Today's Musing: Why I Choose to do What Makes Me Happy (even if I make less)

This blog makes me slightly uncomfortable to write because there are definite moments I think back to my "before life" and shake my head.

Did I really walk out on my career to work from home?

What happens if my husband blames me for leaving a steady job (and paycheck)? I can't let him and my family down...

There are moments in the middle of the night where these questions linger in the back of my head. And I'm here, I'm still here and I'm really trying to make this blog a personal one, an honest one, where I can write down my fears and be okay with it.

I also wonder if there are any other people out there, in the same boat, making those same decisions and being okay with it.

And for those that may not be familiar with my story, I would love to share some insights along with a few key thoughts that went into making that big decision a few years ago.

I hope this helps.

1. I was good at my work, but I didn't love it: For close to ten years, I had been working in program development/fundraising in the non profit sector. I loved what the work was about and the team that I worked with. Somewhere down the road though, late at night, I found my mind wandering...my thoughts would linger on weddings. Funny, right? But when I was little and at the book store, one of my favorite things was just rummaging through wedding magazines. It's amazing when you look back on all of it.

Makes you just realize the awe of it all--how maybe our path has been decided long before we even realized it.

So, are you there right now?

2. Could you do this "new thing" every day? No, really. everyday. When you take the leap to do what you love, you are going rogue. You are doing this on your own with little to no help. Can you do this everyday? Close your eyes. If you feel like this may be something you may get bored with over time, it may a sign that you should give this more thought.

3. Assess the risk: I hear a lot of "feel good" workshops these days and sometimes they make me cringe.

Take the plunge! 

Do what makes me happy!! 

It's a dangerous slope and those phrases make cringe. It doesn't give respect to how massive making a big career jump is. Assess your risk. What will you be risking when you take the plunge out of your career? Will it be that you may not be able to go out as much? Or are there much bigger items at stake (house payment, bills, kids, etc.). Look at the big big picture. Know what you are getting into before taking the plunge.

One of the biggest moments in my life (of course, besides having kids) was that moment right before I resigned. That moment when I breathed in. I closed my eyes and took it all in. I let the tears fall. I knew what I was letting go. Easier lifestyle, steady income, benefits...but I also knew what I was gaining....more time with my husband, my boys.

I always knew my life would be interesting. Maybe not full of riches, but I knew. I knew it would be an adventure.

I hope this helps and if you are going through any of these same thoughts or have been in this same boat, would love to hear from you!

XO-Natalie

Today's Musing: Great Books for Kids

Growing up reading books was my haven, the secret place where I could enter another world and I loved every moment of it. I vividly remember my mom giving me a hard time when she would check up on me late at night and found me secretly reading under the covers.

I don't say it enough but I have my mom to thank for my love of reading, and of books. From an early age, I can still close my eyes and find myself and the many libraries we used to spend hours at. And she never said "no" when I had a big stack of books ready to check out. She would just smile (along with her stack of People magazines) and together, we would wander off into our little worlds.

So now that I'm doing the mom-thing, books are equally as important to me. And that has been a different experience. I don't remember groaning or rolling my eyes when I mentioned hanging out at Barnes N Noble, or complaining when it was time for our nightly reading time...so...yes...it's different. I'm not giving up, though. And since I'm determined to make this whole book-lovin' thing happen, I thought I would share some of my favorites and a few tips I've learned along the way.

And please, if you have any books you would like to suggest I add to our growing selection, I welcome you to share in the comments section!

Spencer (age 8): Spencer is a very unique soul. And I'll be sure to share with you the ins and outs of this spicy kid some other way too long post. But in the meantime, below are a selection of his favorite reads. He's in second grade and for him reading is one of those things that he loves when he's found a gem of a book but if he's not feeling it, it's like pulling teeth. Knowing that, though, I choose to pick my battles.

Carson (age 6): Carson is my loving middle child and he's just at the point when things are finally starting to click. Reading for each child comes at different times and it's been really great to see his eyes open and his comfort level ease up a bit.

And my two favorite picks (for today): 

And a few tips I've learned along the book-reading way:

1. Every child is different: How many times have you heard that? But with reading, it is. Every child, every level. And I'm a big advocate in embracing where they are at and finding what works for them. My oldest recently finished a book that was perhaps a bit too challenging for him. It frustrated him, he complained along the way but he finished it. Was I happy for him? Of course. But I then went and found a book that better suited where he was at, and he was happy. Lesson learned.

2. Reading at Night: Every night we dedicate some time to reading. I like to keep it to 20-30 minutes at the most. And I'm going to be really honest here. Not that long ago, there would be a whole lot of complaining until I thought, "If I'm making my kids read, shouldn't they see me reading as well?" So at night, we turn of the television, no phones, and we sit down on the couch and all read. My husband will take my little one in the room if he's too distracting but sometimes he even sits down with us and looks at pictures. This really changed everything AND big bonus for me...now I get to read more! And my kids hardly complain as much because they see that I'm reading as well.

3. Give them a break: Yes, having them read is important, but just as important is that they get to listen and hear your voice. To relax a little bit and close their eyes. So after they read, I'll usually pick a classic picture book (nothing too intense) and they get their blankets and I read to them. They LOVE this time. And it's also fun for me to pick a book I think they'll enjoy.

So on that note, I'm still learning and would love to hear any tips or book picks! Down the road I'll share a few of my own favorite reads and get into how we organize our growing book collection!

My Story.

Thank you so much for stopping by! If there is at all, anybody out there in the internet world. I guess everyone has their own bag of reasons for why they want to start their own blog. Mine, mainly was just wanting to get a lot of thoughts out there…thoughts about my work, marriage, raising boys. This blog will be a separate entity from my work and for any business inquiries please go to my business site at www.chicsweets.com. This blog is personal and really meant to be a little window in my everyday world. 

But I figured before I get into the actual musings part I should at least introduce myself and give some background story. I live out in Land O Lakes, Florida, just north of good ole’ Tampa. For 8 years, I worked in the non profit field, working with residents to create empowering programs in their communities. Somewhere in there and up late at night I thought it would be a great idea to start my own business, creating dessert tables for brides.

For three years I juggled both full time job and a growing business–it was messy, it was exhausting and to this day I still look back at those sleepless nights and think…”Did I really do that?” 

After the birth of my third son, I took an honest look at my life and decided to make the scary jump into running my business full time. Leaving an industry that I had worked hard to make a difference in was unbelievably hard. I had moved up steadily at that point, was making good money, fantastic benefits but as cliche as it sounds, none of it mattered because I was unhappy. My husband barely knew me, my children would see me in passing when I came home late at night, annoyed they were even bothering me. But I did it. And never looked back. 

Flash forward to almost 8 years later, and I have continued to run my business. I’m not nearly (not even close) to making what I was when I was working my full time job, and some may question why I would even make such a careless decision in the first place, but one of the hardest (if not toughest) lessons I have come to learn is that the work you do takes a big chunk of who you are. I could not be the wife or mom my family deserved if I was not doing what I love. Again, I realize that statements may come off as selfish, but I am a believer that sometimes it’s okay to jump without really knowing what comes next….

So that, my virtual friends, is my story in a nutshell.

Happy Easter!