SlapYourBaby:
Surprisingly everything still works from what I can tell. Can someone tell me where I went wrong? I'll be happy to point out what part was glowing on a picture or provide further information if necessary.
What specific motor shield were you using? There are many different motor shield available these days, for example there are over twenty currently listed at Shieldlist.org . All motor shields serve a similar function, but the voltage and current levels they are intended to work with can vary.