The views expressed in this song don't necessarily reflect those of the listener

When I started my workout the other day, I came to a sudden conclusion. Music has the ability to evoke a number of different emotions: happiness, excitement, sadness, confidence, motivation and embarrassment. Wait, what? Music + shame = huh? Don't get all coy on me people. I know you know what I'm talking about. You get to the gym, you put your earbuds in, choose your playlist and off you go. Mid-way through your warmup a certain song comes on the speakers that makes you suddenly shoot jazz hands in the air because you're so excited. And in that split second of recognizing what song it is, those same excited jazz hands grab your device to put the homescreen on lock because oh-my-god-I-can't-let-the-person-next-to-me-with-the-super-good-periph-see-what-song-is-on-my-phone. Yes, I'm talking about that song. And I want to know what that song is for you. But before I subject you all to further shame and embarrassment, I'll put my own head on the chopping block and I'll tell you what mine is. Do you have a guess? Vogue by Madonna? Oooo good one. The Right Stuff by New Kids on the Block? Close, but no cigaro. Alright listen up because I'm gonna whisper: it's Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue.

MOTLEY CRUE??! Yes, Motley Crue. I don't know what it is. Wait, I lied. I do know what it is. It's the motorcycles in the beginning. And I don't even like motorcycles. But I like those motorcycles. They get me revved up (ha! Ba-dum dum ching!) In fact, I like them so much that I've almost shouted mid-workout "who's got a bike? Let's go for a ride. Forget your shoes." THAT'S how much I love that song. I know what you're thinking, "Shawnna, that song is about...." yeap I know. Insert red face here.

Shall we dial up the shame-o-meter and reveal what my honorable mention is? Anything on the


I still have this shirt

Metallica Black album. For your viewing pleasure I have also included a little #tbt photo to accompany this post. You're welcome. I can explain. When we were kids, my older brother and I shared a room. And when you have an older brother you're simply forced to listen to his music. And unwillingly gaze at his choice of posters on the wall (that's an entirely different post, well blog really). So before I started 7th grade, I was a huge fan of Metallica, 90s grunge: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, you name it, I listened to it. But let's discuss the photo for...a moment. My mother (god love her) LET me wear a Metallica skull and cross bones shirt to school picture day. Self expression at its finest right there. I had just started at a new school where nobody knew me. Do you want to know what they immediately thought? "That chick is hardcore. She's wearing a Metallica shirt to school picture day. I wish my parents were THAT cool to let me do that." In reality, I'm not hardcore, ha, not even close. But I wore that shirt with pride that day (along with 87 other accessories). Aren't photos just grrr-eat?

So tell me, now that I've bared my soul to you and shared my "embarrassing" music taste, what are your favorites? And don't be shy. I KNOW you have a couple of these songs to share. What are the songs that make YOU get all jazz handsy and embarrassed? I promise once you admit this, you'll feel lighter. Or maybe it's just because I took my sweatshirt off. Anyway, it's totally liberating.

But hey that's just me.   

New Journey, New Blog!

My family and friends don't even bat an eye anymore when I tell them I'm about to embark on a new "adventure." You have to understand, they've been down this road before...MANY times. I can't help it, it's in my nature. When I was little, my mom says I tried carrying a load of toys up the stairs by my two-year-old little self. One would fall and I would start all over, time and time again attempting the heavy load. And when she offered to help, I refused. I was bound and determined to do things my way. Eventually I got up the stairs, on my own, all toys accounted for.

When I was a bit older, my brother watched, wide-eyed, as I scaled to the top of a pine tree that was maybe 20-30 feet in the air. "Mom! Sis is up at the top of the pine tree and she won't come down." By that time, I'm sure my mother's patience was more than a little frazzled. When I got to the bottom and prepared myself for the inevitable lecture, I simply said, "Mom, do you know how many branches are in a pine tree? That was easy to climb and there was virtually no way that I could fall."

The point is, I'm no stranger to adventure. To date, my adventures have included: being a contestant on Family Funzone (a Des Moines-based game show that rivaled Double Dare), a bra-burning ceremony at one of my birthday parties, trying to get on the Price is Right, volunteering with the cast of Guiding Light to build a house, putting a slinky down one of the pyramids in Chichen Itza, Mexico, para sailing in Florida, (barely) watching the sun rise at the top of a volcano, riding a horse up the side of a mountain, zip lining in Cozumel, traveling to Europe (England, France, Switzerland, and Germany), appearing in one of Keith Urban's music videos, walking an entire marathon in San Diego...then there was the time I celebrated my birthday by trying something new for 31 days and blogged about it. Anyone remember that little ditty?

And that list is just the beginning. When I heard about the chance to be a member of the Live Healthy Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge Dream Team, I knew it was perfect for my next adventure. You may recall that I lost a significant amount of weight in 2012 (if you've seen the recent WHO-TV 13 segment, then this is old news). It was a great success of mine because I felt great about myself, physically I felt stronger, had more energy, etc. Then life happened and I started sliding back into my old habits. You may also recall, if you were a fan of my other blog, my favorite activity during my "31 days of trying something new," was when I posted inspirational sticky notes around town in various locations where women would see them. It did my heart so much good to know that a tiny, selfless note may have brightened another woman or girl's day. The opportunity to be on the Dream Team was a chance for me to combine both: inspiring other women and building their confidence while at the same time building my own. Fast forward to today, you all know that I was very fortunate to earn a spot on the team and the wellness challenge began today! Time for a healthy lifestyle change and time to launch a new blog!

So what will you get here? I truly believe that EVERY girl is beautiful no matter what. Size, shape, color, clothes, makeup, etc. does not matter - true beauty is internal. There is a tremendous amount of pressure for girls to fit in a predefined mold and I want to help break that cycle. I read somewhere today a quote that sums up this blog in one sentence: "beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself." This is a place where I want to celebrate you being YOU. You'll hear from me during this challenge: my tips, struggles, successes, strategies, failures, etc. And it wouldn't be me without humor tossed in along the way. Those who really know me know that my life is just funny. It's random, comical, spontaneous, and fun. I wouldn't have it any other way. If you're participating in the 10-week wellness challenge, you can use this blog as another dose of inspiration. And guys, don't be shy, you're welcome here too. Just because I may chatter on about beauty and being yourself doesn't mean I won't sprinkle something random in, like say, maybe about Metallica. Welcome aboard everyone, this journey is going to be a blast, it will be worth the time, sweat, tears and hard work. Oh and in my opinion it will be life-changing.

But hey, that's just me.