Get on with it.

Your life is a gift.  Your life has a plan.  Your life has a purpose, in Heaven it began...right?

But sometimes, every now and then, I found myself wondering-- is this all there is?  I mean, there must be more to it than this.  Day in, and day out--kids, laundry, prayer, meals, designing, husband, groceries, homework, driving, cleaning, showering, bills, lecturing teaching kids, exercise, church, friends, texting communicating with others, mommy time, and on and on.  Not that many of those things do not bring me tons of happiness and joy.  But the reality is, as a whole, sometimes it all seems to be lacking in the purpose and plan and gift part.

Here's what I've learned and am currently learning.

I finally came to a place in my life a few years ago when I decided I was tired of focusing on things that didn't really matter.  Actually, it was more like I was doing things that I thought I enjoyed, but I wasn't feeling very fulfilled when all was said and done.  I decided I needed more in my life.  I was tired of trying to find happiness in things or relationships or projects.  Exhausted from trying to make everything in my life look and be perfect, but more than that I was tired of not feeling fufilled.  I was over stressing about things I couldn't control.  I was just plain beat down--much of my own doing.  I realized instead of looking all around me for direction and purpose, I actually needed to look up.

And so I did.

I started a dialog with my Heavenly Father...  I do this.  I just sort of talk in my head like I'm having a conversation sometimes demanding things and sometimes arguing with Him {I know, bad, right? Im sort of stubborn}.  I just finally said, "you know what, I'm tired of looking for happiness in meaningless things.  I seem to not be able to figure it out on my own. So, I just want to be doing what you want me to do.  Could I please just do that?  Please?  Whatever it is, I just want to do that.  I'm tired of not finding purpose in the things that I seem to think will.  Just show me what it is you want me to be doing right now with my life, so I can get on with it." {I'm kind of impatient, too.}

And guess what?  VERSIE is a part of that answer...yay!

So, what is it you need to get on with?  Trust me, it's so worth it to start on that path.

xo
Annie M

VERSIE online Soon!

Get ready for VERSIE to change the way you dress forever...so soon.

xo
Annie M

Sheer Battles

hair/Randi & makeup/Mitzi

Sheer dresses and tops--love them, but hate them too...

It gets exhausting figuring out how to wear sheer without making you crazy with all the layers.  Not to mention trying to make them look classy without looking crazy.  Often they come with a slip, but seriously, the fabric and the fit, not to mention the static that happens...they are bad.

Let me vent a sec:  I have a feeling I'm not alone in saying--I'm tired of all the layers.  I'm tired of all the layers that don't work together. And I'm tired of adjusting and untwisting and fighting with the layers.  I mean, isn't it a battle?  I do not need one more thing to battle in my life...#didimentionihavefourkids

So, guess what?

VERSIE to the rescue....The yummy layering top that covers your arms and fills gaps--connected to a slip that smooths everything out and makes your life a beautiful thing!

Coming online soon, soon....stay tuned!

xo
Annie M

Tired Yet?

^^ Tired of Bra Lines?  See through fabrics? ^^

^^ Tired of Arms Showing ^^

^^  Bum Lines from layering shirts? ^^

^^ Tacky shoulder seems?  Dingy layering shirts? ^^

^^ Adjusting? Adjusting? Adjusting? ^^

^^  Twisting?  Creeping? Adjusting? ^^

Im tired just thinking about it.  It's time for a change.  It's time for something better...

VERSIE by Annie M is coming...to save you from yourself.

{and I can't wait for you to experience it!}

xo

Annie M

Preview

This is a sneak peak into the latest VERSIE by Annie M action---everyday moms & girls become models for the day--so much fun and gorgeous beyond words, and so so much more to come...

And a big, big thank you to hair and makeup artists from Taylor Andrew, St. George!

xo

Annie M

Retreat

Some of the hardest times in our lives, are actually the times/opportunities that require us to look within, evaluate and to become quiet.  Then we begin to develop those parts of ourselves that need to grow.  Like muscles that have become weak and wimpy, over time as we do the daily work of making and fulfilling commitments, listening to promptings and following promptings-- we build those muscles, strengthen and fortify ourselves and our lives.  We become strong, fearless and powerful.  We come closer to who we are supposed to be with every thought, choice, decision and action....

Challenges often provide the most unnoticed growth in ourselves.  I know, because I've been doing this this past year.  It's been hard and I've complained and had a bad attitude at times, but boy have I needed these little treasures.  The blessing of being able to look at a hard situation that I didn't quite understand, and have peace.  It's a beautiful thing.  Not to mention the clarity, understanding and appreciation that I feel is precious gift.  God is good.

xo

Perfectly Imperfect, that's me...

I wrote this message a few months ago for some special young women, and today I feel I need to share a part of me with you...

Since as far back as I can remember, this is who I was expected to be... Perfect.   I was expected to look perfect.  I was expected to behave perfectly.  I was expected to have my room perfectly clean and be perfect in school.  I was expected to be the perfect young woman, sister and daughter.

Why?  Well, through my young eyes, my mother was perfect.  My family was perfect.   My life to others seemed perfect.   And so naturally, I spent my whole life in pursuit of perfection in everything--I actually thought it was something I could achieve.

It sounds exhausting, and it was.  I was actually failing miserably.  I spent many years of my life seeking after something that did not exist.  Let me explain:  I did not do well in school.  I wasn’t very good at sports.  I didn’t like musical instruments.  I wasn’t a very good dancer or gymnast.  I was chubby.  I hated to read.  I couldn’t sing.  I moved every year of high school.    I wanted more than anything to be pretty.  I wanted to be accepted.  I wanted to be outgoing and popular.  I wanted to be good at something and everything.  I wanted to be important.  I wanted to be perfect.  And guess what?  I spent all that time really frustrated, sad, depressed, discouraged and mad.  Why?  Because I wasn’t perfect, I was just me and that was not good enough.

So, what I have come to understand now, and wish, I would have understood back then was that my Heavenly Father knew me.  He really, really knew me.  He had given me a special gift.  ME.  He had a great and unique purpose for me to fulfill—something that was only mine to have.  He wanted me to do something so special, and so important, and I was the only one who could accomplish it.  The tricky part was that I was the only one who could figure it out, too.  I was the only one who could really understand that purpose. 

During those years, my Heavenly Father was so patient with me, so kind, so loving and understanding.  All along He had been there.  I realized later that He was gently guiding me.  He loved me when I didn’t love myself.  He knew who I was supposed to be, even though I wanted to be just like everyone else.  He taught me through the scriptures about my Savior.  I learned about repentance and the atonement.  He sweetly blessed me with learning and growing experiences like serving a mission and gaining an undeniable testimony of my Savior, service and love.  He led me to a kind husband and blessed me to be a mother to four beautiful children.  He taught me how to love myself and see all the goodness in me and those around me.  He waited for me to grow in faith, and He helped me understand my role as a wife and mother.  He taught me in the temple about covenants and promises.  He answered my prayers.  He continued to unfold my great purpose every day.

So, even though I was never a part of the popular group, or any sports teams or singing or dancing groups, I actually did have a team.   I was on a winning team.   It was me, my Heavenly Father, the Savoir, the Holy Ghost and all the attending angels who were cheering for me—all of them wanted to see me grow and learn and find my special purpose and win.  Win against sin, win against discouragement, win against perfection.  Win for me.  Win for my Heavenly Father, and win for the Savior of the world.

Now I understand what my purpose is.  It’s called my life.  It’s everything that I am.  It’s already inside me.  It’s always been there.  It’s my talents, my gifts, my perspective, my thoughts, my experiences, my determination and everything little thing that I needed to learn, understand and become—and I am the only one who could do the work.

So, who am I today?   I am still me….but better.   I am creative and I love design and fashion.  I am an introvert and a deep thinker.  I am a visual learner.   I love to laugh.  I love to feel the spirit.  I prefer quality over quantity in my friendships.   I love the scriptures.  I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior, and I care more about what they think of me than I do anyone else.  I am my Heavenly Father’s daughter and He loves me, and I love and adore Him.   I love the sacrament.  I love being a mom and I love my life, not because it’s easy or perfect--because it’s not--but because it’s mine.  And I have worked really hard, and continue to work really hard, to figure it out –all with the help of my special winning team.

So, what’s already inside of you?  Do you understand and honor it?  If not, what are you waiting for?...........Your very special winning team is ready and waiting for you….find them, join them and start winning.  I promise you will become so much greater than even you can imagine.

xo

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