GYC-GirlYOUCrazy.com is Officially 3 Years Old…But should I celebrate?

Yes. I am still here, although a bit quiet, and a tad reserved (for the moment). Focusing and making sure I am connected to the limitless. Placing one foot in front of the other. Wrapping my head around international changes, external phases… being confident that THIS (the life we have today) is it!!

The past two anniversaries, I sat in front of you on video, got teary eyed, did karaoke…etc. However, this year, I just want to (briefly) reflect…authentically! Even if you may have to read this a couple times to catch what I’m saying or realize the seeds I’m planting or watering.

So this year…I decided, it was time to be DEEP and eventually we’ll laugh but always enjoy the journey. I am rededicating the purpose of GYC regardless of the lack of new posts (bear with me)…its intention beyond the date is to encourage perspective that honors OUR journey, Purpose, goals, Passion, and realize the influence we have beyond the people that have taken the time to learn our name.

Often, this journey of Purpose requires submission to an (appeared) unknown path of promise.

I was looking at life up till now, thinking about all, ALL the different directions that it seems I’ve gone and am going…and I thought through a question:

How did you change your perspective to honor an unknown path?

This is my response: Trusting that I am created with Purpose. So as much as it may seem unknown to me, it’s not. We grow into the beautiful people that we are becoming, in honoring our growth we honor who we are and the path that leads us.

So for this 3rd year, in honor of GYC-GirlYOUCrazy.com…spend some time or better yet, TAKE some time reflecting on your journey through whatever medium (sitting on the floor, journaling, mirror conversation, drawing…YOU get the picture…make a picture). Make sure that YOU still love where you’re headed, appreciate where you’ve planted, and still hope in its Promise.

“Girl YOU Crazy”

… I know. ;-)

With love and a whole bunch of CRAZY COURAGE,

Miss Lauren Alicia, Still Here. And the Queen of the Process!!

Check Yo' Self Before YOU Wreck Yo' Self

“Check yo self before you wreck yo self and miss a great opportunity because of a humble beginning.”-Purpose knowing that we grow into our greatness

“Don’t allow your thoughts to limit the vision of your dreams or talk you out of the journey/steps that it takes to get there.” 

This is the 1st post of the year… WHOA Lauren, where have you been?????????????

I know, I know. Happy New Year y’all!!! However, I had to be sure that what was written was the REAL and relevant to what is going on in this New Year. Yep! No faking the funk here!!

So much growth, change, new beginnings, great connections, releasing the unnecessary connections (even if they don’t know it yet…) and just being free in all of what Purpose asks of me…

Then why is the post titled, “Check Yo Self Before YOU Wreck Yo Self” ?!?!!?

Because…where there is growth or progress to be made, there IS a struggle!!! And pride wants to tell everyone about him or herself while ego holds the microphone in attempts to tell you (as a reminder) and everybody else that you have already grown (2 snaps).

But in all of that, you miss the opportunity for actual growth.

“Check Yo Self Before YOU Wreck Yo Self” (yes, I'm quoting Ice Cube *smile)

Can I get a HELLO!!!!!!!

“Girl YOU Crazy”…but that’s why YOU are here!! We are all in process of something and we will only be in process until we get real/honest and stay honest with ourselves about where we are and where we want to be!

GYC Disclaimer: This post is more than likely going to read like a short rant post…but what’s new!? “The short part.”

I started this New Year somewhat like the last year but with specific plans for going to the next level with things that I already have in place versus creating the space…

However, even when we are following purpose and can see the bigger picture (SOMETIMES… it’s okay, I’ll be honest by myself), thoughts, feelings, pride…the fact that we are human tend to get in the way of the humble start…and we may start to wonder if we are really walking in our worth with this journey…

Now do you see why this post took so long!!!??? And I’m taking my vulnerability to the next level by putting this out here because this is a recurring moment in MY thoughts… it happens just before I’m bumped up to the next level but with it being 2015, a New Year, a new age, I’m just like geeessshhhh I’m a little over the humble beginnings… although I am appreciative!! At least now I know what it feels like to realize that I am built for more than one dream…the feeling of opposition lingering, the other side rolling their eyes and saying, “This is really not a humble beginning Lauren…” while my pride taunts with, “Why do I have to have a humble beginning for everything?????”

Then Purpose answers and says because YOU were created to impact, influence and inspire…and without knowing the feeling, or having the experience from every level of what I am asking you to begin or continue, you will not respect your progress nor have the compassion necessary to relate to those you’re designed to relate to. These humble beginnings are not meant to make you question your worth but stand firm in it and realize that you’re built strong, strong, STRONG and when you get to where you think you want to be after all of this…TRUST and know that I will blow your mind with the next thing! Don’t give up, don’t give in, allow the one open door to lead you to the next one…

Check Yo Self, Before YOU Wreck Yo Self…please!!

Seems like I should read Don't Take The Elevator...

So as YOU/ME (definitely me)/WE carry-on throughout 2015 and ALL the years to come…

May these “Check Yo Self Before YOU Wreck Yo Self” GYC Girl YOU Crazy quotes run through your thoughts as YOU get ready and stay ready for the next level!!!

1. Before you scrap for crumbs look up and see that you can have the whole cookie!

2. Allow your attitude and perspective to respect you!

3. Self-reflection is not for self-pity but a moment of reflecting on our true identity.

4. Allow your expectations to be manifestations…with trust and patience.

5. Don’t allow your potential to go unused because of your limited view of what is in front of you. #SeeTheBiggerPicture

6. Just because others disagree doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t share your opinion (again) or that you’re wrong, or going in the wrong direction.

7. If you truly have problems, realize the gifts and abilities you’ve been given and see that you were also given solutions that only you can compassionately pursue. Every problem you have has the potential to grow YOU in some way…even if it is just in mindset (which is HUGE)!!

8. You have come too far not to check your intentions or follow peace before you proceed!!

9. “Check Yo Self Before YOU Wreck Yo Self and find out what it really means to have a humble beginning…

10. Without the struggle you’ll never find your strength or grace for compassion.

11. The difference between you and others is…this is your dream, not something you are settling for. Remember that.

12. Your progress is a personal process that only you need to take the time to understand and commit. Be okay with it!

13. Will you look back on your experience right now as time wasted or time well spent? Think about it… think about it… then decide whether or not to continue!

14. Only YOU can stop YOU…don’t let anyone else think they have that power.

May YOU love yourself and your choices. Cheers to US continuing to rock this 2015!!

Defeating Crazy with Courage,

Lauren Alicia // Miss GYCGirl…Checking myself before I wreck myself!! ;-)

 

#TooBlessedToMissMyBlessings ...I know, I don't use hashtags properly all time...forgive me (smile)!

P.S. Checkout this month’s Question for Thought

Happy New Year's Eve & Thank YOU 2014!! See Ya!!

My last ‪‎creative‬ contribution to 2014!!! I'm crying tears of joy right now y'all!!! This has been quite the year of new beginnings, pushing through, standing my ground, walking further and further into my purpose, and truly realizing what it means to have inspiration be your lifestyle!! I LOVE IT!!

EXTREMELY thankful to have connected with YOU in some way, shape or form!! YOU ARE AMAZING and have amazing things/opportunities in store!! I know it...and that is NOT crazy talk but COURAGEOUS TALK/DECLARATION!!

Without further ado...before I get my celebration on... allow me to present YOU with your 3rd annual end-of-the-year ‪FREE‬ GYC-GirlYOUCrazy.com ‪‎Book‬!!! IT'S A COOKBOOK!!!!!!!  Read below!!

"Let Those With Passion Eat Cake & Other Things"

Y'ALL AIN'T READY!!!! Enjoy!!! And see in 2015!!!!!


*Before the year is over and as the New Year begins...write a quote and allow that to be a seed!!


With LOVE.

Sincerely and ALWAYS Defeating Crazy with Courage,

Lauren Alicia, Miss GYCGirl...Let's Rock THIS 2015!!!

Get the Hair Out YOUR Drain

GET THE HAIR OUT OF YOUR DRAIN!!!

…“Get the hair out of your drain”?????

Girl, WHERE is this going???

For some of you…all you needed to read was “Get the hair out of your drain” and that was enough…

It spoke to you (Mmmhmm)!!!

BUT…

For the curious, join me on this possibly quick journey…

 (I can’t make any promises)…

Some GYC Pre-SideNote Rant-like Commentary

Hair grows from you. It falls out daily… for some of us it’s natural and we’re not balding, we don’t lose sleep over it but when it clogs our drain, it forces us to stand in dirt (and whatever else you’re washing off…that’s your business)… because of something we let go of…

It forces us to deal with something we already thought we dealt with…

So…I saw this quote on Facebook or Pinterest (I can’t remember) but its substance is extremely powerful, “if you let it go, where did it go?” As in… Could you possibly be standing in its influence, did you tell yourself you let it go but you’re really hoping it never left, and/or you’re not sure if you really let it go because you didn’t know the truth of the situation, or you’re like me…and you just didn’t want to be honest?

Alright, let’s start from the beginning…

You washed your hair…your drain gets clogged…and now you’re standing in the dirt that you just washed off…because of something you let go of…

You follow? Okay.

…

If you’re wondering where this post came from…

I was in the shower washing my hair, and trying to make sure my hair didn’t clog the drain…

And I started to think…

How much stuff have we 'washed' off or out but are still standing in its influence?

This is starting to sound a little like “Funky Guests Make Your Whole House Funky” Right?? But it’s not (I think? …This is possibly a different level).

………………………..

GYC SideNote: Sometimes I just laugh at the moments the shower creates because some of those moments/thoughts get real deep…yep (or at least I think they do...)!

Anyway…

“It’s nothing like standing in the shower with a clogged drain. Everything gets clean but your feet.”-Life, GYC

If you can relate,

Well…

Let’s get the hair out of our drain!!!

Yep…another reality check post for me this 2014…

1.   To clean is to recognize the need. In order to get the hair out of your drain…there has to be hair in it!

We wash our hair for many reasons… But before we decide to wash our hair, we’ve recognized at least one of our many reasons as a need that needs to be fulfilled/achieved/taken care of/you get the picture...

Then we wash our hair.

Basically…

         +Recognize the need

         +Approach the need

         +Realize the solution

         +Live the solution

The thing is…sometimes when we recognize the need it doesn’t help us process and fully understand the solution. Or the solution we find…only provides temporarily for the need, which is where the clogged drain comes in.

When life moves forward don’t let the past haunt.

GYC Personal Commentary…not story

There definitely have been moments in my life recently and of the past that I thought I let go of something…only later to realize that I am still standing in its influence, and now, realizing why I wasn’t REALLY able to let it go… Confronting that part of me began to show the steps I need to take for growth in that area.

It’s great when we can recognize our needs and even more when we are able to take the next step, realize and live the solution.

For me, I needed to “let it go” for that moment since I wasn’t ready to be honest because I didn’t know the honesty of the situation, nor did I care to know. However, since I’ve decided to be in a state of substance and ditch surface only, I’ve started to distinguish the difference of standing in an influence that made me bitter and standing in an influence that made me better. One tracks mud and the other leaves a legacy.

Get the Hair Out Your Drain! And keep it out!!

2.    After you’ve washed your hair… take what came out and decide where it needs to go. If it goes down that drain…it will surely build up and cause you to stand in what you “think/thought” you let go of…

Give that “hair” a burial that can’t be dug up.

Distance your thoughts of the past with a fresh perspective that serves you…

“You ever ask someone to take their shoes off…only to find that their feet or socks are dirty? I don’t have a point to make…I’m just throwing that out there.”

Get the Hair Out Your Drain!

     2a. Let your hair dry. Clear your head.

Our drain gets clogged because we’ve only let go of the surface, we’ve cutoff contact with the person or thing but we’re still allowing it to occupy our thoughts like “it” never left. You know…refusing to be honest about why we let it go and who we’ve become because of its presence and absence in our life.

Allow your thoughts to serve you beauty instead of misery.

Get the Hair Out Your Drain!

3.    Put a mask on (I like a nice moisture mask...) and relax.

Breathe in. Breathe out. And allow the present to live and the future to be born.

It’s always important to remember that you’re still standing. Remember that when you think about looking back with a negative view.

Before I sign off, go to the nearest mirror, look at it and say it with me…

GIRL!!! “Get the hair out of your drain”

And whatever else is in your mirror conversation…

“There is no need to allow the past to hold up your present…let’s push forward with understanding.”

Those steps above are currently on repeat in my life…you know for sanity reasons…

Defeating Crazy With Courage,

Lauren Alicia

Want to take your growth in the post to the next level? Get my NEW book, Dear Divorce, Thank You (Even Though I Hate You)...

Thanks for reading! Be sure to share!! 

I was nominated... My first Liebster Award Nomination!!!

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU to the oh so resourceful, you’ve got beauty questions…she has answers… RENEE OF Beauty School ScArlet!!!!!!! I hopped on Google+ the other day and there was my Liebster Award nomination from Renee (CONGRATUALTIONS TO YOU), extremely honored to be in the mix with 10 other inspiring and full of HELPFUL tips bloggers.

A Liebster Award is an award given via the Internet from another blogger to recognize and/or discover new bloggers. It also allows readers to get to know the blogger from a different point of view by the blogger answering 11 informal random questions presented by the blogger who nominated the nominee. In return, the nominee pays it forward by nominating 11 bloggers for the award.

Get to know me a little more through my answers to Renee’s questions:

1.   Who, what or where does your blogging inspiration come from? My journey and life lessons, if its on my blog…I’ve lived it, learned it or continuing to learn it…I don’t want there to be take-backs to what I tell about my journey, I want to be an open book… So I focus on the story I tell being the life I live or am working to see it in my reality!

2.   What is the best advice you have ever received? When I was preparing for my first ever business meeting, someone told me to know who I am and stick to it.

3.   What motivates you? Life, all its mysteries and wonders, and wanting to have something that I created to leave behind or pass on like a baton.

4.   What is your favorite TV Show or movie? I’m so flaky when it comes to TV shows, I’m currently going through old shows like Freaks & Greeks, Wonderfalls, Boston Public, Harry’s Law and deciding why they didn’t have long life like The Office… so I’ll discuss my favorite movie. Coming to America because for whatever reason…I have watched this movie the most in my life and always like it is the first time I ever saw it, it just never gets old to me. So I’ll give credit where credit is due!

5.    What book would you recommend others to read? Their journal/diary…

6.   What is your dream job? Shoe designer!!!!!!!!!! It’s my biggest dream but I’ve noticed along the way that before I get there…there are smaller dreams that need to be completed first! But I sketch at least once a month…watching this video below just reminded me how beautiful my dream still is to me.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=8BebkVAOvlg

7.   What is your favorite food? Sweet Potato Yams by my mom because I’m picky about what I eat…I make all the “Girl YOU Crazy” faces if I don’t like it. So to be specific and cut out any other questions about anybody else’s food…I don’t like everybody’s’ yams just my mothers, it goes well with her Mac and Cheese… yes, please!

8.   What is guilty pleasure? Ooooo I’m embarrassed but I watch Love and Hip Hop ATL… I apologize phahahahahahaaaaa but there is this one vlogger who has the BEST commentary on the show…it just makes me giggle non-stop!!!!!

Then… Nutella…if there was a meeting…I would go!!!

9.   What is the story behind your blog name? Perspective decides how we see things. And negative words and phrases have the possibility to cloud our perspective. It was a moment of recognizing that “Girl YOU Crazy” can easily enter our thoughts because it’s said with a little laughter but the thing is…it can sometimes linger negatively… So…I flipped the meaning of something playful that can discourage, keeping it playful but using the phrase as fuel to accomplish/complete/finish and live your dream with great expectation & a smile. 

10. What is your favorite drink of choice? Water… that sounds so boring but I had to stop drinking the sweets although Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha and me like to get together like old friends every now and then!

11.   If money were no object, where would be the first place you would travel to? Turks and Caicos, my bags could be packed in minutes!!! … I like to travel to warm weather and be around different accents…and get more use out of my passport so…

Well… now you know a little more about me!!!

Now in paying it forward…I looked up many different rules for choosing your list of 11…so I did a combination… if you would like to pass your nomination to someone else, please let me know, and I will update my list! Thanks…and here is my list of 11:

I enjoy your journeys for different reasons!!

1. For Women to Women

2. Illy Who

3. Kerri Waller

4. Live Laugh Love Post

5. Manicured & Marvelous

6. Mariah Thompson Blog

7. Ms. AmericanPie

8. Nailmattic

9. The Preppy Polka Dot

10. This Girl & The World

11. Reasons To Dress

And here are the questions I would like for you to answer (yes…I know…they are random…):

1.   When people first heard you entered the blogging game…what did they say?

2.   Tell me a movie you watched that no one would believe you learned something valuable from?

3.   What’s your favorite quote?

4.   What makes you LOL, Phahahs, Haaaaa or Hehe?

5.    Fill-in-the-blank… If you could spread ______________ on everything…life would be _______________.

6.   What’s your dream vacation… and who would you invite (even if you don’t know them…)?

7.   What advice would you give to someone considering giving up on their dream/passion?

8.   What’s your favorite magazine (online or print) or book? And would you ever turn your blog into one??

9.   Who or what inspires you the most?

10.  If your favorite color was a love song…what would be the title?

11.  20 years from now…What is one thing you want the older you to know/remember?

Have fun and thanks so much Beauty School ScArlet!!!

-Lauren Alicia…Miss GYC Girl…YOU Know the Rest!

How Creative Would YOU Be…?

Come on down and welcome to HOW-CREATIVE-WOULD-YOU-BE-? *Key Music…

In this post (or maybe even a C H A L L E N G E…)…I’m asking that YOU limit your outside resources, as in whatever is not in your house/building…do not use.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to limit our abilities when we think we are without certain resources…

causing us to possibly unnecessarily outsource.

In my thoughts, I had to realize that I when I do this…I put a cap on who I am, how I’m designed and what my design is prepared to fulfill, and as a result…I personally use it as an excuse to procrastinate…so I wait and wait and make more plans to wait!!!

…Girl, it was time to put an end to that crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we know we’re worthy…YOU/Me/We need to walk in our worth!!! HELLO!!!

So if you can relate… this is for YOU!

Here is the CHALLENGE, below is a list for you to put to use:

How Creative Would You Be If YOU…

1.    Read all the books in your house that you just had to buy/borrow/read?

2.    Got your cookbooks dirty instead of dusty? :-)

3.   Learned and used all the programs downloaded on your computer?

4.    Try it yourself…before commissioning someone?

5.    Made yourself wear everything in your closet?

How Creative Would You Be If…

6.    Every outfit you wore outside expressed an opportunity of (YOUR) worth and more?

How Creative Would You Be If YOU…

7.    Took a camera and captured whatever/everything you see (inside and out)?

8.    Looked in the mirror and decided to see more than a reflection?

9.    Visualized what you dreamed of becoming or owning, then went to visit it and/or made the blueprint for it?

10.   Looked up at the sky and wondered?

11.   Decided to fix, re-create or give new perspective to what is broken?

12.   Really took time to think about the story that you live?

13.  Thought about why the person you admire or the person whom gets on your nerves the most has a special place in your thoughts?

How Creative Would You Be If…

14.  Without hesitation… you knew where your biggest inspiration resided and the depths of the places your inspiration takes you? And how to stir it up every time you need/want it?

How Creative Would You Be If YOU…

15. Wrote down and thought about everything you ever wanted to be and WHY, starting from your first childhood memory?

16.  Immediately gave plans to the things you refuse to throw away? ... Putting aside “some day I’ll use it for something,” and give it some REAL GENUINE PLANS for this current month…

17.  Decided with action that TODAY is the day that I begin what I always wanted to start and imagined it being amazing when it is completed?

18. Realized that shoestrings are not just for shoes, cameras are not just for capturing memories, belts are not only for pants, olive oil isn’t just for cooking, stories aren’t just for telling? How creative would you be if you gave the things you use an opportunity to be useful for something else?

19.  How creative would you be if someone noticed the depths of your capabilities that you have yet to see? Would you ignore them or take time to explore in yourself what they see?

20.   Owned Your Lemons?

21.  Allowed this month’s Question for Thought to help you think of the NEXT BIG THING?

Well…How Creative Would YOU Be? How Creative Can YOU Be?

Oh…I apologize if this wasn’t as exciting as the lady in the GIF made it seem but…

When I was typing the scenarios, I thought about making up some extravagant, over-the-top, crazy courageous type tasks…then, I remembered…there is nothing like being in a scenario you already live called, YOUR LIFE!

What task(s) are you facing today? Add it to the “How creative would YOU be…” list and put your design to the test.

I am!!

My point for all of that is… Know your design…IT IS, YOU ARE A GREAT RESOURCE!!!

Think about all of the “AMAZING” YOU/Me/WE are already equipped/designed/capable to create before we even leave our mind, swipe our card, call someone up…ETC…YOU get the picture!

Last Thing…

Do you watch Extreme Cheapskates??? I know I’ve mentioned it a couple times on social media…ASIDE from some of their eating and bathing habits… There is something WE can all learn about being cheap… that money isn’t our greatest resource…WE ARE!!!

Mmmhmm!!!

Our creativity lies in what we are willing to create (with what we have).  

How creative would/can YOU be?

Defeating the Crazy with Courage…

Lauren Alicia

P.S. this process can be a struggle but We Are designed to come out on top…that’s a promise!

Happy Monday!!