oh hello, I'm Shell...

My name is Shelly and I’m currently 30-years-old, we probably don’t really need to announce that I’m almost 31, do we? My birthday is March 12 so the countdown is basically on, but that’s really neither here nor there. I am 30 and trying to live the #happy30life for as long as I can! I live in sunny southern California, Orange County to be specific. I work at a full-service graphic design & advertising agency in downtown Santa Ana where I am a Project Manager and dabble in my own creative projects on the side. Mostly that means I design invitations and all kinds of party shenanigans for my dear friends who are getting married or having babies - but someday my little business, beganwithabow, may amount to much more than that and I’m ok leaving it in the dream category for now. I love the Lord and I love people. I long for a husband and pray often that the Lord would provide a mate soon so we can begin adventuring together and running this race with endurance toward every good and perfect plan the Lord has laid out before us…but I guess I am getting a bit ahead of myself… 

First and foremost, you should know that I truly do love the Lord. I go to EvFree Fullerton and have called it my church home since fall 2007, though I did venture out to Rock Harbor for a brief time where I joined a lifegroup and made some of my dearest friends. I am not the kind of Christian who just attends church on Sunday mornings, the Lord is the center of my life and I am tremendously grateful to be claimed and called His beloved. I grew up in San Diego and have a rich heritage in the church including mission trips in high school and serving as a missionary with World Changers, a ministry of the North American Mission Board throughout my college years. Ministry and service have been instrumental in my life and have forever changed my heartbeat. I have a passion for foster care and am the Director for a club named CHOSEN, which meets the 3rd Saturday of the month and is a place for teens ages 12 - 18 who have been affected by the foster care system to come together and be loved and shown Christ. We also take the teens to camp each summer for ridiculous amounts of fun it is one of my very favorite weekends of the year. I hope to adopt someday, but am waiting on the Lord to fulfill that dream. 

The Lord gave me an incredibly big heart and it is my greatest joy to pour into the people around me. My friends have undoubtedly become my family throughout this season and I am so grateful to be walking alongside some truly exceptional people. I love hard and show up and give as much as possible. I am there for every birthday party and celebration or sorrowful moment of tears and that really is where I want to be and how I desire to live. Rejoice when others rejoice and mourn when they mourn. People are my greatest treasure and I choose them every time. 

I moved to Riverside for college (I went to CBU) and never moved back home, so I meant it when I said my friends have become my family. However, I do have a wonderful family. My parents live in San Diego and I see them every couple months. I have an older brother named Kevin who is married to Jamie (my sweet sister) and they have three kids - little, bitty, and tiny aka. Madeline, Charlotte, and Jason. They’re my favorite tiny humans. Kevin is a nurse in the army and is currently in transition from his last duty station in Hawaii (I know, rough life) to the East Coast. Kevin and I have a younger sister named Julie who is also a nurse and she lives in Oregon. I also get to be aunt shell to a whole bunch of other kiddos that I absolutely adore. As my dearest friends have had their babies, it has become one of my very favorite titles and getting to watch all these amazing kids grow up is the best! I love being aunt shell.

I am bold and bright and probably a little too loud. I love accessories and am slightly addicted to Kate Spade. I try to find joy in all circumstances and laugh through even the hardest days. I’m a bit sassy but I think it adds to my sparkle. I like to keep my nails painted, drink too much coffee, and undoubtedly watch a smidge too much tv. I countdown to the Oscars by attempting to see all the Best Picture nominees and I’m up for basically any adventure. Brunch is my favorite meal of the day and champagne is my favorite of all the bubbly drinks. I will never be described as outdoorsy, but there is absolutely nothing like the sound of the ocean or being swept up by the vastness of His majesty as you watch the sunset over the water. Carlsbad will forever be my favorite place to take in that view. Chocolate over candy every single time and ice-cream is probably my dessert of choice. I love Broadway and seeing Taylor Swift for free last summer might forever be a highlight of my life. I love to travel and cried a ridiculous amount of tears upon returning home from studying in Oxford, I really think I could have lived in England. I’m directionally impaired and am so thankful cellphones come equipped with navigation these days - LIFESAVER. Arnold Palmers are my favorite drink to order at any restaurant and I was made to live in the south - bring on the biscuits and gravy. 

So there you go. A taste of Shell. I’m probably best sitting across a table, drinking a cup of coffee, just sharing my heart and hearing yours, but maybe this was just the motivation you needed to make that happen…