Warning: This is really long, turn back now if you aren't up for it.

I've been trying to lucid dream for about 3 months. I changed the style I used a lot, which is why I think it has taken so long. At first I tried the technique from lucidology.com, where you lay down at night, don't move and force your body into sleep paralysis to go straight into a lucid dream. I tried this time and time again and it failed every time. So then I started using a dream journal and questioning reality and doing RC's. My dream recall improved to 2 or 3 dreams a night. But I've only had 2 true moments of awareness and 1 where I questioned if it was reality.

Lucid Dream One: My sister was balled up exorcist style on my stairs and I just thought, wow that's weird why would she do that? Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, I'M DREAMING!!! I tried to control the dreamscape, everything went black and I woke up.

Sort of Lucid Dream Two: I was letting my beagle out to use the bathroom and there were 4 German Shepherd puppies in my backyard, I thought they were coyotes and was extremely scared. (We have coyotes behind our fence that we hear at night) As I got closer I found out they were just puppies, but for whatever the reason I was still scared senseless. When I tried to pick one up I couldn't, I questioned my reality, and awoke.

Lucid Dream Three: I was driving down the road and at first one of my friends was driving, and when I look back up it was another friend. I thought maybe I'm dreaming, looked down at my hand and it had 6 fingers. I said hang on a second to my friend, everything stopped. I felt a burst of excitement and my body felt like it was shaking. Then I opened my eyes, so sad that I didn't control myself and stay calm.

Long story short I am wondering of some ways to stay lucid once I become aware. And I wad wondering if I am making any rookie mistakes. Thanks for your help in advance.