Social Media Lives {Be You. Do You.}

I'm a social media addict. Well, a Facebook-less social media addict.There's no denying any of that.

It's my job, literally. It's my side job, obviously. And besides all of that, I enjoy it. I really do.

I'd be lying if I said I don't still get giddy to look at my Instagram feed or to see who's posted what on their blog today. It's my thing. Some people like to bake, others like to read or watch TV...I like to workout, spend time with my husband and my dog (duh) and play on social media. And to me, there's nothing wrong with that, as long as it's not at the dinner table or in the middle of a meeting or a conversation, or every-freaking-second-of-every-freaking-day, etc... I actually encourage doing what you love and I honestly feel incredibly blessed that I get to do it personally and professionally every single day.

I am passionate about taking pictures and documenting every single thing I/we do. I absolutely love having this blog to post 'said' pictures and write about our everyday lives. I originally started this blog because I wanted to have a place for my kids (one day, if the internet and blogging are still around by then) to go back and read about mine and Beau's journey through life. And sometimes, it's even fun for me to go back and see what we were up to 2 years ago on January 16th. Isn't that the point in blogging?! To be a living, breathing journal?

That being said...I am, however, very confused by people who solely live their lives for social media. You know the kind I'm talking about...

The only reason they do this or that or take a certain picture or go on a certain vacation is solely so that they can blog about it or post it on Instagram/Facebook the very next second. Their lives are perfect. And so is their hair, skin and makeup. They want you to know how perfect everything is all the time, and when things aren't so perfect, they never let you know about it. It's almost like they're living a double life if you really think about it. No one's house is that perfect all the time. Nor is it physically possible to have a brand new outfit to post about every single day of the year, that is, unless you're Gal Meets Freaking Glam and Nordstrom and Kate Spade are your top sponsors. Your husband, though he may be an incredible guy, probably pisses you off at times, too. They're men...that's what they do. The pancakes you make every Sunday morning can't possibly turn out that freaking perfect every single time. (Seriously...am I the only one who screws up pancakes 75% of the time?!) And your family can't be 100% functional. Every single family has something dysfunctional about it...try and convince me otherwise.

Am I guilty of posting about the latest gadget I got for Christmas? Sure. Do I love trying to pretend I'm a food blogger whilst taking pictures of my most recent recipe? Of course. Do I love me a good photoshoot? Absolutely. Am I obsessed with my dog and treat her like she's most fabulous thing on the planet? Duh. We all want to post about the good things in life, but you've gotta throw in a little real life action every once in a while, too. Like how awful it was to host Thanksgiving dinner, or how you could learn to treat your husband a little better. Heck, even toss is how you're womanhood was taken from you the day your earlobe ripped all the way through and you can't wear earrings anymore or how you've seriously considered never leaving the crockpot going when you're not home anymore because you're terrified some strange electrical fire will start, your dog won't be able to escape and your house will burn down to the ground.

Be real. Be you. Do you.

Anywho...I could go on for days about this and I don't really know where all this is going. I just know I've run across a lot of "social media lives" lately and I'm not feelin' it. Not one bit.

Sure, enjoy blogging, tweeting, pinning and Instagramming all day long (to an extent...), but don't live your life around what your next blog post will be about or your next picture on Instagram will be of. Live your life the way you want to, and then post about it. Live your life for you.

And don't forget to stay true to yourself. Always, always, always stay true to yourself.

That's all the wisdom I've got for you today. I'll get off my soap box now. (And can someone please explain that term to me? I've never actually understood what it's supposed to mean...)