Be Yourself- 5 Reasons you should be!

I have had this thought on my mind lately. BE YOURSELF. Here's the thing I'm outgoing when I meet new people. I can say hi to anyone but when I get one on one with someone new after the initial... HI HOW ARE YOU! SO NICE TO MEET YOU!!! I can't just be myself. I'm a very held back, more reserved version of myself. I am literally bursting with ideas, personality, thoughts and opinions at all times! I have learned that I have to control that too! ha ha. But I think it's so important to be yourself!

 I want to commit to be myself and stop worrying about what others want to hear, or how I need/should be in a certain situation. It's just too darn stressful to worry about it anymore! I'm letting go. : ) 

• So what if I use 5 million exclamations in every paragraph and it probably drives everybody crazy and is totally unprofessional! 
• Who cares if I gasp and make big freaky eyes at every exciting story I hear. (It's so true!!) 
• So what I'm I'm a spazzy dancer and want to break out in dance when I hear some funky tunes!
• Do I really need to be self conscious that my cupboards are literally bursting with unorganization!
• I find myself trying to fix my language so I sound more adult like and leave out all the TOTALLY's, LIKE's, and everything else I use. WHO CARES!!! 
• I'm always wanting to throw awesome parties, which I do occasionally. But I would do it so much more if I didn't feel the pressure to have perfect decor, invites, food, and place settings! (I kinda love doing all that stuff) But If I don't have time, why not still PARTY it up with friends!? I blame Pinterest! We have a love hate relationship ; )

I am committing to make a conscious effort TODAY and from now on to just be myself! If somebody doesn't like me it's okay I have lots of friends and loved ones who do! I will at least know when I look in the mirror I am being me and I like me when I'm being me... 

As I've been pondering this...Here's a few reasons I came up with as to why you (and me) should be ourselves! 

5 Reasons To Be Yourself

1) Everybody else is taken, so be yourself! 

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I have truly grown to appreciate all the different kinds of people I have met and become friends with over the past couple of years. It takes all kinds to make up this interesting world of people we live in. And I absolutely love it! In fact my 3 year old is one of the biggest weirdos I know and I love him so much for it!! Life is way more exciting and interesting with him around!

2) You will feel better and free! 

You can't please everyone. Why does it matter what everyone else thinks anyway. Life is too precious to sit around worrying what everybody else thinks. It's so freeing to just be yourself and let go. 

3) Everyone is missing out on the REAL you!! 

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How many friends or family members have you known that were shy or quiet. And you thought to yourself wow if others knew how awesome, fun, goofy, smart, or funny this person was they would be so shocked! They are totally missing out! I don't want my friends/family to miss out on me and I don't want to miss out on the real you either! 

4) Staying true to yourself enhances your creativity

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When you aren't being held back by boundaries of how you should be, you can let your creativity flow! I find that when I do a lot of research for my business. How to improve sales, how to take better pictures...etc. I find myself not enjoying it anymore. I'm trying to do all these things that I've read or I'm "SUPPOSED" to do and it's not ME being me and just creating! I do WAY better when I take little chunks of advice but allow myself to  be free and create what I want how I want. Just because a friend or Joe from some best selling book tells you that you need to do something a certain way, it doesn't make it true for you!

5) Your heart will never lead you astray

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"Always listen to your heart. Even if it is on your left side it's still always right!"

You don't want to live a life full of regrets and wish you had followed your heart. I think of a job that may not make as much money but makes you happy. I think of making the right decisions for your kids because you know in your heart it's right even when others tell you other wise. I think of standing up for what's right even when it's unpopular or uncool. Being YOU will always bring you happiness in the end. 

5 Year Bloggerversary!

5 years ago today I started a blog to document my newly married life in Georgia! Today my blog is so much more. Starting a blog gave me a place to share personal pictures and big events! It evolved into the creative outlet I had always wanted.

Some of the highlights....

• Bought our first house
• Had our first baby
• Bought our 2nd house (as a fixer upper flip it house)
• Had another baby
• Started an Etsy Shop

That about covers the big MAJOR life changers! 

I have been so focused on Running and growing LACEYPLACEY.COM I had neglected this blog. For 2014 I have committed to making my blog my priority again. Oh how I have missed writing and sharing all the things I love. I have so many exciting things planned this year. I can't wait to share it all with you! Stay tuned...

HAPPY FRIDAY! Seriously Fridays are the best. : ) 

Turning 3 and the upcoming DINOSAUR Party!

My youngest is turning 3! This is huge for me. Time went by way faster with this little guy! I sure do love him and can't wait to throw him a fun DINOSAUR PARTY! 

Blogging again and my identity crisis

I have decided to start blogging again. So hello there to anyone who still follows here : )

For the past few months I feel like I'm going through an identity crisis. It all started back last Summer when I got the amazing incredible opportunity to go to GIRLS CAMP (a camp for girls ages 12-18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. go to www.lds.org for more info). It was for a whole entire week. My husband was so amazing and took a week off work to stay with our 2 boys (ages 4 and 2). For the first time since I had kids I was able to slow down, have quiet time, ponder, think, look around, and read my scriptures for a long period of time without distractions. It sounds silly but it changed me. I came back different. My goals felt different. I had a new perspective on life. I saw these incredible young women who are such good examples to me. I wanted to be a better, stronger mother so I could raise children to be like them.

Anyway... so that began my identity crisis. I'm being dramatic calling it that. But that's what it feels like. I'm in this weird stage where I am trying to figure out exactly WHO I want to be. A lot of the things that seemed so important to me seem so frivolous and silly now. I'm still wading through all these thoughts and ideas and not really sure who that person is I want to become.

 But I do know a few things for sure:

1- I want to be spiritually strong. I want to know my scriptures inside and out! My goal every day is to be SURE we have family prayer, scripture study and that my kids know I love them.

2- I want to serve. I have been served my whole life by so many. I want to take my turn and learn how to be there for others. I feel so much joy when I can do something for someone else. It doesn't come naturally for me. I have to really look for these opportunities. Sometimes they are staring me in the face and I still don't see them. But I am trying.

3- I can do hard things even when it's uncomfortable even when you feel like everyone is watching you fail miserably I CAN keep going and try my best.

4-Nobody is perfect. We should never expect ourselves or anybody else to be perfect. We have to learn to look past our own faults and the faults of others. Nobody says the right things all the time. We all slip and say something dumb, rude, or thoughtless sometimes. That's was apologies and forgiveness are for : )

***I swear every day I something that I just want to kick myself for saying. You know those comments that slip out or you didn't realize that what you were saying directly describes one of the people you are talking to. I am a little thankful when others say rude things to me unintentionally not knowing my situation. It makes me realize I'm not the only one ; )

Something funny that happened to me this week: Brody my 4 year old told me that he wants to be Mario when he grows up, then Iron Man, then an astronaut so he can touch the moon. And then he is going to be Santa Clause! It made me laugh. I'm realizing and remembering just how magical Christmas is for kids! Bring on the festivities!!

I saw this picture the other day! It reminded me I need to figure out our Christmas Card for this year!