My Why

So, by now you've probably seen my announcement that I'm entering the world of direct sales. Okay, wait don't stop reading, this is probably not going where you think it's going. Hold the phone! Chelsea, why the heck would you even consider entering that world?  Excellent question; one that I was asking myself just a few weeks ago.

Here's the thing, I have never been a big fan of any thing direct sales related...ever. I have multiple friends who sell for various direct sales companies and I honestly find the entire process a bit annoying. There, I said it. I find it annoying. Can you relate? I don't mean that my friends themselves are annoying, just the continuous ads and pictures and videos and pleas to buy. I just don't like being bombarded and I don't like feeling pressured. So again, you're probably still asking, "Chelsea, WHY then?"

You want to know why I've decided to jump on board with Younique? Well, honestly it's kind of a God thing. No! It's definitely a God thing. It's a God thing for many, many reasons, which I'll get to shortly, but it's also a God-thing because, y'all I'm still not a fan of direct sales even though I'm entering into that world. That doesn't even make sense, I know. It probably seems bit random to most of you, but please allow me to share this entire GOD THING because it's pretty cool in my opinion, and I think you'll tend to agree.

Let me begin by rewinding about 3 years. I started blogging and sharing our home updates with family and friends. It was nothing major + VERY low maintenance. Then, I encountered some site host problems and quit blogging for a while. Then, after Emerson was born + I "retired" from teaching {at least for now}, and I needed an outlet. I was suffering from some PPD and I was discontent. Enter my current blog, A Little Thrifty Chic. I started up again with a new site host + just took it slow. I wrote about motherhood, marriage, and everything in between, including some home decor projects + some very real struggles I had encountered as a new mom. Then, several months ago, I made the decision to take it all public. Like PUBLIC PUBLIC. I opened up our lives for everyone on Instagram + Facebook. SCARY!!!! It was a very bold move on my part, but I loved blogging and encouraging other people through the use of my experiences. I have received tremendous, tremendous feedback in the past 6 months and I am beyond grateful for everyone that shares in this world with me. It has truly become another little babe for me, except way less cute + cuddly {no offense to y'all}. Hey, at least this blog doesn't tell me "No, mommy". 

Anyway, let me back up just a smidgen again. Back in March or so, one of my Facebook friends, and a blog reader messaged me on Facebook. She actually went to college with my husband + they were in choir together, so she wasn't a complete random stranger. Anyway, she asked me if I'd ever heard of Younique and if I'd like to try some of their products. Specifically, she wanted me to try their 3D Fiber Lash Mascara + possibly share a review with my blog and IG readers. I loved the idea of trying out a new mascara because I'm always interested in trying out new makeup. {Makeup is a major hobby of mine when I'm not busy momming, blogging, decorating, or thrifting}. Unfortunately, at the time, doing a makeup review on my blog just didn't seem to fit with my content. I politely turned her down and she totally understood. She, being the super sweetheart that she is, said she wanted to send me a mascara anyway just because she loved my heart and my blog so much *a resounding "awwww"* and she thought I deserved it. Not another word was said about it and I had never encountered another Younique presenter until I found one on Instagram about a month later.

This particular presenter is named Allie. I took a free makeup class on Facebook through her Younique group and it was amazing. I learned so many fun makeup tips and tricks. We even discussed my possibly ordering the makeup. The girl was talented and I was hooked. She was so helpful, but it just wasn't in the budget and I knew it. I couldn't support her business at the time because I just couldn't afford it right then. Fast forward a month or two and now we're in July 2016. Allie randomly sent me a message on IG about Younique. We talked for like an hour about the possibility of my joining her team of presenters and what it could mean for our family. You get the idea.

Well, not a day later, Lindsay and I were in communication again. Coincidence? I think not. One thing led to another and I just knew that God was calling me to this company. There had been too many signals for me to ignore. There were no persuasive arguments from either girl. No begging me to join. No begging me to buy anything. Just honest, real conversations about life and goals. I knew that I was being torn in two directions. On the one hand, Allie is extremely successful with the company and is such a sweet, sweet woman. We share a lot of similarities in our lives. Then, Lindsay is also extremely successful and is a newer presenter in the company {when compared to Allie}. Lindsay and I just really clicked + I immediately just felt an instant bond with her. I felt like I'd known her my entire life. We talked for days! I prayed hard for days and days. I really didn't want to jump into anything {especially direct sales} without a clear peace about it. There were little signs everywhere I turned and I just KNEW that God was telling me to TRUST HIM and take a leap of faith. I am NOT a risk taker, so I knew that doing this was going to be a true test of my faith. I was scared.

You've probably determined that I decided to take on Lindsay as my sponsor, meaning she's my go-to gal. My teammate. My encourager. My teacher. My friend. I told her that I wanted in and that I was scared to death. I was scared of what other people were going to think about me. I was scared of failing. I was scared of being completely clueless when it comes to business. I had {have} lots of fears. When I look back at the entire journey of my blog and how it's come this far, I can't help but think that God was strategically planning my future. He knew all along that this opportunity would present itself. He knew that I would border trusting in ME or trusting in HIM. He knew that I would need a network of people online in order to be successful. He knew that I would need loving, encouraging, supportive friends and family to make this business a reality. I'm honestly just in awe of how He has orchestrated this entire thing. This is how I KNOW that Jeremiah 29:11 is absolutely truth. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future."

Let me reiterate: I AM SCARED and I HAVE LOTS OF FEARS in starting this business. Those have not magically disappeared just because I feel like I've followed God's lead. I kind of feel like I'm walking off a cliff, actually, but I'm also confident that He is able to do more than I can hope or imagine. I posted my very first video this morning announcing this endeavor and I had major anxiety immediately after I posted it. I have already had many people "unfollow" me on Instagram, I imagine because they fear what I fear....annoyance. But, on the other hand, I have had so many people wish me the best in this new adventure, and others who have expressed interest in the makeup + others yet, who have already joined my Facebook group to be a part of my launch on August 2nd, which obviously I would love for EVERYONE to join, but I get it. It's not for everyone, so NO PRESSURE!!! :)

I'm writing this tonight, not as a ploy to make you suddenly interested in this makeup. I'm not trying to recruit you. I'm not trying to make you think anything of me, good or bad. I am simply writing to share with you my WHY for doing this. I am doing this because I feel like I am being called to this, truly. I never in a million years saw this for myself. I am doing this because I want to contribute financially to our family again. I want to do this because I love makeup and I love encouraging others, and those two together is like two of my worlds colliding in a powerful way. I am doing this for many reasons, which I don't expect everyone to understand. I am doing this to conquer fears that have lived inside of me for a long time. I am doing this because on January 1st of this year I made a resolution + a promise to myself that I would say YES to things that make me uncomfortable, within this year specifically. God has certainly challenged me on that. I have already conquered one of those resolutions in the form of regular, consistent exercise + nutrition. Now, I have to prepare myself to conquer this one. This fear of rejection. This fear of failure even though I know I have what it takes to be successful.

So, I ask that you please support me. Don't leave me in the dust because you think I'm suddenly going to hunt you down and follow you begging you to buy from me, watch me, like me. I NEVER want to be that person. I'm going to continue being Chelsea. I'm going to continue blogging with my usual content. You may see a couple extra selfies here and there on your news feed, but honestly, I just want to share some things I love with you, in hopes that maybe you'll love them just as much. I am just anxiously awaiting what the Lord will do. I know His plans are far greater than mine and that makes me so hopeful.  Thank you guys again for constantly supporting and encouraging me. You will never know how truly thankful I am for you all. XO!

If you are interested in joining my launch party group, click here! :)

A Special Post: The Blogging Life

Happy Saturday Sweet Friends! This post was originally going to be about something totally different related to Emerson + motherhood, but I'm saving that for another special post coming soon. I will warn you that this one is somewhat lengthy, so my apologies, but I promise it's worth the read. I told y'all I had a 'special post' for today and I was being dead serious. So serious in fact, that I obviously titled this post using those exact words.

I am honored to be a part of the blogging community. This community is quite large + full of variety. When I first started blogging to a more specific audience about 2 months ago, I never imagined it would explode like it has. Now, I'm no big name blog or anything like that, and there are millions of bloggers with FAR more followers than me, but that's not why I'm in it. I have told you before that I blog because I love writing + being honest about struggles + joys. I love helping and encouraging people to make their houses into homes on a very friendly budget. I enjoy helping people declutter and organize, and you know what's so crazy to me still, people read my blog and follow ME because they care about what I have to say. That is so humbling and I am so blessed by you guys. This has been the biggest encouragement for me since becoming a mother. I really feel like I'm where I'm supposed to be.

People, including my own husband, don't understand the effort and work that goes into blogging. Sure, it looks easy from the outside; all we're doing is posting lots of pictures and essentially writing a short essay, right? WRONG! My friend Shirri over at Stringfellow + Co Blog recently wrote a post titled "10 Things Non Bloggers Need to Know About Bloggers". It was SPOT ON and it would mean a lot not only to her, but to me if you would click that link back there + read over her post real quick. It will give you a better understanding of life behind the blog. Also, if you're a blogger you'll be saying "preach girl, preach" the entire time you read. I want my intentions to be clear and I want those of you who only see the "tons of posts" that I do on IG + my Alittlethriftychic FB page to see the 'behind the scenes". This endeavor, though still just a serious hobby, requires MUCH more time and effort than I'd originally planned. I am NOT complaining in the least because I absolutely love doing this! I can honestly say that this brings me more joy than teaching ever did.  Wow, I've never said that out loud. I love connecting with people and encouraging people. I love helping them find ideas and solutions that will work for their homes, while also encouraging and relating to others about the struggles and joys that I face as a mother, a wife, and a woman. I know that I am supported greatly because I have built a "tribe" that has my back and understands what it's like. Y'all have taken me from 300 followers to 1400+ followers on IG in 2 very short months {and I say that in shock not as a bragging statement}. I literally still don't know how it happened!! I am humbled daily by the kind comments, the encouraging words, and the sweet messages both from those I now consider friends and those of you that are complete strangers still. I really feel like I'm where I'm meant to be, both at home with my baby girl and pursuing something that I absolutely love with the hopes of one day making it into more. So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to each of you who read these posts, like or comment on my pictures, or even those of you that pray for me. It honestly means the world to me.

As if I haven't been honored enough just to be part of this community of ultra talented {mostly} women, I had the joy of being nominated for the Lobster Award recently. What the heck is that, you ask? Don't feel bad, I had no clue it even existed until a fellow blogger-friend, Katie nominated me for the award. Katie and I have collaborated on a project on Instagram recently, and she's so sweet and stylish. She's also a mama and follower of Christ, which makes her even more special. Basically, the Liebster award is an award given from one blogger to another. It's an awesome way to recognize up and coming smaller blogs. The way it works is that I post 5 facts about myself, and answer the 5 questions that Katie posed to me {see below}. Then, I nominate 5 other bloggers and give them 5 questions to answer. The purpose, again is to recognize those that work so hard to really make something of themselves and their blog in this big ole blogging world. Thank you SO, SO, SO much Katie for not only nominating me, but for supporting and encouraging me along the way. You are a gem. So, without further ado, here are 5 facts about me + my answers to Katie's questions.

F I V E  F A C T S about M E:

1} I have lived in the same city all of my life + have always been within 5 minutes of my parents. I love this because I'm VERY family-oriented.
2} I love fashion and make-up, but rarely know what I'm doing when it comes to either. I get lots of inspiration online thankfully. I would live in leggings and a graphic tee if I could.
3} I struggle with anxiety and I am constantly reminded of how much I need the saving grace of the  Father. Cleaning and organizing help me stay sane; it's usually also how you can tell I'm anxious about something.
4} I am an introverted extrovert. WHAT?! I am the ultimate homebody, which is why I love decorating our house so much. I am perfectly content staying home + time at home {alone} is where I recharge my batteries. BUT, I also like meeting and being around other people, especially if they can make me laugh. I strongly dislike small talk, though.
5} I still have the same best friends that I had in middle school. We all have kids + husbands now, but we group text on the regular + try to get together once a year. I love them VERY much, more than they probably know. Their support in this means so much to me.

K A T I E ' S  Q U E S T I O N S  to M E:
1} What is your guilty pleasure as a parent?
My guilty pleasure is watching reality television while Emerson naps. I obviously don't do it everyday, but usually about twice a week I catch up on all of my shows while she naps. It's ME time and I love it. I'm not going to lie to y'all, I really look forward to nap time everyday. I can't be the only one...

2} What does your "mom uniform" consist of?
Ha, I kind of already answered this above. I wear black leggings and long graphic tees a lot with a fun necklace, a watch, and 5-6 bracelets {simple silver + gold}. I prefer leggings to jeans for comfort purposes, plus they're more forgiving when I eat a lot, but honestly I probably wear jeans more regularly in public than I do leggings. At home, I'm usually always in leggings {or pajamas-haha}.

3} How did your marriage change after becoming a parent?
Man, more like how didn't it change! I quit teaching right before Emerson was born {summer baby} and as a result, my husband picked up a second job to cover some of the financial difference. His primary job is a firefighter/paramedic working 24 hour shifts 3 days a week, with a four day break after the 3 shifts are completed. He started working as a part-time as a paramedic on the children's hospital transport team shortly after Emerson was born. We RARELY saw one another for the first 8-12 months of her life because when he was home he was usually sleeping. We lived like this until just a few months ago. Our marriage struggled a lot because of this schedule change. Not to mention I went from working full time to staying home full time + having a baby to care for 24-7. I struggled with Post-partum depression for a while and this really took a toll on us too. Finally, his schedule has started to even out and we are spending a lot more time together + are able to do more as a family,

Through having a baby, I have learned how selfish I really was before children. I have learned to take into consideration the needs of others {especially my husband} before my own. I have learned how independent I really am and how headstrong I can be. I have learned that I am NOT always the boss, even though I think I am. Trey and I have really had to learn to communicate more effectively since having Emerson. I am so grateful to him for being so supportive. He works harder than most people I know and never complains about it. He works long hours and often goes days without seeing us. It's easy for me to complain about this, but I really am grateful for his sacrifice so that I can be at home raising our daughter. :) Did I answer that question? I think I may have strayed on a tangent. Whoops!

4} Who is your favorite person to follow on Instagram?
I have a couple favorites, but if I had to choose one, I would say MaLyn @malyn.logic. I had the honor of collaborating with her recently also.  MaLyn is so relatable and she can make light of any situation. I seriously stalk her page, but in a non-creepy way. She is one of those people that really makes you feel like you are not alone in your emotions and/or your struggles. Aside from all of that, she is truly hilarious and so supportive of other women/bloggers. AND she's GIRL BOSS because she runs her own t-shirt business, has 3 young children + a husband. I admire her so, so much!

5} What is your favorite beverage?
My favorite beverage is Coke Zero or coffee. I love both so very much. I don't drink soda very much anymore though, so when I do it's a real treat. I drink a lot of water, though I wouldn't consider it a "favorite".

I am so honored to have been "awarded" this and I want to nominate 5 women who inspire me and have been an encouragement to me along the way. THANK YOU to these ladies for bringing a smile to my face on a daily basis. You deserve this award!! Don't forget to give 5 facts about yourself + answer the questions below. :) XO!

* Bree because she's my insta-bestie + my soul sister. We are so similar it's scary AND she inspires me with her beautiful home decor on a budget.
* MaLyn  {visit her business page too} because of all of the reasons I listed above. :)
* Christina because we live like 40 minutes from each other and because she's seriously one of the funniest people ever + she is full of wisdom in this big blogging world.
* Tricia {who just wrote her first book, so I'm linking that website}was the very first person I reached out to about expanding my audience on IG. She gave me some great advice + she has continued to support + encourage me and I'm very grateful to her for that. Plus, she's sweet as pie + has adorable children. Oh, and she loves living clutter-free like me! Visit her blog Clean House With Kids.
* Abbie because she's also quite funny and I love her blog series that she's about to start called "whatmomsgoogle". She holds my attention and she's supportive of me too!

M Y  Q U E S T I O N S  T O  M Y  N O M I N E E S:
1} What's been the biggest challenge you've faced in the blogging world since you started blogging?
2} What originally made you start blogging in the first place, and have you kept that passion or veered in a different direction?
3} What is the hardest part of motherhood for you? How about the easiest?
4} What do you hope to be doing in 3-5 years from now?
5} If you make money blogging, how did you go from strictly having it as a hobby to now having it as a hobby + business? What's your advice for bloggers wanting to turn it into a hobby + business venture?

Her Success Is Not Your Failure

I consider myself a successful woman, mother, and wife. I also consider myself a failure at times, in all of the aforementioned areas. I have successfully created a home for us, while maintaining either a career or keeping a tiny human alive. I have created a community here where other women {and maybe men too} can feel comfortable and share in my life. I have had a lot of success in my lifetime thus far, but I have had equally as many failures. I fail to honor my Savior like I should. I fail to respect my husband the way that I'm called to in my marriage. I fail to always see the good in others. I struggle with self-doubt, anxiety, and jealousy on top of all of that. Since entering into the Instagram world to promote my blog and my passions, I have encountered women from all walks of life, most of whom barely know my name, let alone actually know ME. What they don't know is that they've impacted my life in a very profound way; in a way that touches on all of the successes + failures I mentioned above. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but I'm going to try.

See, when I first started blogging several years ago, I did it primarily to update family on the goings on of our lives, and then I slowly started gaining "followers", if you will. I used to get so excited every time another "view" would show up on my blog stats page. It became a bit of a trap. I was blogging to try to fit in, not to try to stand out. I posted what I thought people wanted to hear or see, and while there's certainly nothing wrong with appealing to an audience, the focus that I had was wrong. I set myself up for failure because I wasn't being totally myself. Several months ago, after my third or fourth brief hiatus from blogging, I got a renewed sense of passion + success. I found great joy in blogging and sharing my life with complete strangers {as opposed to JUST family + close friends} who shared my same interests, primarily motherhood and design on a budget. Finally, I felt like blogging, for me, felt like it should. It felt very right.

I found myself writing pieces for my blog very naturally without much thought, almost in a journalistic type fashion. I am continually sharing bits of my marriage, my motherhood journey, and my "tips" on how to decorate on a budget based on what I've done. I truly, truly LOVE what I'm doing and I think people can see that through this blog + through the pictures I share on Instagram/Facebook, at least that's my hope. I'm not getting paid for anything that I do {at this point in time}, but my time now is filled with more than just chores, taking care of Emmie {which I love}, and reality television.  I feel like I have a purpose and this is somehow part of it. I am sharing life with others, which is what God calls us to do. Sure, online relationships don't replace real life ones and I don't intend to let that occur, but it is really neat to see how God has brought some amazing women into my life through my short time blogging/Instagramming {from more of a "business" standpoint and less of a personal one}. I am so grateful that I found my niche.

Now, I'm about to detour slightly + get brutally honest for a minute because this has been weighing heavy on my mind for some time. I know I'm not alone in this. I struggle with Insta-envy. I see something that I don't have, and I get envious. I have determined some ways to squelch it, but it still finds me more often than not. My biggest point of contention right now is envy of other people's success, primarily as it relates to blogging/IG. I don't want to sound silly or petty, and hopefully I'm portraying this in a way that doesn't come across that way, but I'm struggling y'all. It's not that I don't support my friends and their accomplishments, because I most definitely do, but I struggle to find a balance between being supportive and being critical. I came across this quote a while back and I literally think about it every day.

Just because someone else is writing about similar content, or has a similar idea, doesn't mean they copied you or they think your ideas are a joke. It doesn't mean that they're perspective is better or worse, it's just different. Just because someone has been featured more widely across Instagram or has hundreds {or even thousands} of followers more than you, doesn't mean that people don't love what you bring to the table just as much. It is SO easy for me to be critical and judgmental when it comes to blogging or home decor. I will openly admit to that. But, I'm not ashamed of it because it's human sinful nature and THANK GOD, I have a Savior to rescue me from the depths of my despair. I am continually being challenged to remember that "her success is not {my} failure". God calls me to be a light in the darkness, and I want to make my voice heard, not because I want you to hear MY words per se, but because I want you to know that if you fight any of the same battles that I fight or if you find joy in any of the same things that I find joy in, you aren't alone. I think so many of us fight inward battles that we're too afraid to put out there for fear of rejection. Well, I guess I don't care if I get rejected because I just put it out there for the entire world. Just remember ladies, moms, bloggers, DIY'ers, that I support you even when sometimes I don't feel like I want to. Truth is, I really do want you to succeed, just as much as I want to succeed. Sometimes though, sometimes it's just plain hard to be happy for you, but I try my darndest every dang day.

Now, with all that behind us, go show some love to someone that maybe you'd prefer if just once they'd fail because it'd make YOU feel better. That's not a good mindset. Actually, it's really selfish, but we've all had that thought a time or two most likely. Ha. We are all just as equally screwed up, so let's be as supportive as we can and choose kindness, just like my bracelets preach. It's better for everyone. XO!