader in your house, I suggest praying for him to step up (don't nag, just pray!) and for you to be the leader for your kids. Take them to church, share the Bible with them, and pray your husband begins to desire to participate.
14. Where do I love to shop?
Everywhere! My husband would say I like to shop everywhere from the gas station to the airport...he's always telling me I don't have to buy something. I do, honey. I almost always do. My favorite stores for clothes are simple, Nordstrom, JCrew, Gap and Old Navy. I buy stuff at other places too on occasion (Loft, American Eagle, Target) but for the most part, the first 4 are my go-tos for clothes. I buy a lot of my clothes online because there is almost always a deal to be found online...and once you master your sizes at the above retailers, you can pretty much guarantee anything in that size will work. I'm funny about a lot of things...my house and my wardrobe are made up of expensive things and cheap things. If you came to my house, you might find an expensive pillow sitting on top of a cheap, flea market chair...it's an eclectic mix. When I shop, I do spend a lot on denim. To me, denim is particular. A good quality denim lasts forever, fits to perfection and washes well. I can wear expensive jeans and a $3 Target top on any given day. I hardly spend anything on my tops...they go out of style so quickly, that I prefer to spend less on them. Things like boots, pumps, coats and denim, I spend extra on...I keep them the longest.
15. How did I support Sean after Emily broke up with him on the Bachelorette?
Lots of prayer and time together. He came home and loved on my kiddos, we hung out quite a bit and I was just there for him.
16. Does Andrew get along with my family?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Andrew doesn't have a big extended family (grandparents, lots of cousins, etc.), so he really loves the time he gets to spend with my extended family. Andrew does have wonderful parents, a brother and sister-in-law we adore, a niece, nephew and a fabulous aunt V and uncle D. He is really blessed on both sides.
17. Would Andrew ever consider doing a guest post?
I guess. However, what would he blog about? Out of the hundreds of questions, I was surprised how many were focused on Andrew. Apparently, you people don't feel like you know him well enough. I had dozens asking for more info on him and wanting him to blog. Please, please, please comment and tell me what you want to know from Andrew. If I get a good idea, I'll totally let him blog (but I will check his entry for grammar thoroughly before publishing!).
18. How do I do my hair? Do I highlight it?
I've been highlighting my hair since I was 12. Yes. Twelve. I guess my hair color is the same shade as Kensington's. I'm not brunette, I'm not blond...I'm somewhere in the middle. I wash my hair at night (99% of the time) and let it air dry (and I only wash it every other night). I use a little Moroccan Oil or Oijon Oil the next morning and go. The waves are natural. If my hair is particularly unruly, I'll throw in some hot rollers or use a curling iron to tame it. I really just let it do its own thing. I straightened it about 3 months ago for girls night and my friends told me approximately 348 times that they didn't like it (I love my honest friends!), so that was that. It is so much easier to fix your hair when you embrace it in its natural state. That's my hair philosophy.
19. What are my favorite Circle E Candle Scents?
Circle E Candle is my favorite candle brand (but I don't only use them...I swear by others as well). My favorite scents are Spice Cake, Country Morning and Lemon Poppyseed Cake. They are magnificent!
20. How tall am I? How tall is Andrew? Are my kids tall?
I am 5'3"...Andrew is 6'5". After 10 years, I forget how tall Andrew is...but, he's really tall. Really tall. I guess I'm just used to standing on my tip-toes to kiss a cute guy :). Kensington is in the 85th percentile for height, so yes, she's pretty tall. Smith is in the 65th percentile. I am actually short for my family...my mom is 5'5", my brother is 6'3", both of my grandmothers are tall...my uncle is tall...we are kind of tall people. Andrew's side of the family is reaaaaaaaaly tall. His brother, dad and mom are all really tall. My cute sister-in-law G is tall too. I totally stand out as the shorty on that side!
21. How close do I live to my parents and brother?
I live about 45 minutes from my parents and about 20 minutes from my brother. Sean lives in Dallas and my parents and I live in two different suburbs. We see each other at least once a week...if not more. My kiddos were at Sean's apartment just last week helping him decorate his Christmas tree and watching Elf. Nothing says helpful like a 3 and 4 year old...
22. Where did Andrew and I go on our honeymoon?
Maui
23. How do I look so tan?
I don't know who you are that asked this question, but thank you! I don't think I look tan right this second...but, when I do look tan, it almost always comes as a result of sunless tanner. Good old Jergens does the trick for me.
24. When do I paint my nails?
I like to always have my nails painted, so I usually do it at night when I'm watching TV. Andrew hates this because I am totally useless for about 20 minutes while they dry. I'm always asking him to get me a drink, change the channel, cover me up with a blanket, let the dog out....I can't do any of it, my nails are still wet :).
25. How do my kids keep such a big secret?
They really have an understanding that what we're doing as a family is special. They know that Uncle Seanie is special, they know that they've been able to meet some really neat people because of Uncle Seanie, they know that it's not normal to be in front of a camera or have a microphone in your face...they just kind of know this is a big deal. That being said, we have given them permission to tell people who ask about Uncle Sean, that it's none of their business. Because people who ask preschoolers confidential questions, should get a little sass in return. :)
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful questions. Everyone was so nice and sweet about their questions. I feel so honored that so many of you wanted to know a little more about me.
Here's the bottom line about me...I love the Lord, I'm a total mess and would be nothing without His grace. I have an amazing family, but we are far, far from perfect. I love my husband and my kiddos, but there are days when mama just wants them all to go away and give me some peace and quiet. I have an extraordinary younger brother, but he is definitely far from perfect. He's a normal guy and his family doesn't care that he's on TV...he still has to be his same old self regardless of him being a celebrity :).
Thank you for being my friends. I love you all! XOXO
9. How do I workout? With my kids or without?
I'm a big believer in just moving. I don't sit around much. At all. I'm pretty much on the go...even if that's just running around my house with the vacuum cleaner. I love playing outdoors with my kids, almost every night after dinner, the 4 of us load up for a family walk, and we hit the park about 4 times a week. We move. When Kensington was 6 weeks old, I joined Baby Bootcamp (they're all over the country) and loved it. Not only did I get a good workout in, but I met some of my very favorite friends. I continued this stroller based workout for 3 years. Last year, I decided it was time to let my kids out of their stroller, so I joined a gym with an awesome kids' area. My kiddos love going every morning. I get a good workout in and they get to play, play, play. We go 3 to 4 times a week. I work out one hour each time.
10. Do I know everything about Sean's season?
Yes. I mean... I wasn't there the entire 11 weeks, so of course there are little details I don't know, but for the most part, yes. The producers want Sean to tell us everything. They encourage it. He needs people to discuss this with...and so, we know. I know which girls go home when...what dramatic things happen on each episode...how it all ends. How do I keep it a secret? I signed a big fat contract with the production company where they said they would sue me for $5 million if I talked. That keeps me quiet.
11. How do I manage to get dressed every day?
For starters, I'm typing this now from my gym clothes, hair up and no makeup. I don't get dressed every day. In fact, go back and look at the blog...you'll see many days where Shay isn't dressed (usually I'm hiding behind my aviators, so you can't see the lack of makeup!). However, I do love getting dressed. I'm obsessed with accessorizing, nail polish, shoes, makeup...I love to get dressed, so I try and get dressed when I leave the house. If I'm just going to the gym and home, I don't bother but if I'm dropping off my kids at school or grocery shopping, I try to get myself together. I just feel better when I've made an effort with myself. Again..this isn't every day. Right this very second is the perfect example!
12. Did my blogs grow due to the Bachelorette?
Yes. A lot. I'm happy to have my new "friends" and I hope they stay a long time.
13. Is my husband the spiritual leader of our house? Do we pray together?
I feel very blessed to say that yes, Andrew is a great spiritual leader in our house. He strives to know the Lord more personally, he reads his Bible, he prays for our family...he is a true blessing to Kensington, Smith and me. Do we pray together? This answer might surprise some of you...but the answer is (with the exception of meals) usually we don't. We both wake up at 4:30 AM, grab our coffees (his black, mine with lots of Truvia and creamer) and he hits the family room while I go back to my office. We both start our day in prayer, read scripture from the Bible and any other devotional book (right now, we're both reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young) and then he goes to the gym while I begin my work. We're both studying God's word...just not together. We just kind of like the peace and solitude of doing it by ourselves. However, sometimes, one of us just needs a little extra prayer about something in particular and we do pray together...but for the most part, we enjoy the quiet. After all, it is 4:30 AM! If your husband is not the leader in your house, I suggest praying for him to step up (don't nag, just pray!) and for you to be the leader for your kids. Take them to church, share the Bible with them, and pray your husband begins to desire to participate.
14. Where do I love to shop?
Everywhere! My husband would say I like to shop everywhere from the gas station to the airport...he's always telling me I don't have to buy something. I do, honey. I almost always do. My favorite stores for clothes are simple, Nordstrom, JCrew, Gap and Old Navy. I buy stuff at other places too on occasion (Loft, American Eagle, Target) but for the most part, the first 4 are my go-tos for clothes. I buy a lot of my clothes online because there is almost always a deal to be found online...and once you master your sizes at the above retailers, you can pretty much guarantee anything in that size will work. I'm funny about a lot of things...my house and my wardrobe are made up of expensive things and cheap things. If you came to my house, you might find an expensive pillow sitting on top of a cheap, flea market chair...it's an eclectic mix. When I shop, I do spend a lot on denim. To me, denim is particular. A good quality denim lasts forever, fits to perfection and washes well. I can wear expensive jeans and a $3 Target top on any given day. I hardly spend anything on my tops...they go out of style so quickly, that I prefer to spend less on them. Things like boots, pumps, coats and denim, I spend extra on...I keep them the longest.
15. How did I support Sean after Emily broke up with him on the Bachelorette?
Lots of prayer and time together. He came home and loved on my kiddos, we hung out quite a bit and I was just there for him.
16. Does Andrew get along with my family?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Andrew doesn't have a big extended family (grandparents, lots of cousins, etc.), so he really loves the time he gets to spend with my extended family. Andrew does have wonderful parents, a brother and sister-in-law we adore, a niece, nephew and a fabulous aunt V and uncle D. He is really blessed on both sides.
17. Would Andrew ever consider doing a guest post?
I guess. However, what would he blog about? Out of the hundreds of questions, I was surprised how many were focused on Andrew. Apparently, you people don't feel like you know him well enough. I had dozens asking for more info on him and wanting him to blog. Please, please, please comment and tell me what you want to know from Andrew. If I get a good idea, I'll totally let him blog (but I will check his entry for grammar thoroughly before publishing!).
18. How do I do my hair? Do I highlight it?
I've been highlighting my hair since I was 12. Yes. Twelve. I guess my hair color is the same shade as Kensington's. I'm not brunette, I'm not blond...I'm somewhere in the middle. I wash my hair at night (99% of the time) and let it air dry (and I only wash it every other night). I use a little Moroccan Oil or Oijon Oil the next morning and go. The waves are natural. If my hair is particularly unruly, I'll throw in some hot rollers or use a curling iron to tame it. I really just let it do its own thing. I straightened it about 3 months ago for girls night and my friends told me approximately 348 times that they didn't like it (I love my honest friends!), so that was that. It is so much easier to fix your hair when you embrace it in its natural state. That's my hair philosophy.
19. What are my favorite Circle E Candle Scents?
Circle E Candle is my favorite candle brand (but I don't only use them...I swear by others as well). My favorite scents are Spice Cake, Country Morning and Lemon Poppyseed Cake. They are magnificent!
20. How tall am I? How tall is Andrew? Are my kids tall?
I am 5'3"...Andrew is 6'5". After 10 years, I forget how tall Andrew is...but, he's really tall. Really tall. I guess I'm just used to standing on my tip-toes to kiss a cute guy :). Kensington is in the 85th percentile for height, so yes, she's pretty tall. Smith is in the 65th percentile. I am actually short for my family...my mom is 5'5", my brother is 6'3", both of my grandmothers are tall...my uncle is tall...we are kind of tall people. Andrew's side of the family is reaaaaaaaaly tall. His brother, dad and mom are all really tall. My cute sister-in-law G is tall too. I totally stand out as the shorty on that side!
21. How close do I live to my parents and brother?
I live about 45 minutes from my parents and about 20 minutes from my brother. Sean lives in Dallas and my parents and I live in two different suburbs. We see each other at least once a week...if not more. My kiddos were at Sean's apartment just last week helping him decorate his Christmas tree and watching Elf. Nothing says helpful like a 3 and 4 year old...
22. Where did Andrew and I go on our honeymoon?
Maui
23. How do I look so tan?
I don't know who you are that asked this question, but thank you! I don't think I look tan right this second...but, when I do look tan, it almost always comes as a result of sunless tanner. Good old Jergens does the trick for me.
24. When do I paint my nails?
I like to always have my nails painted, so I usually do it at night when I'm watching TV. Andrew hates this because I am totally useless for about 20 minutes while they dry. I'm always asking him to get me a drink, change the channel, cover me up with a blanket, let the dog out....I can't do any of it, my nails are still wet :).
25. How do my kids keep such a big secret?
They really have an understanding that what we're doing as a family is special. They know that Uncle Seanie is special, they know that they've been able to meet some really neat people because of Uncle Seanie, they know that it's not normal to be in front of a camera or have a microphone in your face...they just kind of know this is a big deal. That being said, we have given them permission to tell people who ask about Uncle Sean, that it's none of their business. Because people who ask preschoolers confidential questions, should get a little sass in return. :)
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful questions. Everyone was so nice and sweet about their questions. I feel so honored that so many of you wanted to know a little more about me.
Here's the bottom line about me...I love the Lord, I'm a total mess and would be nothing without His grace. I have an amazing family, but we are far, far from perfect. I love my husband and my kiddos, but there are days when mama just wants them all to go away and give me some peace and quiet. I have an extraordinary younger brother, but he is definitely far from perfect. He's a normal guy and his family doesn't care that he's on TV...he still has to be his same old self regardless of him being a celebrity :).
Thank you for being my friends. I love you all! XOXO
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