One of Life's Best Lessons {for me}

I was pretty shy through-out all of elementary school, middle school, and most of high school. It wasn't until after I graduated and got out into the big 'adult' world that I sort of came out of my shell. I always envied girls who were full of confidence and demanded attention just by walking into a room. I'm not talking about the wrong kind of attention either, they were just so confident and sure in themselves and their skin that they shined from the inside out.
I wanted to be that girl.
As I got older, I began to realize that confidence was a trait learned and earned; it's not something that is just there for most of us. Confidence comes with stepping outside of your comfort zone, caring less about what others think, and really focusing on yourself and what matters most to you.
I wish someone had told me that sooner.
With years of practice I have bloomed from that shy girl into a strong, confident woman. I know this because I practice this...daily. When I look in the mirror, I assure myself that I am enough, that I am beautiful, that I am loved. When I walk into a room, I keep my head held high, I smile, I make eye-contact with others. These things are not always easy, but over the years, they have gotten easier and easier with each passing day.

Something else I've learned?
Confidence is so much sexier than short-shorts, or low-cut shirts, or any other means of drawing attention to yourself. Confidence gives you an inner-beauty that shines so bright, everyone sees it.
I wish someone had told me that sooner too.

And in case no one has never told you: Girl, stand tall, with a smile on your face, and know that you are enough, you are beautiful, and you are love. Be confident in who you are, no matter who that is or how different it is from anyone else. You'll find that with confidence comes happiness and the deepest sense of satisfaction with the reflection in the mirror.
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Now go link up with The Girl Between the Lines, the prompt this week is: 
Tell us a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.

Alterations

I don't know what's got into me lately.

I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas 3 years ago and until about 4 months ago, I had never even touched the thing. For one, I was scared. Like, holy-cow, what-the-hell-was-I-thinking scared.

I mean, who was I to think that I could figure this machine out, let alone make anything with it?

Then one day last June I decided that I was going to make our good friend's little girl a blanket for her first birthday. A 'silky' as they call it, because they are so damn hard to find and I knew she would love it and use it. 

That is after-all the best gift, right?

So I did.

I bought enough material to bought two, made one that looked terrible and was miserably sad for Henry first and then made the second one for Miss Layla. And wouldn't you know that it turned out flippin' fabulous? I mean, yeah - there were bit and pieces that were kind of messy looking, but it was my first creation. 

And I was proud. I still am. Can't you tell?

(I even blogged about it before too, right here.)

Then I made several fabric and paper bunting banners for various reasons, all of which that I love. And I think it gave me this incredibly dangerous confidence boost.

So lately I keep buying things that don't fit in hopes to make them fit.

Like the $20 pair of jeans from Maurices that I found on clearance that were originally $95. They fit for the most part. They're just a foot too long. Literally. (Give a short girl a break, okay?)

I've got them marked and ready to hem, let's hope they turn out alright!

Then there's dress I bought this week to wear to our 'wedding'. It's two sizes too big, but whatev! I spent an hour earlier today pinning it and prepping it as well.

I've got this.

I think.

I should probably be asking for you to wish me luck. Probably. We will see. But right now I'm staying confident and I'm off to conquer my sewing machine!