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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Shay ·

Shay Answers…Part 1


Well, I certainly opened Pandora’s Box by asking you guys if you had any questions for me!  You have a ton of questions!  HUNDREDS!  I love it though and will do my best to answer them all.  This is just Part 1…if you don’t see your question, it is most likely coming up in Parts 2 or 3 next week.  I’ve consolidated some of the questions because they were asked multiple times.  Here we go…

 

1. Am I a stay at home mom?
Well…I’m supposed to be one.  I do stay at home with my kids but I run 3 businesses at the same time.  I help my husband with his insurance agency every morning, I have my food blog and I own a travel agency.  I’m blessed to do it all out of my house, so that I can spend time with my kids…but I am working.
 
2.  What is my favorite dessert?
Wedding/birthday cake.  A white cake with white frosting.  Watch out if I’m at a wedding…I’ll eat 4 pieces.
 
3. Do we want more children?
We are finished having biological kiddos.  I had a hard, hard time getting pregnant and then had two really rough pregnancies.  I shall never birth another baby again.  Ever.  Never.  That being said, we have a heart for adoption and don’t know where that will lead.  Perhaps we’ll adopt or perhaps we’ll just work with orphans in another capacity.  So, the answer is…I don’t know.
 
4. Where do I see myself in 5 years?  Ten years?
Hopefully, I’m doing the exact same thing!  I love being a hands-on mom, I love working from home, I love my girlfriend time…I pray that I’m able to be doing this exact same thing.  I hope you guys are still around reading about it too!
 
5. Tell me more about Andrew.
Andrew is a former professional football player.  He has a football player mentality 24/7.  He talks loud (like a coach would), he works extremely hard but is home every night by 5:30, he is no nonsense but super fun at the same time.  He expects everyone to do their best and be the best they can be (like a coach would)…he never, ever settles for less than 100%.  Andrew is a force to be reckoned with…and I’m the 5’3″ gal that reckons with him all.the.time.  More than anything, Andrew loooooooves his family.  He is the best, most sensitive, caring father to his kiddos.  He adores his kids and his wife and it shows.  I love him so much (but argue with him when I need to!).
 
6. What is the dynamic of your relationship?
We are both strong personalities.  We both wake up at 4:30 AM and get going with our day.  We both work hard, we both have lofty goals, we both think we’re right and we both love to win an argument.  It’s never dull in our marriage.  We have a lot of passion…a little fiesty-ness makes our marriage lots of fun.  We are a lot alike.  (Except he’s more hard-headed then me…he’ll have to get his own blog to argue with that!).
 
7. How long have I known Jesus?
Great question!   I decided to have a personal relationship with Christ when I was 7.  As I’ve gotten older, I have tried to daily read my Bible, pray, attend church, fellowship with other believers, and talk to others about Jesus.  Life is not easy but knowing that God loves me, sent his son to die on the cross for my sins and walks with me every day, makes this life worth living.
 
8. How did I get my name?
My mom  is Sherry, my dad is Jay…and together, that makes Shay.  Super corny but I like my name, so I don’t care.
 
9.  How/when/where do I blog?
I blog from my home office on a regular old computer.  I don’t use my i-Pad, just my computer.  When you see stuff publish on this blog, it’s real-time.  I blog it and publish it.  On Mix and Match Mama, I blog a month in advance and then blog it when appropriate.  At my house, we’re eating Halloween food for Labor Day, Christmas food on Thanksgiving and Valentine’s food on Christmas.  I love being a month in advance but it is kind of crazy to eat pumpkin pie in August.  I blog every morning before my kiddos get up and sometimes during their naps.  I don’t blog at night because that’s mine and the hubby’s time together.
 
10. What does your typical day look like?
MWF: wake up at 4:30 and work until 7:00, gym, park or some outdoor activity with my kids, they nap during the afternoon and I work a little more or do household stuff, dinner at 5:30, kids in bed at 8:00, watch TV and hang with the hubby, go to sleep at 10:15 after I watch a Frasier.  I just love Frasier.
T/Th: wake up at 4:30 and work until 7:00, kids go to school, run a ton of errands, doctor appointments, etc, pick kids up (or my mom does while I’m out and about on Tuesdays), K has gymnastics and/or soccer, dinner at 5:30….and the same (with the occasional girls night or dinner with friends thrown in there).
S: hang out with my family!  All day!
Sun: church, home to hang out in pjs.
 
11. Where do Kensington’s bows come from?
My cousin Casey owns a bow company.  I get loads of awesome bows!
 
12. Do I decorate my house all the time?
My mom is an interior designer, so I’ve been taught that your house is never “finished”…it’s always a work in progress.  I’m always doing something…I have a Country French aesthetic, love lots of color, pillows, tons of accessories and art.
 
13. What do my meals look like?
I blog every dinner we eat.  Check out Mix and Match Mama to see exactly what I’m eating!
 
14. What country should you visit in Europe?
Tough question…but if you’ve never been, I’ll say England.  Lots of culture, museums, history, food, shopping…it’s fabulous!  That being said, I have the most extensive knowledge of Italy and France and I love Germany too….you really can’t go wrong.  I’ve been to dozens of European countries…you can’t go wrong.  Contact Mix and Match Travel Agency about that :).
 
15. How do I have this crazy bond with my family?
Who the heck knows?!  We just honestly love each other!  Seriously…my grandparents made a huge effort to be involved in their grandkids lives…my parents really love their siblings and make a big effort to stay connected to them…my cousins and I are like siblings…we don’t waste a lot of time of arguing…there really is no point.  We love each other for who we are, we pray for each other, we care about each other, we’re all really funny and just make being together fun.  As for my original family of 4 (mom, dad, Sean and me)…my parents just really spent time with us, made us travel together just us 4, encouraged us to have a relationship and that’s made a huge impact on how we view each other now.
 
16. Do I budget for grocery shopping?
I like real food at the grocery store (produce, meats, cheeses, fresh bread, dairy)…and that stuff is more expensive.  So, I buy less junk (boxed stuff) and more real food.  I don’t buy cookies, chips, soda and stuff like that…when you eliminate that stuff, you have more room for the other.  However, I do love the baking aisle…Mix and Match Mama makes some awesome stuff off that aisle!
 
17. How do I travel internationally with my kids?
1. Practice. 2. Practice. 3. Practice.  My kiddos have been to 13 countries on 3 continents.  They started when they were less than 6 months old and haven’t stopped.  We loved traveling before we had kids and weren’t going to let kids stop us.  We just load them up and move forward.  The airplane part is the hardest part but by now, my kids are pros at that.  It just takes practice and a great deal of candy.  If you do that, you’ll be golden.
 
18. What hair products do I take when I  travel?
My hair is very thick and wavy.  I only blow dry it about 10 times a year.  Yes.  A year.  I just let it air dry.  For the most part, I let it do its own thing but occasionally, I use a curling iron or hot rollers.  I learned in my early 20s to work with what you have and not try and make your hair be something it’s not.  I’m not a straight hair girl…I shouldn’t try to be one.

19. Was I surprised when Sean’s last long-term relationship ended?

Yes.  I don’t think I should comment much more.  She was like a sister to me, and I’m so happy she’s happy now. 

20. Why take my kids to extravagant places?

Because I want to go there and by law, I can’t leave them unattended at home!  Plus, I grew up traveling the world and even though they’re so young, they are learning and experiencing things that will mold them into cultured adults.  Plus, they make everything more fun!

21. Where did I find Kensington’s outfit on the November 27th post?

Old Navy!

22. What’s my favorite TV show?

The Bachelor 🙂

Ok…and I love anything Real Housewives, Parenthood, Jersey Shore (don’t judge!), Project Runway…that kind of stuff.

23. Your kids seem so well behaved…how do you discipline?

Well…first, you’re just seeing them in photos.  In person, they’re very much normal 3 and 4 year olds!  We do everything around here…we spank, we do time-outs, we take toys away, we take away privileges (like TV or certain toys). Each kid is different and reacts differently to each consequence.  We tell them over and over that we love them and explain why they’re receiving the consequence they receive.  They’re great kids…but they totally misbehave daily!

24. How do I get my kids to sleep so well?

Great question!  My kids are FABULOUS sleepers!  They sleep 12 hours at night and take loooong naps.  How?  I trained them.  My friend Whitney once told me that we teach our kids how to sleep, and that is so true!  If I knew they had their basic needs met (dry diapers, fed, burped, not sick), I ignored them when they cried during the times I thought they should be sleeping.  She told me this when K was 5 months old and still waking up once a night to eat (and she wasn’t really eating…she was just programmed to wake up)…so I started ignoring her cries and after 2 nights, she was sleeping through the night.  Smith, was an EASY baby from the start.  EASY.  (However, he’s totally two now, so it’s a different story!).  He has always enjoyed sleeping and slept through the night at 7 weeks.  He has always loved napping and never, ever fights going down.  I know…I’m soooooo lucky in this department.  Wait until we get to a potty training question…I wasn’t so lucky in that department!

25. What is my entire family’s (including parent’s and brother’s) diet?

This answer will crack you up.  Let’s start with me: I’m a big believer in all things in moderation.  I try and eat a lot of fresh veggies, proteins and whole grains but I have a sweet tooth and indulge daily.  I don’t restrict myself because that will just make me cranky.

My dad: eats your basic “dad” food…coffee and cereal in the morning, sandwich or something for lunch and whatever my mom makes for dinner.  He’s pretty low maintenance.

My mom: eats junk food and looks fabulous.  Feel free to hate her.  I do.  😉

Sean and Andrew: both have the cleanest, most boring, healthful diets known to man kind.  They each eat 2 dozen egg whites a day, 4 chicken breasts, salmon, veggies and water.  Their diet makes me want to gag.  Andrew eats whatever I make for dinner because if he didn’t, I would kill him.  Other than that, he eats healthy, healthy, healthy.  Both guys do.  It’s disgusting. 🙂

Wow!  That was only the first 25 questions!  More to come next week.  Due to  the over-whelming number of questions, I’m no longer accepting any new questions.  Hopefully, you’ll get your answers in the next few posts. 

And don’t forget to check out my Favorite Things on the top right corner…this answers some of your questions too.

Have a great weekend!


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Comments

  1. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    This was SO MUCH FUN! I feel like I even learned some more about you!!!! Maybe I should host a "Ask me about Shay" segment on my blog. Now THAT would be fun. 😉

  2. Aubs says

    This seriously is a great idea! You're a brave girl for opening up the floor for any questions! =)

    a few standouts for me….

    1. LOVE the "how you got your name" answer! ha!

    2. LOVE that you watch Jersey Shore ~ no judgement here as long as you promise the same! 😉

    3. totally cracking up over the family diet!! ha!! 2 dz egg whites every day?!! I'm w/ you ~ GAG!!! And i totally want to dislike your mom for being able to eat junk & look fab but she's just tough to dislike!

    4. i'm pretty sure God meant for us to be friends….just sayin'! =)

    hope you have a great weekend!!

  3. Ali G says

    Love this post! So interesting to read all your answers! Looking forward to seeing the next few parts & my questions answered:)

  4. Audra says

    Thanks for sharing! We also sleep-trained our daughter (and will this new baby if/when the time comes) and she is SUCH a good sleeper, and such a happy baby! Sleep is so important for kiddos. I love your food blog and will be following along on that as well 🙂

  5. Kim Kauffman says

    Ok, the family diet totally cracked me up. I could never survive on what the guys eat – gross! Sounds like what my husband used to eat back in the day, before me and my love of cooking came around 🙂

    PS Love your scarf in the last post!

  6. Andrea says

    2 Dozen Egg whites A DAY??!? That is disgusting. I would much rather stick with Bread and Chocolate! 🙂

  7. Caitlin says

    Loved reading all your answers!!
    I did want to ask about Sean's last long term relationship– but thought to personal!
    I just love your blog!!!!

  8. mel @ the larson lingo says

    I LOVED reading your answers, so fun to get to know you better. I did this on my blog last year & it was fun answering the questions, but it does take time! I can't believe you get up at 4:30 every morning. That is impressive. I am such a night owl, so when I am going to bed at 2am California time, you are about to get up. Crazy! I might be emailing you more about the sleep training…my kids were all horrible sleepers as babies. The girls are fine now, but Luke at 3.5 months is still up every 2-3 hours……

  10. Danielle Carroll says

    I think it is so amazing your travel so extensively with your kids! I hope my husband and I can be like that when we have children. You're a pro!

  11. Home of a Magnolia says

    Thanks for allowing people to ask those questions. The diet reminds me of my sister's diet-she is a body builder/figure pro. I admire your ability to stay so far ahead with your blog.

  12. Anonymous says

    You are superwoman – surviving on 6 hours of sleep a night and raising toddlers!!
    That diet is seriously nasty!!

  14. Mix and Match Mama says

    I'm a Christian! I'm saved by Grace and a believer of the Bible. I attend a Baptist church.

  16. Mix and Match Mama says

    Yup! I spank them. It's effective at our house and it keeps them out of more trouble and potential danger. Andrew and I both had good experiences from being spanked in our own childhoods. It is quick and effective and always with an explanation and love. Every family is different but that's one of the ways we discipline our kids.

  19. Maureen W. (Maryland) says

    I really enjoyed reading this! Thank you for opening yourself up to your readers like this and through all of your other blog posts. PS – My favorite answers were the ones about Andrew. For some reason, it made me chuckle thinking of him talking loudly around the house like a coach. My husband plays/coaches hockey and I have to remind him that he's not ALWAYS coaching me to better myself. Sometimes I just want him get something down off a high shelf, no questions asked!

  20. Manders says

    LOVE how you've opened up like this. I've been reading your blog, since you were pregnant with Smith. I felt like I knew a lot about your adorable family. But this just makes it that much more personal. And makes reading your blog, a lot more enjoyable. 🙂

    On the topic of working out….do you do things with your kiddos? Or do you workout by yourself. I've personally been struggling with this. And was wondering how other moms do it.

  21. Anonymous says

    "Andrew eats whatever I make for dinner because if he didn't, I would kill him." Hahah I LOVE IT!

  22. Anonymous says

    I just found your blog and love it! I was wondering if Andrew ever eats dessert with you? My husband is constantly on "health kicks" and I hate eating dessert alone – it just isn't right!!

  23. Anonymous says

    Be careful with overloading your little ones with too much . Once they are in school, don't sign them up for a ton of activities . Let them come home, play with the butterflies and relax. Just suggesting some peace and down time for a very busy family. Balance. Take care !

  24. Angela Ellingson says

    I'm sure you have already thought of this before but if your parents would have stuck with the same naming process Sean would have been Jerry. haha 🙂

  25. Cherrisse says

    I didn't read your blog until last year but wow! Things have certainly changed in the Shull home! 🙂

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