About

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Welcome and thank you for wanting to learn more about me and ‘mynewfavoriteday’. I am so honored and grateful that you are spending some time here and it is my great hope that you will like your experience enough to comment, subscribe, like and share ‘mynewfavoriteday’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram  and wherever else you think someone might enjoy some inspiration and motivation.

Why I started ‘mynewfavoriteday.’

My name is Shannon Pruitt and I am a childhood surviving, divorced,  IVF success story, working, co-parenting mother of 3 amazing children. My twins, my first babies were born 12 weeks premature. While my children are now 11 years old, my son, Q, has thrived while our daughter, E, has had a much more difficult journey.  She is considered special needs as of September 2012 was diagnosed with a rare genetic syndrome called Angelman Syndrome, and so as she grows, so do we as individuals and as family. How to help her, how to celebrate our differences while allowing ourselves to cope with the challenges that we never knew to expect. In July 2013, we added a special soul to our tribe, Miss M.  She completed what has become our unique and changing  definition of family.  So while much of this blog is based on our experiences (good and not-so-good), it is also based on how we must not let ourselves become victims of our circumstances but rather advocate in our own lives.

 My first post.

After being in a bit of a self-imposed emotional isolation for about 18 months, 6 months ago an ordinary moment in our living room became extra-ordinary and I thought perhaps sharing these stories of hope and inspiration can help and motivate others going through similar circumstances.  So that night, with my nerves on fire, I created my first post for ‘mynewfavoriteday,’ and what I found out from so many of you was that these emotions and feelings were not unique to us or our circumstances, but rather permeated all of your personal experiences through your relationships and situations with parents, conception, siblings, IVF, prematurity, parenting, children, special needs, terminal illness, and everyday stress.  It became very clear that we are all united by common emotions of love, fear, hope, faith, sadness, happiness, strength, and joy and most importantly, we are all doing the best we can, how we can.  We all need one another and if we can remember to find the little nuggets of inspiration and motivation we can try to make each day ‘ournewfavoriteday.’

 A little bit about me and who I am.

In my professional life I am a marketer; however, ‘mynewfavoriteday,’ was not born of entertainment or marketing but rather as a pathway to help myself and others as we try to define who we are as parents, family members, spouses, friends, colleagues and people. For me, as I continually aspire to define and redefine who I am, I am evolving, but as I do, I hold a core set of beliefs. So, here, rather than tell you who “I am”, I can tell you what I believe. I believe in treating others as I want to be treated. I believe that if you tell me something to be true, you mean what you say and it is true.  I like to believe the best in people and I aspire to believe I can do better.  And I believe in never judging a book by its cover.  Every cover is different, and no matter what your cover looks like, you never know how someone’s book is written.  Like mine. From the outside, you might never know what truly makes me who I am or what I believe. This blog explores the pages on the inside of my book.    My vulnerabilities, fears, happiness, and all my triggers through the lens of being grateful for all the amazing blessings I know I have received but sometimes forget in the challenges of daily life.

 Where I am from and have been:

I am from a small town in Oregon called Ashland (yes, we did have electricity and running water). After I graduated high school I went to off to college at the University of Oregon in  Eugene, Oregon for my BA in Japanese (yes, I am a Duck fan, Quack Quack). At 23 I was off to Tokyo for 2 years where I taught English and then came back to get my MBA at the University of Oregon.  After landing my first corporate job, I was off to the big city, the one and only, New York City, where I lived for 4 1/2 years before coming back to Los Angeles where I now call home.  As you will sometimes see in this blog, I am still a small town country girl at heart but I know how to survive in this big world so I hope we will travel together wherever the future takes us, and you will stick along for the ride!

Causes I love. 

The Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Quinn’s Cocoa $4 the Cure, Help Feed the FrontLine LA Fighting Covid-19, March of Dimes, Make a Wish, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Tiny Miracles,  Habitat for Humanity, and pretty much anything to do with helping children!

What I like.  Outside of the obvious family and friends, I like.

Wine, travel, cooking, good food, strategic thinking, smart people (even if we don’t agree), rainbows, magical thinking, reading, writing, technology, being active, singing outloud to anyone who will listen and tolerate me, laughing, walking, windstorms, twilight (not the books although I did like those as well), fashion and shopping, magazines (yes, the ones printed on paper), watching movies, popcorn, and soft sheets on my bed, compassionate people and learning.

Would love to talk about.

If you are interested in guest blogging, guest column and writing, motivational speaking, advocacy, PR or other opportunities I would love to talk further and please feel free to email me at spruitt6@gmail.com

Thanks again for dropping by. I hope you will come back, subscribe, comment, share, and/or just hang out and be inspired and motivated to make each day for yourself or someone else ‘anewfavoriteday.’ By being here, you have certainly helped to make it mine.

xo,

Shannon

36 thoughts on “About”

  1. Shannon, you are amazing!!! Xavier sent this to me and just wanted you to know how courageous I think you are. It was really touching to hear everything that you’re going through and know that you’re in my prayers. I know you have loads of friends but please let me know if you ever need anything. xoxo

    Reply

  3. You are doing great! Keep it up! I started blogging when I moved to the states last year to be close to my large family of kids here in the states. I hasn’t been easy, but it has been a journey that I needed to take. You are a beautiful example of making the effort to keep the right perspective through your tremendous tests and difficulties. Prayers uphold you and yours!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much. I love the quote on your page, “a place to come out of the rain.” It’s beautiful and like you, I suppose that is what I am trying to do for myself and others. Thank you for your kind words and support. I hope you will continue to join us when you can.

      Reply

  4. I have enjoyed my visit here very much Shannon and honestly can say you have the warmest “about-me/introduction” of any blog I’ve had the pleasure of reading to date. I’ve book-marked this site and plan on reading your blog on a regular basis because you are full of inspiration, and for that, I thank you!

    Reply
  5. Pingback: Where monsters and favorite days meet: an interview « The Monster in Your Closet
  6. Pingback: A last minute post for a ‘newfavoriteday.’ Who doesn’t want to poop rainbows? | mynewfavoriteday

    1. Hi Ali, I am so delighted you came by. I so clearly remember your blog post about your son and your Twitter bio. I have walked and walk in your shoes each day and our experiences aren’t the same but the emotions are: wanting to do more, wondering if you have done enough and working towards acceptance daily. I look forward to spending time with you in this bloggy world. Thanks again for coming by and a joyful 2012 to you seen

      Reply

  10. Recently, The Versatile Blogger Award was bestowed upon me. I’d like to pass it on to you, in hopes that many more will find your blog, and appreciate you like I do!

    The details for passing it on are in my latest post.

    ❤

    Reply

  11. Hi Shannon-
    My brother sent me your blog this morning. After reading it, I wanted to introduce myself to you. I am a mom of three also living in LA. My oldest son, age almost 7, also has special needs. I started a blog sometime around last May for similar reasons. I get it. While each of us has a different experience every day, we are bonded together by that fact. Here is the link to my blog if you are interested, markmiriamsword.blogspot.com. It is not nearly as pretty as yours (which is kind of bummer- and next on my list of tasks to bribe someone to do for me) but you may find it interesting. I certainly found yours to be!
    -Miriam

    Reply

    1. Hi Miriam,

      I did meet your brother on the plane, he was so lovely and complementary of you! Thanks for saying hello, I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you. In addition to being in NYC all last week, I got a terrible stomach flu on my way home and was mostly useless for the past few days.

      I went over and read your “Sky’s the Limit” post and I so get it. I go through similar periods of helplessness and then E does something that rocks my works.

      I live here in LA too.

      Perhaps we can meet for coffee or lunch since you work as well.

      All the best,

      Shannon

      Reply

      1. Shannon-
        I hope you are feeling better. Nothing worse than a stomach flu! Only after I wrote my comment did my brother tell me he had sat next to you on the plane. I am impressed that you put it together. I would love to meet for coffee or lunch. This week is a little crazy but how about next week? You can email me at mir79@yahoo.com so we can make plans.
        -Miriam

  12. I like the positivity of your blog. Those are some adorable children. I have 3 girls 16, 8, and 7.

    Can’t wait to read more.

    Lance

    Reply

  14. Having had twins 12 years ago and having been told that one likely wouldn’t survive and the one that did would likely have cerebral palsy I have felt your pain. They are both healthy happy loving, caring children that no one would know the river I cried or the prayers that kept us up all night, even before they were born we endured. It’s amazing once you know what you are dealing with exactly and you formulate a plan and a routine. They are yours and perfect the way they are. I started my site a week ago to make people laugh with a quick story. Hope you can stop by.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for coming by and welcome to the neighborhood! I thank you for sharing and it’s so nice to know when others understand our experiences without having to explain the inexplicable. I will come by for a visit and congratulations on your new venture!

      Reply

  15. Shannon,
    Just stumbled upon your blog. I am new to the blogging world. I just recently started and have been AMAZED at how large this world is. I too am a small town girl living in L.A. Who knows, maybe our paths have even crossed:) I’ll be back.

    Reply

    1. Welcome! Yes, it’s quite large and continues to surprise me every day! Glad to have found a fellow country mouse in this big city, and it wouldn’t be too terribly surprising if we have met or been near one another at some point:) I look forward to visiting more!

      Reply

  16. Hi Shannon! I just found your blog via the lucky mom and boy I’m glad I did! After reading your interview and about you, you are so filled with sweetness I would love to grab a coffee (although I gave up coffee but grab something) and hang! Keep spreading the warmth, happiness and honesty! Hugs to you and your little cutiepies! Michelle

    Reply

  18. Hello. I naturally stumbled upon something that again, leads me to realize, I am not alone feeling grateful for all in my life. I occasionally find a person or two who also need no more clues to be reminded that this is a gift. My 3.5 year old son, is always with me. He understands too.

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much Jeff. Lovely of you to come by and I always love meeting others who really see, feel and appreciate the gratitude in life. It’s a gift and opportunity! Love that your son understands as well, I do my best to impart this to my minis even at their young age:)

      Reply

  20. Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after
    I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say superb blog!

    Reply

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