Ships and Stripes - {My Dream}

Hi, my name is Monica Shipley. I created this blog.  I want to tell you a little about myself before I go on.

I have always been quite the girly girl. I never played sports, (or wanted to); I never liked anything outdoorsy (too dirty), or wanted anything to do with jeans, or the color orange. My favorite color has been pink ever since I was a teeny tiny, and it’s never changed.  I was always the friend who would braid my BFFs’ hair when we were bored, and tell them what to wear, what to buy when we shopped, and how to look. What Not to Wear, Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, were my go-to TV shows, and I would always think of what I would recommend if I was in their shoes. Clueless was my motto – AS IF! In high school, I went to beauty school because I had then decided I wanted to be a hair stylist. During beauty school, we would have hair shows and for both years, I was one of the models in it. I did NOT want to be the stylist in those situations. I had more fun dolling up and walking on stage having a kick booty time! I wanted to be someone people looked up to and modeled after. I love being a guru/teacher/role model to others!  The last year in beauty school I was nominated and (later voted) to be that year’s Miss Evit. Miss Evit was associated with United Way. Basically, whoever raised the most money, (got the most votes), would win the crown and be names Miss or Mr. Evit. I won for my class, rap parody of Ke$ha and all, and raised the most out of the 3 or 4 other girls nominated. It was one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. Not only did I raise money for charity and be able to be the face of my school that year in charity balls and walks, but I did something for myself and got to wear a crown all at the same time. We did a few photo-shoots and like the prima donna I am, soaked it all up.  Needless to say, I even wore my crown to my graduation at the end of the year….I was the only one that ever did that, and looking back I am like (what was I thinking?!) All in all, it shaped me to become more of who I wanted to be in my life. {{Bear with me; I’m done talking about my cheesy life}}

Monica, the name itself, means counselor, or one who helps others. I have always found joy in making others happy, or giving them guidance.  So, my example of Miss Evit was a perfect combination of two things I love the most: Fashion/style/beauty and service. After I graduated from beauty school, I began going to the community college to get my degree in social work. I love styling hair, don’t get me wrong, but it not my one passion, NOT my “career”. As time goes on, I will tell you more and more about my childhood that drove me to go in that direction as well, but I digress. I want to make a point and also say that my childhood was hard, (VERY hard), and I am now a normal, happy, healthy, happily married woman now of 21 years. I want to show that anyone can rise out of what they went through in their past and come out strong, and on top.  My religion is the most important aspect of my whole world. I am Mormon, (LDS), and service, charity and loving others are key points in what I believe. In a very sacred, special blessing I was given as a teen, it tells about how my duty in life is to serve others and for that reason I was brought to this Earth. At times, I forget about this and live life trying to figure out what to do with it, but then I always remember this.

That is why I made this blog in the first place. Granted it’s been a year since I’ve done anything with it, but I failed myself. I want to make this world a better place and I want to inspire. Ship set sail was supposed to be about dreams and aspirations. Well, I want to live mine! Here is my dream! I want to inspire others to be happy, be healthy, be stylish, be beautiful and confident in your own skin, rise up out of the darkness, and follow your dreams.

My dream is to start a company non-profit, (or maybe for-profit), for confidence of children. It will be geared more for girls. That is why I came up with the name Ship Set Sail. It’s a little play on words for my last name “Shipley”, and also what the point of the organization even is!  If you let go of all your fears, and let your ship sail, you can go anywhere. You can do anything you set your mind to. My idea was to have classes, confidence classes, beauty classes, fashion classes, cooking classes, exercise classes, (tips and tricks and inspiration for those who may struggle). Being a teen is hard, being a child is hard, heck, life is hard, but that shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals. I want to put kits together with reminders how to take care of yourself, know that each and every single one of you is gorgeous inside and out! I want to feed your brain, feed your confidence and feed your soul. I want to help you realize that you don’t have to be any certain way to be able to follow your dreams; you just need to be you. I want to put together boutiques where we all can showcase our talents whether it’s making adorable headbands, or playing piano, we all have something to share.  We all deserve to be inspired; we all deserve to be able to follow our dreams. WE ALL DESERVE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE BEAUTIFUL. –And to be confident.

I started this blog to get my dream going. I am confident in myself. I am confident in others. I know I have something to give. I want others to share what they have too! Goals and dreams- what keeps them living day to day? When I really began a year ago, I got really depressed after only a few posts, because after the 20+ people I asked to please help me share my dream to share their life goals, I only received 2 responses. To a newbie blogger, that was a huge kick in the tummy.  I now realize, I don’t need anyone else, but me, to get my blog going. After all, everyone’s life is crazy; I can’t withhold my own dreams to wait for theirs!

So, I will in the meantime start my blog myself. I will try to inspire with what I know. So, I will post what makes me happy: Fashion, hair, advice, vintage, crafts, and my testimony.

I will share what I know to be beautiful inside and out, and how to be the best person I can be.

Because that’s my dream: To be an inspiration, so others can be an inspiration too.

Here’s my first fashion picture, because fashion I love! Showing that you can be “fancy” (as a little girl at church told me today) on a budget. This was the outfit I wore today: 

Head band: Rue 21 -$5.99 Shirt: Forever 21: $17.99* Skirt: Pitaya $6.99* Shoes: Ross $13.99* (*approx.) I love me a good sale. I will share how you can be trendy, MODEST, and girly in future posts. Also, I will share how to be smart with the money you have. Also, (random side note), Goodwill is a YES! Don’t ever be ashamed if you shop there! It’s probably my favorite store!

Be inspired. Be an inspiration. Let your ship set sail. 

If you are interested in helping my cause, whether it’s to help me start up my little charity, or to enter in a blog post for your hopes and goals and dreams (or even just what you are passionate about, (mothering, cooking, exercising, teaching ect.) Please do. Email shipsetsailblog@gmail.com . Email if you have comments, or questions. Email if you have knowledge or advice.  Until then, I will try and inspire, by sharing what I know and enjoy! I want to see this get big, so we can help those around us gain confidence, follow their dreams, and feel beautiful.