Why I Started Making Everyday Magic and Our Homeschool Story
Sometimes the best stories start a little messy. Mine? It started with me, a distracted mom, texting my best friend and trying coconut water for the first time as an adult. Spoiler alert: I don’t get the hype—it tasted weirdly like tomato juice. But in the middle of that moment, I realized I’ve never really shared my story. Why I started this journey. Why I started Making Everyday Magic. And, of course, our homeschool story that has shaped so much of who I am and who we are as a family.
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Who I Am (and Why I Talk Fast)
Hi, I’m Shanna. My name gets mispronounced often, I talk too fast, and I’ve always known I was made to work for myself. I’m 41, a wife of 15 years, and mom to two incredible girls in 8th and 4th grade.
I’ve been a hairstylist, a small business owner (hello, Magic Band decals), a homeschool mom, and now a content creator. But here’s the thing: I don’t think of myself as an “influencer.” I share my story, our story, because I wish I had found someone like me when I was starting out—someone homeschooling secularly, someone being real, someone who didn’t fit the traditional mold.
Why I Struggle With Sharing
Here’s the truth: I don’t like oversharing. I don’t even do it in my personal life. If I care about you, I text you. I don’t need to post every detail online. At the same time, strangers in line at the grocery store will tell me their whole life story. It’s wild.
So yes, it’s messy to reconcile sharing personal details online when I don’t even love doing it with friends. But I’ve learned I can set boundaries. I don’t share dates, locations, or anything I wouldn’t be proud of ten years from now. That balance is how I keep showing up authentically here at Making Everyday Magic.
Why I Started Making Everyday Magic
I started Making Everyday Magic because I couldn’t find voices like ours in the homeschool world. Everyone seemed to follow the same formulas, and no one was talking about homeschooling the way we were doing it—secular, flexible, practical, and intentional.
I wanted to create the thing I needed:
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A place to see secular homeschooling done differently.
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A space for families who value science, evolution, women’s rights, and inclusivity alongside acceptance of personal faith.
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An honest, no-fluff perspective on homeschooling, family, and real life.
And while this space isn’t about money, it has paid back in connection, community, and opportunities far beyond what I imagined.
Our Homeschool Story
We started homeschooling because my oldest was ahead of her peers in preschool. We wanted to keep her challenged and tailor her education to her strengths. That’s been our philosophy ever since—education should fit the child, not the other way around.
Our approach is simple: sometimes we use free resources, sometimes we invest in pricier ones, but always we chase value. We’ve been homeschooling for nine years, long before pandemic learning, and our deal has always been: we’ll continue as long as it works. And guess what? It works.
Homeschooling hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it. It’s shaped our family in ways I’ll always be grateful for.
The Secret Ingredient: Our Family
Homeschooling and building a brand online wouldn’t be possible without my husband. He’s my tether when I’m off chasing big ideas. He’s supported every wild shift in my life—from leaving jobs to cutting hair to creating and shipping tens of thousands of Magic Band decals.
And as a family, we operate as a unit. We each take seasons to support one another—whether it’s theater shows, activities, or surgeries. We genuinely like each other, and that’s a gift I don’t take lightly.
Looking Ahead
So, what’s next? More homeschooling, of course. More connection. More of figuring out how to grow this community while staying authentic. Maybe more TikTok, maybe more ways to network together. And—apparently—me switching from Android to Apple (pray for me).
This journey is messy and imperfect, but that’s life. And that’s what Making Everyday Magic has always been about: finding joy in the real, everyday moments.
Wrapping It Up
So there it is: why I started Making Everyday Magic and how our homeschool story ties into it all. I hope this gives you a deeper glimpse into who I am, why I share what I share, and why homeschooling has been the best decision for our family.
And yes, I’m still on the fence about coconut water.
