So…I’m at a crossroads in my life and I’d like to share it with you.
First off, I have decided to go back to school. For nursing.
No, not for culinary school. Not for Psychology. Not for photography.
Not even close, really. Nursing.
Dustin and I have been talking a lot lately about our family, our future, our goals, our motivations, our dreams, our plans and so on.
I’ve realized something: I’m just not a business woman. It was very hard for me to admit this, but it’s true. I learned so much in the process of creating Sweet Pea Chef, but, if I’m being honest, I don’t want to run my own business. Though I didn’t know this about myself when I started, I know now I don’t want to be an entrepreneur — at least, not in this way. I don’t want to make all the decisions, do all the advertising, pay all the bills. I just don’t wanna!
What I do want is to cook. And to eat. And to enjoy my two amazing little girls and my wonderful husband. And to start to be my own person again.
It’s time for me to re-discover Lacey. For most of my life, I was Lacey Stevens. Then, I was Lacey Stevens-Baier. Then, I was Sweet Pea Chef.
Now, I am Lacey Baier. I like Lacey Baier. She has confidence. She’s a pretty cool mama. She wears make-up and dresses like she’s worth something. She has a food blog where she shares her foodie and photography hobbies. She cares what people think about her. She accepts it’s okay to care and to be sexy. She knows what she wants and she embraces it.
She’s gonna be a nurse.
Frankly, I haven’t known how to treat my blog now that I have made these major changes in my life. I’m still not quite sure, either. What I do know is that I need this blog. I need this creative outlet, this journey to “enjoy,” this connection with you. This blog has played an amazing and powerful role in my life. It is, in a large part, what has helped me be…me!
For that, I sincerely thank you and I hope you stay with me on this new journey.
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Congrats on your decision! sometimes that is the hardest part. my husband just started back to school – for nursing!! it’s hard but it will be worth it in the end. good luck to you and i hope you keep the blog up. i enjoy reading it.
Thank you, Toni!
Absolutely! I’m with you 100%. Just don’t go away – you make me look like a pretty good cook and I love that!
Haha, Lisa! Thanks for the support
Congrats on going back to school! I was expecting to read at the end of your story that you were gonna stop blogging! I’m glad that is not the case, since I just discovered you and your amazing recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Good for you Lacey! Hopefully you will still be able to find the time for the site because we love it!
Your story is so close to mine it’s crazy, and I know exactly how you feel! (I’m the same age, our locations and where we grew up are actually switched – I’m from TX, hubby is from San Diego, and we now live in San Diego – And I was working random jobs and trying to start my own business when I went back to school for photography! Oh, and we have 3 kiddos. LOL!).
But really, you have a wonderful site with great writing, beautiful photography, and yummy recipes (the coffee cake was a big hit at Christmas… I made muffins out of the recipe). So keep it coming!
Congratulations on pursuing your future goals
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Thanks, Kiran.
Congrats! I love this! I came to the same conclusion about myself and entrepreneurship after I owned my own photo studio for a short while. Then, I did the SAHM thing. Now, I’ve also decided to go back to school full-time in the fall. I love how you’ve described the cycles of your life, and I can certainly relate. Cheers to new beginnings and to discovering our new selves! I can’t wait to read about your journey as you blog.
Thank you for all your wonderful recipes. You have given us many new favorites. Our 10year old daughter can make your alfredo sauce all by herself thanks to your step by step guidance!
I applaud your strength and courage and wish you all good things as you and your family start this new journey.
I believe life is way too short not to be happy. Find your “happy place” and you can’t go wrong. Your “happy place” is just that…it’s YOURS. It just has to work for you and your crew. Nobody else. Good luck to you! I’m sure you’re gonna make a fabulous nurse with an amazing culinary gift:) For the record….best fish tacos, best cornbread, best pico de gallo, best dill sauce, best panko-crusted tilapia, best breakfast burritos…..just to name a few:)
Do it Lacey! Good for you, you know what you want, and what you don’t! It took me 38 years to figure it out! Don’t waste any more time!
Bravo!
I wish you so much success. You seem to have the perfect personality for nursing too. I have enjoyed cooking with you and will continue to amaze my guests with those awesome chicken enchaladas.
Awesome!! My sister just finished nursing school and became an RN at 45! It is never too late to follow your dreams. Lots of luck to you.
Good luck! We’re with you all the way!
I’ve been a nurse for almost 30 years and have never regretted it. Some days are really hard but in the end you feel like you make a difference. School is difficult too but eventually you get through it and the real learning begins on the job. I’m glad you will continue blogging because I love your essays and your recipes. I’m very fortunate to work 3 12 hour shifts and have free days to cook and be creative. If you ever need motivation, little sister, I’m just an email away!
I am so proud of you!
I’d love to have a cup of tea with Lacey Baier,nursing student.. give me a call.
Congratulation !! I’m so glad your doing something you love times 2 or 3 or 4. Some people never achieve this goal in life and look at you! Thank you so much for all that you have done for us, you will make an amazing nurse and I know we will hear from you. I wish you all the luck in the world, go grab that star!!
Lacey – You rock! Keep moving forward, growing & challenging you to be your best self. This blog was inspiring. I too have just started school again — scary, but feels SO good to be following my passion & committing to something I love. I hope you find the same experience with your nursing program! Be well & definitely keep us all posted. R
You’re stuck with me for the long haul, Lacey.
Congratulations on your big decision! I’m ready to embark on the school journey as well and, though it’s still related to food, I didn’t expect to be going this direction with my life. Good luck!
Lots of love and great advice here, so I just want to second all that love and “like” all the great advice!
Of course I’m with you! And I’m also excited for you. I’d wish you luck, but you won’t need it. You will always succeed in everything you do. Keep posting when you can, and I’ll still be here to enjoy it and cheer you on. Go get ‘em, Tiger!
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That’s wonderful! I’m a fairly new subscriber, but like you I decided to get a degree in nursing after first getting my BA in psychology. It’s a wonderful field and there are so many things you can do as an RN
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Lacey, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your blog and all the deliciousness you post and write about. Congrats on your decision and I look forward to following along in your journey through this blog.
Lacey, Wow! What a big step. This is a decision that you will not regret. I returned to school and reinvented myself about 10 yrs ago. I went from working in the hospitality industry to working in healthcare. I am now a Respiratory therapist. I enjoy your blog and recipes! Good luck!
I’ve been an anonymous reader of your blog for the past year or so (and really enjoy it) – and I want to say congratulations on making that decision. It takes guts to make a 180 in your life (and go back to school) and it’s something I’ve been considering myself. Life is too short to not 100% enjoy every minute of it. Good for you and Best of luck in your studies!
I love that you know yourself and embrace who you are and what you want. I’m wishing you all the best in this new endeavor – nursing, oh my! My mother always wanted me to be a nurse but I took a different path. I think it a noble profession and I just know you’ll be wonderful. It’s great too that you’ll continue with this blog as a creative outlet – we all need that. congratulations Lacey.
Lacey, I am so happy for you and for this new venture. I have been going through a similar journey toward finding my passion…and more a career. Thankfully, they don’t have to be the same – this way I can still enjoy your amazing recipes! I will be praying for you and stopping in to say HI.
Best of luck to you and your family. There are great things in your future!
Hi Lacey,
I think its wonderful that you are going towards nursing and wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavor.
I’m glad that you are going to keep the blog up and use it as a creative outlet. I found you on foodgawker about two or so years ago when I was first interested cooking and had no kitchen to cook in. Your recipes inspired me because you seem so passionate about cooking.
Like my mom always says enjoy in joy. I hope you find nursing enjoyable.
Cheers!
congratulations!
nursing is not an easy choice, but I’m sure you’ll love it. My sister is a midwife, now on maternity leave (they get 10 months of it up at home, lucky them!) and is counting the days to go back to work!
This is so great! My mom is a nurse and my hubby works at a hospital as well. He just told me yesterday, after much prayer and thoughts about our future, that he wants to go to nursing school! I can’t be more proud of him! Good luck to you!
love that you have the courage to be yourself and follow your dreams. Looking forward to hearing all about the next chapter
what a nice dish you ve got here! i m drooling and getting hungry
Congratulations!! I too am a mom who went back to school for Nursing. I graduate in May with my BSN!! It was crazy hard but wildly worth it. Good luck in your new endeavor!!
You are so inspiring! Good luck on your studies I am sure you will be successful!
What is going on with the Insanity Plan? And….. the diet?
From one nurse to another, GO FOR IT! Nursing is an amazing career full of fullfilment, options, great pay, and flexibility! I didn’t get my license until I turned 40, but it was the best decision I ever made. I also LOVE your blog and hope you are able to keep it up once in awhile. Just be realistic and don’t beat yourself up if you have to back off on a few things while you are in school. It’s pretty intense but worth the journey. Good luck!
I hope your plans are going as you planned and that you’re happy. Love this blog, keep it up!