Meet a Mom: Natalie Shannon | Katy Moms

Meet a Mom: Natalie Shannon

We first met Natalie Shannon this Spring at our Mom Meet Up at The Little Land Play Gym –  she is a local mom of 3 kiddos, works full time in the corporate world, and is a Senior Independent Rep for Zyia Active. She has the biggest smile that is infectious all while balancing it all! We got a chance to try out her activewear and seriously LOVE it! Amazing quality without the super expensive dollar signs. If you’re an activewear lover, like us, you have got to try her stuff (make sure to read til the end to find a special discount code just for you)! We got a chance to sit down with this hustling mom to chat about mom life, what she loves about Katy, and how she balances it all!

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Katy area?

I grew up in Alice, Texas, a small town about 45 minutes from Corpus Christi.  I lived in San Marcos, Killeen, Austin and Spring before moving to the Katy area 6 years ago.

How many kiddos do you have and how old are they?

My husband, Scott, and I have three kids. Sydney is 9 years old, sweet, kind and a true Little Mama of our family.  Presley is 7 years old, loving, fun and has the most creative mind. Wyatt is 3 years old, ALL boy, talkative, loud and always happy.

What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Katy?

We moved to this area for everything the master planned communities offer and the fantastic schools.  Both of those are great, but we really love the genuine people with great morals and values that we call friends and neighbors here in Katy.

Least favorite mom job?

My least favorite mom job is splitting up the arguments to keep the peace.  With three kids, there’s always something to argue about. Can I get an Amen?

Best mom hack that makes life easier?

I work full time along with my Zyia business.  I don’t want to do 15 loads of laundry every weekend, so my best mom hack is doing one load of laundry every night.  That way it doesn’t pile up and I have more time on the weekends for fun things. I also somehow talk my husband into helping fold and put away the laundry with me.

What are your favorite local things to do in the Katy area?

Our family loves going to Blessington Farms, Bahama Bucks, Typhoon Texas and the LaCenterra area.  I especially love that most things are relatively close by. We don’t have to go into Houston to have fun experiences.

We’re big on self-care for moms as hard as it is to find the time, what’s something you do just for yourself?

I believe spending time connecting and bonding with other moms is part of self-care.  I love getting together with my girlfriends during the week and once per month for bunco.  I also love getting a pedicure when I can.

One thing people would be surprised to know about you…

I grew up spending time at the family ranch, I am a great shoot with a pistol and my first car was a manual with no power steering.

Tell us about being a Senior Rep at Zyia Active.  When did you start in this endeavor?

I’ve always wanted to own my own business and after learning about Zyia last year, I knew this would be a perfect way to own my own business as an independent representative and offer amazing quality clothing to other activewear lovers.  Over the past year of joining this amazing company, my confidence has shot up, I’ve enjoyed meeting and connecting with women from all over America through Zyia parties and social media and it’s been exciting and uplifting to lead my team of amazing women.

What is Zyia Active and what products do you offer?

Zyia Active is an activewear company that offers high quality and functional activewear through independent reps.  Our quality and fit is like that of Athleta and Lululemon without the high dollar price tag. We have amazing and comfortable leggings, bras, tanks, shorts, pants and jackets. Through the past year Zyia Active has started offering clothing for the whole family – Women, Men, Boys and Girls!

What is your favorite thing about Zyia activewear and what makes it unique?

I love the fit, style and functionality of Zyia activewear!  Zyia is on point when it comes to current trends, styles and colors.  Zyia doesn’t skimp on quality. Our founders do not release items to the public until they are of the upmost quality and value.  Zyia has new releases of items every single Wednesday, which keeps our clothing fresh, fashionable and new! Wednesday, our new release day, is one of my favorite days of the week!  I’m always excited to see what new items they come out with! One of my other favorite things about Zyia is the company in itself. Our founders and executives truly care about our customers, reps and the quality of our clothing.  I’ve never felt so valued within a company before.

How do you balance working full time with your current corporate job, Zyia Active business on the side and being a mom and a wife?

It’s definitely a busy life, but I love it all!  I ride the Metro Bus downtown and am able to work on my Zyia business on the bus and in the pockets of my day.  Once I get home from my full time job, I am in mom-mode until my kids go to sleep. In the evening time, I’m able to get house duties, mom duties and more Zyia completed.  All of this would not be possible without the support and teamwork of my husband. We both help each other out with the kids and with life so that we can both do the things we are passionate about.

Best advice for moms who experience the inevitable and dreaded MOM GUILT?

I do not think it’s possible to NOT have mom guilt.  If you work full time, you may feel guilty about not spending that time with your kids.  If you are a stay at home mom, you may feel guilty about not having a career or possible additional cash flow coming into your family.  My best advice is to find the best parts of the moments in your day that make you happy and be still in those moments. If you want more time at home, find a way to make that happen.  If you want a career or contribute to a good cause to possibility use your skills, find a side hustle or a project to volunteer your time.

Who has most influenced you to be the mom you are today?

My mom has had the best influence on me.  She worked as a teacher and principal as my two siblings and I grew up.  She and my dad always wanted the best for us. She showed me how to balance life as a working mother, have a giving heart, be thankful and grateful, be strong when times are tough and have a plan to make my dreams possible even when 3 littles are at home.  My mom has been there as each of my children were born and has showed me by example and by giving advice as I raise my children. I am incredibly blessed to have such an amazing woman, mom and role model to look up to!

When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?

Sometimes I can just tell myself that this is a phase and she/he will grow out of it and sometimes I need a good cry and a good talk with God to get me through it.  Sometimes a big hug from my own mom helps too!

What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?

Natalie, you won’t believe this now, but in 9 years you are going to have 3 amazing, unique and special children of your own.  You’re going to do more things within an hour that you ever thought was possible and you’re going to wonder why you wasted so much time watching tv before children.  You’re going to go through hard times, a miscarriage, a move, a hard commute, tears of failure and tears of mom guilt that is painful, but you are also going to become a mom that your kids love unconditionally, stronger because of your family, experience the most amazing joy in childbirth, gain wrinkles because of smiling and laughing, witness joy in your children’s eyes as you see them experience new things and you will be closer to God that you ever thought possible.  Natalie, life will be hard and you’ll be tired at lot of the time, but the joy you will experience in the next 9 years will be immense and unimaginable.

*Natalie is offering a $10 discount for the Katy Moms Network Community! Click the website below to shop and use code: GC53814

 

To learn more about Natalie and Zyia Activewear, check out her website and follow along with her on social media!

Website: http://www.myzyia.com/NatalieShannon

Instagram: @zyiabynatalie

 

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