What you think you know (but probably have no idea)

Today I'm going to try to debunk some myths about me.
Because I share openly about aspects of my life on this blog does not mean that I don't hide other things. I'm not going to tell you every little detail of my life. I just can't, and who'd be interested anyway?
I'm just a normal girl, with a public blog, that has lost a significant amount of weight.
So here's what you think you know about me (but probably have no idea):

You think I take too many pictures of myself and I'm conceited.
One thing is right there, I do take a lot of pictures of myself.
And there are many reasons for that. First of all, I feel cute. I used to HATE the way I looked in pictures. I'm talking, HATE. I'd avoid them at all costs when I was bigger. So I hid, cropped if I had to, and photoshopped if I needed.
But it didn't hide anything, I still FELT bad inside.
After losing the weight, I began to feel more confident, wear cuter clothes, and started liking what I saw in the mirror.
I'm not saying you have to be thin to be beautiful or feel good about yourself, you just have to be HAPPY... and I was not.
Does that come across as conceited? Perhaps. Maybe if you didn't know that about me.
But now you do.

You think I make a HUGE income off of this blog.
You'd be wrong.
I do make some extra change from this blog (giveaways and sponsors) and the ads you see on my page? I haven't been paid for them yet. And won't until February.
Any money I make off of the blog goes toward our outstanding credit card bills we've racked up from necessary purchase over the course of about 5 years. MJ's PICU stay in the hospital last Christmas, things like that.
My husband is an electrician and I work in an office. We are not made of money and we work very hard to make ends meet. Daycare sucks us dry!
We still worry about bills and money, but we make it work.
We are blessed.

You think I'm greedy and expect things for free because I'm "Mama Laughlin".
This could not be further from the truth.
Over the course of the 4 years I've had this blog it has become something I never thought possible.
It's turned into a business. A business I'm very passionate about. 
It wasn't until I spoke with Skinny Runner a few months ago that I realized I wasn't marketing myself like I should be. I had a platform at my fingertips that I could be using to my advantage.
I talk ...err type... and people listen. Why? I'll never know. But they do.
Thus came the business of advertising.
Esentially what happens is a company comes to me, wants to sponsor or host a giveaway, I like the product, get a few items sent to me and pimp them out. Obviously there's more to it than that. But it's just a general idea.
People realize how amazing the company/product is and their sales increase 30-50%.
I'm not tooting my own horn here, I'm trying to help you understand how this works.
So you don't think I'm greedy or expect things for free.
The advertising I do for these companies increases their sales. It's a give and a get.
Ever see those links I post all over my site?
That's advertising.
Not only am I driving more people to that specific company's site, but I'm also letting you all know where I got whatever particular item I'm pimping.
And I don't personally pimp stuff (or advertise) things or companies I don't personally love or wouldn't use.
This all started when I'd post a picture of myself in an outfit and get a hundred emails or messages of where I got such and such item.
Obviously Target doesn't pay me for advertising for them.. althought that'd be nice.
I like introducing you all to new, cool stores, companies, and products I love.

You think I'm superficial because I have implants, get my hair done, or seem to always have new clothes.
Truth is, almost all of those things (for the exception of my implants) are free.
In comes the advertising. I advertise, pimp out stores, etc, that I personally LOVE, and they show me love back.
So while you think I shop all the time, always seem to have new clothes, etc., I don't.
Most of my clothes are free or come from Target.
I am blessed to work with some amazing companies that take care of me and vice versa.
Again, it's a give and a get.
Like I've said, I didn't know any of this was possible when I started a little blog called The Laughlin's 4 years ago.
But when you start reaching a larger audience, people listen and you can start marketing yourself better.

You think I make money off of public appearances and public speaking.
This is hilarious to me. Because NO ONE would pay me to speak or "appear" anywhere. I'm just a regular girl that has never made a dime off of any public speaking or otherwise.
It sure would be nice if I DID, but I don't.
Maybe one day when I write that book. Book tours and book signings (like anyone would come!) might be in my future.
TBD.

In all seriousness, I like to keep it light on this blog.
If you can't laugh, brush things off, or don't have a sense of humor, this probably isn't the place for you.
I realize not everyone is going to like me and what I have to say, and that's totally fine.
All I ask is that if you have a problem or a question about me, contact me personally instead of publicly bashing me.
Yes, this is a public blog and I know it comes with the territory. Look, I've already been called every name in the book.
Negative comments just roll right off my back now. But at least give me a chance to defend myself and try and shed some light on the things you THINK you know, but probably have no idea about.