Meet the Shaneyfelts

tips and advice

Podcasts: To Listen or Not To Listen?

I grew up in a family that played music constantly–either on the radio or on the record player.  And now I’m the same way.  Just last night as I was cooking dinner, I had the Bose bluetooth speaker on and was playing music from Pandora.  

But just recently I’ve thought about getting into podcasts.  It all started last week after my friend Emily sent me a podcast that I really enjoyed listening to.  I know podcasts are really popular right now, so I thought I’d try to listen to the really popular ones that everyone is raving about.

Here are a few I’ve listened to already, what I liked or didn’t like, and ones I want to listen to.  I also need your suggestions for good ones, too!



Ones I’ve listened to:

Serial: I know this was such a popular podcast, but I could not get into it.

Stuff You Should Know: I listened to the Alexander Hamilton one (loved it) and the one on quinoa (boring).  I would say this wasn’t my favorite either.

Unbuttoned by Yahoo Style: I listened to the podcast about dressing celebrities for award shows and the politics behind it, and I really enjoyed it!  I love fashion anyway, so this was really interesting to me.  I’ve got one downloaded that features the costume designer from Mad Men, and I was obsessed with watching Mad Men when it was on just for the fashion 😜

John Piper Sermons: I am a huge John Piper fan, so I love listening to his sermons!!  If you want to listen to him, I recommend making sure you can pay attention too because his sermons go in depth.

Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology: Dustin went through a men’s study that used Grudem’s book.  Then we found out he had a podcast of his class lectures, so I’ve listened to a few of them so I could feel like I was participating in Dustin’s study haha!  These are really interesting and you learn so much–my favorite?  The ones on justification.


What I want to listen to:

The Librarian is In: I’ve read that this is librarians from the NYC Public Library discussing books.  Should be good, right?

Lady Lovin’ by Lo Bosworth: I loved Lo on Laguna Beach and The Hills, so I want to listen to at least one episode.


Are there any I’m missing that are super interesting?


Linking up with Whitney, Lindsay, and Erika

Sense of Sarah: My Favorite Self-Tanner + How to Use It

It’s getting to be that time of year where some days the temperature is nice enough to wear a shorter dress or short sleeve tops.  For most of us, we’re probably really pasty and pale, too.

That was definitely me last month.  February had some warmer temperatures for Alabama (like 76 degrees), and so while I want to break out the spring dress with sandals for school, I also don’t want to scare anyone with extremely pasty skin.  And if you’re like me, you stay as far as you can from the tanning bed.

I’ve always relied on laying out in the summer (with sunscreen on) to develop a really nice tan, and then that tan usually fades over the colder months.  This doesn’t help me when it’s March and I’m able to break out the spring clothes.


I’ve never really been interested in using self tanner because of the gross smell until I tried the self tanner from Rodan + Fields when they were running a special last year.  I decided to try it since it was only $25 and I knew Rodan + Fields had a really good reputation.  (This is in no way a sponsored post although that would be really great if it were ha!) Plus, I knew that if I had some crazy allergic reaction to this stuff (it’s happened before to tanning stuff) then I could return it, so it really was risk-free.
My only issue with the self tanner was the way everyone (and I mean, I did my research online) was telling me how to apply it.  They all said to apply it at night before you go to bed, sleep in a long sleeve shirt, pants, and socks, and then your color will be developed by the time you wake up the next morning.  Only I cannot sleep in all of that.  So I decided to try applying one morning before school and it was great–I didn’t smell that weird tanning smell and my tan was developed by that evening.  I just showered it off before going to bed that night, and the color did not transfer to my clothes.

Below I’m giving the tips I’ve found to be the most helpful for me when using the R+F self tanner in order to achieve a natural coloring:

Before Applying:  Shower in the morning using an exfoliating shower gel.  Make sure your knees, ankles, and elbows are exfoliated well.  Apply a thick, creamy lotion (I use Jergens) to your knees and behind them, your elbows and your elbow bend, and your ankles.

Legs:  Use two pumps for one leg.  Rub into your leg evenly, but do not rub onto your foot–that comes later.  Make sure you get every bit of your leg.  Wash your hands after applying to your legs.

Arms: Use two pumps and divide evenly in both hands.  This will be enough for each arm.  Rub evenly into your arms and up onto your shoulder.  Don’t forget to get your armpit.  Rub all the way onto your wrists, but don’t rub on your hands yet.

Torso: Use two pumps for your whole front torso.  Make sure you get around your collarbone evenly.  Wash your hands after this.

Back:  Get your husband to do your back haha!

Face: Use almost one pump (or use a whole pump) for your face and neck.  Make sure you rub into your hairline and onto your ears.  Wash your hands.

Hands + Feet: For each hand and foot, rub a little lotion on your knuckles.  Then use one cotton round with a very small pump of self tanner and rub evenly on each hand and foot.  I use one cotton round for both hands and then one for both feet.  Make sure you rub on top of your fingers and toes and the side of your feet–basically getting everywhere sun would hit.

You’re supposed to give yourself 15 minutes to dry completely and for it to soak into your skin before you put on clothes.  I apply it right after I get out of the shower and I’ve never had any transfer of color onto my clothes when I finally get dressed for school.

If you don’t have someone to buy the self tanner from, contact me and I’ll give you the info for my girl!

To see my other Sense of Sarah posts, click here.



Linking up with Jenn and Shelly

Benefits of Being a Morning Person

At first glance, my iPhone alarms probably make me look like a crazy person.  The me three years ago would have thought I was crazy.  I used to be the person who would sleep until the last minute possible before having to get up and rush to get ready.  I honestly love sleeping.

But it wasn’t until a few years ago when I was first starting my master’s degree that I realized if I wanted to get any blogs read that day (because taking 2 classes at a time while working a full time job left little free time), I was going to have to get it done early in the morning.

So I started waking up 30 minutes before I normally would in order to read a few blogs.  Then after that I started waking up a hour earlier than normal in order to read a few blogs and tidy up a few things around the house.  And you know what?  Now that I’m done with my degree and could sleep in if I wanted, I am hooked on getting up early.

I’ve learned that there are a few benefits to being a morning person.  Now that 2017 is only 10 days into the year, it’s not too late to start a new morning routine so you can get up early, too!


You aren’t rushed in the morning.
Getting up early allows for extra time getting ready in the morning.  You can slow down and not rush around your bathroom trying to get ready.  Instead you can take your time!


You are more productive.
How many of you can say that you’ve washed an entire load of laundry before leaving for work?  Or got all of the dishes washed and put away before work?  I’ve done both before and it’s made me feel pretty successful!  I can walk into work feeling accomplished before my students set foot in my classroom, and it’s all because of everything I did early that morning.

You have time to relax.
If you’re like me and like to get up to allow yourself time to read blogs, you’re probably doing so by yourself in the morning.  It’s nice to get up and be the only one awake for an hour.  I have zero distractions and can enjoy the peace and quiet in the house before D wakes up.

You’ll be wide awake by the time you get to work.
Back when I used to sleep until the last possible minute, I remember walking into work like a zombie because I hadn’t even been awake for an hour.  Not anymore.  Now I walk into work energized and alert because I’ve had time to allow myself to slowly wake up.


Tell me–are you a morning person?  


Linking up with Whitney