HERE GOES...

Hi everyone *wave*

I sort of accidentally fell into blogging and it started from vlogging on my personal Instagram account Shoned Owen and I found that I actually enjoyed it!

I suppose I should give you a bit of background first so grab yourself a brew, this may take a while…

I’m Welsh and I live in North West Wales a truly beautiful part of the world where the sea meets the spectacular mountains of Snowdonia. I can safely say, I’m a coastal girl and could never live away from the ocean - I find it therapeutic.

My name is Shoned but I’m commonly mistaken for Tanya as I am also the Founder of fake tan brand Tanya Whitebits. I published a blog over on the business website explaining the reason behind the name confusion!

This created the perfect concept for my blogging platform so welcome to Tanya not Tanya where you’ll find a mix of fashion, Beauty, lifestyle and travel.

I'm going to be sharing a bit more of me; some of my creative processes; behind the scenes sneak peeks; more on brands I personally love to work with; how I got started; what it's like to be an entrepreneur, wife, mum and all that snazz.

Stay tuned as I digitally share a little bit of all things Shoned Owen aka Tanya not Tanya.

MORE ABOUT ME... LONG ONE!

My first language is Welsh, I have always lived on the Llyn Peninsula and it really is where my heart belongs.

I loved primary school as I found it creative safe and homely coming from a small Welsh village. There was me, mum, my sister and Mini the ginger cat. We moved into a chapel house where the rent was free, but my mum had to clean the chapel and vestry; play the organ every Sunday service; and cook Sunday dinner for whoever was preaching. Our Sunday’s were spent dinning with elderly gentlemen and watching them fall asleep before they would wake up for the evening service! My parents separated before I was 6 and later my dad moved to London - briefly lived with a woman who had a pet snake before ending up in Cardiff with his now wife and my half-sister.

I loved my early years, and when I entered secondary school I struggled socially and academically and felt a bit lost during those years. All my school reports would say “could do better” which is why I think I left school feeling a failure.

I enjoyed sports and so I chose my early career path in Sports Development. I found my confidence and lifelong friends in college and felt that I blossomed during those years. I never really knew what I wanted to do as I had academic impostor syndrome, and I also think I have numerical dyslexia so I always had this mindset of not being good enough and no real drive other than to get by in my career path.

Having said that my confidence is high, I have always been a social butterfly and “people person” and that is a quality I’m grateful for because despite my disappointing “could do better” grades I’ve always been optimistic and up for anything! I have never been a follower apart from fashion and I always stay true to myself. I am not a jealous person, but I do love to admire and envy, I’m blessed I was gifted those traits and characteristics.

I may not be the cleverest person in the room, but I am determined, I don’t give up and I have passion and drive.

And so I grew up in wonderful era where there were no mobile phones in the way they are used today. If you wanted to go online, you had to log onto a big PC.

If someone wanted to get hold of you, they had to make prior arrangements, ring the house or turn up. I would listen to the radio and Sunday nights would be a countdown to the top 10 hits to find out who was number 1 in the music charts.

I had a record player and loved Madonna, Simply Minds, Simply Red, Bon Jovi, INXS, Def Leopard, Guns n Roses, U2… oh gosh the list is endless!

My favourite soaps were Neighbours, during the Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan phase, and Home and Away. I watched soaps like Emmerdale and Corrie and my all-time fave was Brookside. I also loved Night Rider, Fall Guy and Baywatch!

My love for Baywatch had nothing to do with my first proper job which was a lifeguard. I worked at the local leisure centre and became a qualified gym and swimming instructor.

And then just before my 18th birthday I met my husband. He was working at a local holiday park and drove a car like the blue one in Wayne’s World! If you haven’t seen that film - google it!

In fact, his passion for cars is a lifelong love affair and I think we’ve been owners of pretty much every car brand on the planet! He’s also a big Elvis fan, has a short fuse but big heart and is 5 years older than me.

I very soon moved into his flat, then he bought his first home and the rest is history.

I moved in, said yes to the dress then along came the twins - the absolute apple of our eyes and whose pet names named my other little business, Mimi Boo Boutique.

Our favourite holiday destination is Florida but that’s a whole other blog story. Before the twins went to primary school I set up a mobile tanning service which then grew into a physical product that we see and hear today called Tanya Whitebits. I sell self-tan products on my website and professional tanning products through my wholesalers Salons Direct. It’s been incredibly hard work but perseverance and loving what I do has got me through so if you're in that situation right now, just keep at it.

I am incredibly proud of this achievement as I was always told “could do better” and it’s given me more confidence in myself, but my proudest achievement is cliché and utter cheese but it’s my two beautiful daughters and best friends.

I hope that has given an insight into me and the person I’ve become. As I’m new to the personal blog scene I’d love you to send me topics you’d like me to cover.

Huge thank you to everyone that's taken the time to read my blog so far, hope you enjoy what’s to come.

Until the next blog… ciao for now!

Shoned X