I Guarantee Your To Do List is Missing Something

7:00 Family Scriptures and Prayer

7:20 Breakfast and Personal Scripture Study

8:00 Get Ready For the Day

8:30 Leave for Class

9:00 - 3:00 Classes/Homework

3:15 - 6:30 Work

 7:00 Dinner and/or grabbing a few handfuls of M&Ms

?????? Finish Homework

(does this time exist?) Sleep

Schedules can be  are crazy.

If you're anything like me, you are often overwhelmed with the amount of things to do, people to see, and jobs to get done.

It probably feels like your planner looks like this:

Well, sorry to have to tell you this, but that list is not complete.

It doesn't matter how organized you are, how many different colors of markers you use on your calendar, or how many tabs you have on your planner.

I can almost guarantee that you are missing something.

Here, I made a new version of that list for you:

When was the last time you cozied up with your favorite novel?

Or took a nice long soak in the tub?

Or did both at the same time?

If you're following my Instagram (@beconfident_bebeautiful), you know that I recently did just that:

(also hint hint - there's a big awesome Insta giveaway coming up soon!)

It was such a relaxing evening, and you know what? I can't remember the last time I did that.

When was the last time you set aside time just for yourself?

Ok, it's intervention time. Take out your planner/calendar/to do list right now. Go get it and then come back to this post. I'll wait.

You got it? Okay, now I need you to look at your week and block out one hour (you heard me, ONE WHOLE HOUR) that you are going to spend doing exactly what makes you relaxed and happy.

Don't you dare let anything override that hour. In fact, go back over it with Sharpie right now, so you can't scribble over it or erase it. Don't you dare give up that time for yourself. You know why?

Because you are important.

Your health is important.

And that covers physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

So go have a lunch date with your girlfriends.

Or go get a mani-pedi with your mom.

Or find the coziest corner of the house and read.

In short,

This is something I put up on my door to remind me to make that time for myself too!

How are you taking care of yourself?

Let me know!

In fact, someone who DMs me on Instagram, posts on our Facebook page, and/or e-mails me with how they're filling that hour of their calendar is going to win a fun set of colored pens so you can keep adjusting that To do list to fit you in it!

Now go give yourself the time you deserve!

They're Gonna Tell Your Story

You might say "What story?"

You might look at all the stories of other people's lives like:

 

and wonder "what is my story compared to theirs?"

Your story might not be told in a huge Blockbuster movie,

But they're gonna tell your story.

A friend will tell someone about that time she spilled juice all down her dress and you lent her yours. Your mom will tell anyone who will listen about the academic scholarship you earned. Your coworker will mention how restocking shelves was a bit more fun when you and her would sing Disney songs while you did it.

Your children will tell your story. They'll tell people about that Despicable Me water bottle that was always in your hand. They'll tell people about that red sweater you wore at least once a week because you loved it so much. They'll tell people how you said "What the French Toast?" And "So so on your toe all the way to Mexico." 

They will live your story as they look at others the way you taught them to, as they watch the movies your family watched and quoted all the time, as they smile at their spouse and feel grateful that their parents told them to find someone who makes them want to be a better person.

Your story will be told. It will become part of so many others' stories.

What chapters are you writing?

Could some revising be in order?

Do you need to share certain chapters with those who could receive strength from them?

This is your time.

Start a new chapter.

Make your mark.

Leave footprints for others to follow.

They're gonna tell your story.

Make it a good one.

La La Land is Totally Realistic

Ok, if you haven't heard, there's this new movie out called La La Land starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling (this alone is reason to see this movie, but I'm about to give you lots more).

This is going to be spoiler-free, as in I will only post pictures and give details that are seen in the trailers. Anyone who has seen the trailers might be raising an eyebrow at my post's title, with good reason:

So why do I think a movie where people spontaneously sing, perform choreographed dances in public places, and float through the stars is realistic?

So maybe your girls nights don't involve colorful dresses that you swish in unison, but haven't you walked down the street with your squad feeling fierce as can be and ready for a night of fun? Haven't you felt glamorous and sassy? Haven't you had a connection to your friends so strong, you figuratively (or literally) walk in step with them?

Maybe time doesn't stop as a camera circles around you when you're kissing your loved one. But don't you feel like the universe around you slows down? Doesn't your head spin and your heart swirl and your mind glow? Don't you feel like you two are the only people in the world?

Maybe you haven't floated in a Planetarium, waltzing amid the stars. But haven't you looked at the night sky and been in awe of God's canvas? Haven't you been so full of lightness that you feel like you're walking on air? Don't you have nights of adventure where driving through town feels like soaring through the stars?

Yes, La La Land is fiction.

Yes, it is a musical.

Yes, it has magical elements.

But doesn't your life have a bit of magic, too?

I loved this movie for several reasons, but the chief of these was the blend of the perfect classic Hollywood fantastical love story and the absolute realness of relationships, disappointments, and working for your dreams.

It showed real life peppered with magical musical moments.

I think this movie is trying to tell us that a magnificent dreams-come-true love story and our own nitty-gritty real life are not opposites.

Take a look around and find the magic in your life.

You never know, maybe dancing through the stars won't seem so out of place after all.

Life is Not a Journey

We're told over and over that life is a journey.

It's meant to be reassuring, to remind us that where we are now isn't the only place we'll be, that we grow and change and experience different things through our lives.

Lately, I've done some thinking, and I've decided that I believe something different.

Life is not just a Point A to Point B.
Life is not just a treasure map with a grand prize at the end.
Life is not just a certain unknown number of years.

Life is all around us.

Life is the moment you get inside after a long trek through the cold.
Life is the moment you spill chocolate milk all down your white shirt.
Life is the moment you realize your abs are sore from laughing so hard yesterday.
Life is the moment you find out your grandpa died and you feel a piece break away from your soul.
Life is the moment you see your baby brother graduate from high school.

Life is moments.
Life is now.

We can't plan out life the way we can a roadtrip.
Life is full of moments we don't choose, moments we don't see coming. Some of those are good moments, and some are bad.

But whatever life is at this moment, make the decision to accept it, to move through it with confidence. 
To live it.

So live your life.
Every moment of it.

2017 - It's My Time (Plus a Big Announcement!)

Welcome to 2017 beautifuls!

Every January, I decide on a motto to keep with me throughout the year and 2017 is...

I'm going to try this year to seize more moments, to take those steps, to claim the future I want to have and the person I want to be.

I'm also going to try and remember that time is a gift and that it's up to me to make the most of it.

Throughout the year, I'll be touching back on this motto and applying it in some of my blog posts!

But I know y'all are waiting for an announcement, so without further adieu,

We now have T-shirts!!!

My amazing friend Bekah runs a T-shirt shop on Etsy, and she designed a shirt just for us!!

She also has these other designs that spread positivity and self-love!

Every shirt is available in tons of colors and ink choices!

This tab on the blog has links to each shirt that you can buy.

(If you're on a phone, tap on "Home" and it will pull up the other pages)

Let's all share a little self-love by wearing a little self-love!

Be sure to share pics of you wearing these shirts on Instagram! Use the hashtag #myconfidenceshirt!