Category Archives: learning

I don’t know about you but I don’t take criticism too well. ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Posted on January 19, 2012 | 34 Comments
Clear your heart. Let it go.

Clear your heart. Let it go.

Hi mom!

People who read this—God bless you—know that I had to overcome a lot of fears to set up this blog. Would you like to know why?

Love God. Love others. Love yourself.

Because writing for the public is similar to public speaking. You talk to people and they can smile, judge, laugh, agree or disagree. Sometimes they throw tomatoes right at the computer screen. I don’t suggest it.

Believe in yourself. I do.

Believe in yourself. I do, believe in you.

I like to to emphasize is a learning by doing aspect. For example, if any of you have ever travelled, I bet that what you saw first hand is different than what you read in books. It’s like a thousand reflections in a mirror. Until you go and experience something first hand, they are all just stories on a page.

Writing a blog is an ongoing learning experience. Please don’t think I know what I’m doing. I’m rather new to this @$#% blgng bznss.

almost late summer colors! Cheer up lovely Julie. You are smart, talented, beautiful and have an awesome family. You are more blessed then MANY so stop sulking and snap out of it...ha! xoxo

Beautiful happy, bright, Spring. My vase is over flowing. :)

When I put up my art work last week, it was the exact same feeling. Sure, some people have no problems writing and talking and showing off their work. I do. I have enormous insecurity problems.That is EXACTLY why I feel like this blog is growing steadily. It’s because I’m so darn afraid of failing, I putting every ounce of myself into making succeed.

I am willing to take a risk and show you my work. Put DOWN that tomato. If you want to succeed in today’s market, I believe you must be willing to talk about your work.

Newbie blogger tip ~ See how you can read words when you roll over my pictures? In your html code after the word title, change the text to what you see between the quotes. It’s really cool. Don’t forget that all of your pictures click through to links YOU choose, so you should do that too. {back to reading}

I don’t see what is wrong with it. Like I told my blogger friend, it’s fat free. Unless, of course, you are eating a lot of food while writing.

I also love reading and studying and learning from other people. That’s why I spend a lot of time on other people’s blogs to see how they approach the same question as mine.

How do you, as a blogger or website owner, reach an audience, connect with them, share information, and grow as an individual?

Give and ye shall receive. No, it’s ask and ye shall receive, isn’t it?

I’m willing to try. I’m willing to learn. In the meantime, I hope this post finds you happy, lovely, lucky and in love.

♥ Your encouragement is what pushes me forward. Leave your comments below where it says *comments*.

God bless.

Julie

She’s got gumption up the wazoo!

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Posted in happiness, Italy, learning, relationships, travel

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How to increase blog traffic – 10 tips and tricks from jbulie’s blog.

Posted on January 12, 2012 | 27 Comments
ㄥ❀∨モ

ㄥ❀∨モ these great gift ideas.

If you want your blog or website to succeed, just love doing it. Easy.

I’m sharing with you what I’ve been doing over here to attract visitors and increase blog traffic.

Don’t believe the guys who say they get a million visitors a day. They are like kids in a candy shop, typing in numbers. Learn from doing first hand, and ask a blogger friend.

Here are the steps you can take to make your site grow.

1. Get to know your readers. Share.

Spend a lot of time looking at your stats feature and try to understand where your readers are coming from. A lot of my readers have become friends because I hound them on facebook. Thanks guys. A lot are new, welcome. I’ve also found having a stats counter installed helps.

I’ve learned that they come from all over the world and different backgrounds and ages.

2. Participate in comments and conversations.

One of the best ways of inviting visitors to your site participate in conversations in the comment sections of blogs you like reading. Ever since I started my blog, I’ve learned a great deal in the comments section of articles.

3. Write good content.

Wishing you flowers today.

Wishing you flowers today.

My highest ranked day was when I wrote a piece about motivation. You can read it by clicking here.

4. Write from the heart.

Talk as if you were speaking to a few good friends. Write about what you care about people are going to be supportive.

5. Make it a goal.

I have also made it a goal of mine to have a lot of visitors so in my free time, I look read as many articles I can on the subject.

6. Use your real voice.

When I write, I like to picture I’m either standing infront of my peers and explaining things simply. Or, I try to imagine I’m writing my sister or mom and telling them how simple it is to make a blog grow.

7. Enjoy

You guys might have noticed how much I love to play around with my readers. I don’t think anything is more boring then being serious. I don’t take myself so seriously. In fact, I like to find aspects of life that are a little bit off, and hone in on them.

8. Add extra value, go the extra mile.

The more you give, the more you receive. It’s so easy to get great feedback ~ just give of yourself.

You are one person writing, right? Well, there are lots of people reading so the ratio is just immense. Give of yourself and you get back so much from some many people.

9. Be inspiring

You can be inspiring, funny wonderful, full of life. If you don’t believe in yourself, well then I do! You can do it.

We all have the ability to push ourselves to learn and make our lives better. You can do it. I believe in you.

10. Pay it forward.

Without my visitors, I’d just be here talking to my cat. She’s a good listener, however. To pay it forward it’s super simple. Just hit the tweet button if you have twitter, or share on facebook by clicking the link below.

Thanks for visiting. I appreciate your comments.

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Posted in happiness, Inspiration, learning, lists, motivation, writing

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ㄥ❀∨モ criticism ♥

Posted on January 10, 2012 | 20 Comments

Be your own critic~there are enough people out there to be mean to you. Be nice to yourself ¸¸.·☆

A couple of things on my mind

that I’d like to share today that have to do with reading, writing, creativity and comments.

I am thankful for the positive comments and encouragement I get from people who read my blog. When I started off blogging, the idea was to share. I have written since I can remember.

In fact, I remember a time in my life where I would fill my days writing.

Everyone is a Critic

When I made the decision to share my words with the world it wasn’t based on a self satisfying idea to could help one person out there. It was more the idea that I wanted to learn how to blog. I thought of instead of writing in my journal, I’d do it online.

It’s actually a bit of a risk, if you ask me, putting yourself out on the line to be judged by your peers.

Mimi Weddell

►ㄥife is nσt abσut waiting fσr the storms to pass. it's abσut ℓearning hσw tσ dance in the rain.►

I like the idea of learning by doing.

It’s one thing to think about doing something and a whole other ball game to put yourself out there and actually do something.

—What inspired this post was seeing the amazing things that are going on in your lives. I feel each one of you reading this is successful in your own way.

I’ve seen my friends overcome numerous obstacles to achieve their goals. I’ll give you some examples. One friend overcame the death of her parents at a young age to go forth and have a beautiful big family of her own.

She figured it out. Others have dreamt of becoming writers, business people, dads, teachers, artists, musicians, you name it. They haven’t given up and they are doing it—pursuing their dreams. Doing it. Loving it.

I have a friend who is scared of making a change in her life. Her entire family is relocating to a new city with completely new people, streets, smells, schools, every little thing in her life will be new.

But she did it. She said yes to life with the insecurity that comes from the future and not knowing what it would hold. Good for her.

Life is a journey. ♥ Set yourself up to play a winning game.

Another fantastic woman is traveling the world on her own. Such courage. Others dealing with heartbreak, love, life, raising families and work. They are figuring it out.

The more people who read my blog, of course, there seems to be always someone who doesn’t like it.

That leaves the question to me of how to deal with it. I either forgive, forget, overlook, pretend they aren’t there, or accept it.

Between saying and doing is an ocean of difference.

While I was on vacation for a week and didn’t have internet access I found myself missing my online community. I have made friends with unbelievable people I wouldn’t have otherwise met. We share videos, stories, pictures of our lives, you name it. For me being so far from my family I find it a great way of knowing what they are up to.

I have also met people from all over the world. I love that. Our world truly is getting smaller. So on a spiritual path to enlightenment, I believe we are all interconnected. All of our actions effect each other.

I’m working through this confusion with the help of my friends and so thankful for them.

How do you deal with the critics? Is it better just to not share?

Thanks for visiting, commenting and a very special thank you for people who bid and have purchased my artwork. I hope it smiles at you every time you look at it.

You an also buy my art at my online stores here and here.

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Posted in happiness, journal, learning

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46 Ways to be a Better Person.

Posted on January 8, 2012 | 48 Comments
It almost always seems impossible until it's done. ♡

It almost always seems impossible until it's done.x♡o

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Here’s a quick list that will get your started on having a nicer day now. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

1. Take a deep breath now, hold it as long as you can. count to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, release, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ~ and now another.

2. OK, two more deep breaths. Relax.

3. Concentrate on this word <<oooaahhhhmmm>> and close your eyes and take another two deep breaths, in through your nose out through your mouth.

4. Meditate. Concentrate on your third eye and just be peaceful. You can stop reading this! It’s okay!

5. Slow down. Try moving slowly.

6. Start each day as Gandhi did: Be the change you want to see.

7. Look for ways to help people.

8. Treat yourself great.

9. Be your own friend.

10. Go to the mirror and make funny faces.

11. Make yourself and/or a friend a nice cup of tea or coffee.

12. Take a long walk without music or distractions.

13. Clean. Go left to right, it works.

14. Be young in your heart.

15. Hug a tree.

16. Jump on one leg. Now the other. Do this in your mind’s eye. Or for real.

17. Spin like a child with your eyes closed. Do this in your mind’s eye. Or for real.

18. Hug someone. Even yourself.

19. Next time you see someone on facebook that’s down, get involved. Try sending links, messages.  Or, how about a phone call?

20. Believe in miracles. :) I do.

21. Be inspirational.

20. Believe in miracles. I do.

22. Listen to the next sound you hear.

23. Push yourself to be a little bit better.

24. Count to ten before reacting. {or better yet, just let it slide.}

25. Pet an animal.

26. Turn off the tv.

27. Sell something on ebay.

28. Give something away to charity.

29. Treat yourself to a day spa.

30. Take a nice long relaxing bath or shower.

31. Bake.

32. Organize your files.

33. Make a list of three things you don’t want to do and then do them.

34. Eat well. How’s a salad sound for your next meal? A big one!

35. Exercise.

36. Take a risk with love.

37. Write a message on someone’s facebook wall saying thank you for being there.

38. Enjoy this moment.

39. You can reprogram your mind to believe anything you want it to.

40. Shine the light that God has given you.

40. Shine On!

40. Shine the light that God has given you.

41. Tell someone you love them.

42. No matter what your age, dream ~ even big if you’d like.

43. Remember a moment when you were blissful. Hold on to it.

44. Accept yourself for exactly who you are.

45. Send a REAL letter in the mail.

46. Give yourself a little break.

Thanks for reading and have a great day. I believe in you. I do.

In the comment section, I’d like to know what you can hear, smell and feel in this exact moment. What is around you? I can hear  boys playing, the washing machine spinning and a distant car passing.

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Twitter Facebook Faceoff ► Which one do you prefer? #ff @jbuliesblog

Posted on December 30, 2011 | 15 Comments 
Hello!

I’m thinking about my friends clicking in here from all over the world. How awesome is the world wide web?

Today I’m talking about twitter and how hard it is to understand as least for someone like me.

Please tweet or pin. Thanks!

Please tweet or pin. Thanks!

I’ve had some great great comments in my facebook. Facebook rules by the way ~ twitter, well, it’s new all new to me. ~ Go facebook, go!

I got comments about how to use twitter since it’s such an enigma for me. David Letterman figured it out by getting a laptop and one of his techies to turn on his twitter page so he can update it during the show.

If David Letterman can do use twitter, certainly I can do it too, right?

Are you like me? Curious about new technology?

Keep a journal. Really. It's lovely.

Keep a journal. Really. It's lovely.

First step. I tried to google twitter tips. You know what you get? More questionable information.

Here are jbulie’s blogs, that’s me, @jbuliesblog. Please follow me on twitter.

Top ten reasons why I prefer facebook to twitter.

1) Because I can’t figure twitter out.

2) Because one of my favorite artists, Nev, has about 22,000 twitter followers, so obviously, he rules.

3) I added a ‘twitter’ expert to my friends list and tried to follow his instructions. He’s on my facebook account, check him out, 21 year old millionaire. Really. ;)

4) Need to fork out cash to automatically to add friends.

5) Nearly all articles I have read about twitter say how people don’t like twitter.

6) Celebrities are thriving on twitter. I love celebrities. I’m following them all. I can’t figure out twitter. I’m not a celebrity. Let’s do the math A + B = C No twitter followers over here, yet!

Yes. Please.

Inspired choices. Yes. Please.

7) Writer fell asleep. No number seven. Shout out to Apple and the ipad.

*8) The boy genius expert advised me to use his software to add all followers of a famous person, well, there is no add all followers button. I can’t even believe I spent time looking for it. Can I have my two minutes back?

9) Someone out there knows how it works. Now I am back to square one. I know my friends on facebook say leave it alone, but I cannot deny it is a big presence in social media.

I’m no social media expert, and in fact, I’m going back to being a mom and wife. It’s much more satisfying. Lots of hugs and kisses, and unexpected words.

Your turn. Going the extra mile here kids.

11) What is your take? Do you like twitter? Do you use twitter? Is it basically another social media network? Is it a cell phone application? The people who are bloggers with lots of twitter followers, do you think they did it by using automatic applications that tweet for them?

As always, thanks for following. I ♥ my readers. You guys are awesome. Hope your day is beautiful and filled with love.

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Life in a worldwide economy.

Posted on December 10, 2011 | 2 Comments

Hello friends. I’m interested in how our world is changing now that we have the internet so I read, get informed, take notes and share. I recently came across a great talk I think is packed with valuable information.

Do you ever wonder where your jeans come from? I watched a lecture online from Duke University on itunes U and saw a brilliant talk by a man called David Brady. I took notes that I’m sharing with you here.

Mr. Brady calls it a commodity chain.  He uses the example of your jeans by asking the question Where do your jeans come from?

Basically, a store gets their jeans from a buyer who buys  them from several factories.

For example, one buyer might by from a company in Mexico, another from China.

Not too long ago, Levis jeans, used to be produced in the United States. Now, they are contracted in the Dominican Republic.

It’s a combination of resources. They get their thread from South Carolina. They get their cotton from Texas.

The cotton is assembled in Haiti. Then it is sent back to the Dominican Republic for stone washing and fading.  Then the jeans are sent on a big container ship to Miami and finally to Walmart.

This same jeans’ buyer might also be using a Taiwanese company who also manufacturers in China, where the denim where the cotton comes from  is from India. The thread and denim come from China. It’s an amazing matrix, says Mr. Brady.

Goods and services are now provided faster and cheaper with an integration of more people.

It’s only since about 1970s that our lives have really changed and become what’s called a global economy. They made a floating dollar meaning that it was no longer attached to gold. When banks were first established, every dollar had real gold attached to it. That is no longer the case, hence a floating dollar.

In the old days they used ships to send things, it took a long time.

Nowadays, we use the internet and airplanes. With the internet, information is available immediately.

According to this Lecture, traditional media outlets are way behind the game, for example, CNN is telling us what the bloggers are reporting.

With twitter, you can have the latest information on any subject that interests you simply by typing a hash key # before the word you are interested in into the search box. For example, if you want to know what’s going on say for the floods in Italy and how you can help by donating to the red cross, type #cinqueterre to see how they are dealing with flood relief into the twitter search box.

What is diffusion?

Diffusion is the active dissemination of products, practice, policy or a set of values.

This also creates an interdependence meaning there is a two way street in an internet culture.

What is Internet Culture?

Internet culture means the flow of products, people and ideas. Where there is internet, culture, ideas, and awareness can be quickly spread.

For example,  India is now watching TV and making movies. Iran is having elections. China is exporting toys. US is importing beef from Brazil.

What’s interesting to see is the consequences. Sadly, when there are massive flows of people, there is also an increase of disease.

Life expectancy changes.

Economic Growth changes.

LIfe Expectancy Chart thx to D.Brady. How long will you live?

China and India have massive economic growth and represent half the world’s populations.

Where is the dilemma? Sadly, the bottom billion isn’t growing. It’s a puzzle. Sub Sahara Africa, there are no jobs and few economic opportunities.

The answer includes education

Take the example of a school without chalk, where nobody reads, kids have to only memorize and repeat. The Minister of education says they need more engineers to compete in the global economy. In this case, the government doesn’t meet reality.

In a progressive market, the international government organizations need to come up with plans where their words and promises meet the real needs of the people. For example, Amnesty helps to fuel positive social changes.

Now, the European Union has become a big economy. It represents a  massive player and  has the highest worldwide consumption. It is multi ethnic and multi cultural.

Which contries are engaged in Trade
50 – 60 percent of the global economy is involved in trade now 89 percent in Asia, that used to be only 10 percent. Affluent democracies include US, Japan, Western Europe, US went from 15-20 percent trade to its current 30-40% in terms of trade. Japan relatively behind Europe and U.S.

Look how trade has risen over the last 30 years for Asia!

Foreign born people in the United States is 2006 was 12 percent where as in 1970s it was 6 percent. Europe has increased foreign born 4 percent foreign born to now 10%. East Asia and the Pacific.

China in trouble because they depend so much on trade, that include layoffs where they feel the results of the economy.

The United Nations supports schooling and build schools for girls in developing countries.

Challenge of European Countries

Fertility rates are dropping in western Europe. In 1970, there were 2.4 children, now the fertility rate is 1.5. Put simply, people have fewer children. More children are needed to support an economy.

What does that mean? It means less and less kids are being born every year. To support and maintain our current economy, it is necessary to have a 2.1 children, according to this lecture.

This need has created a cultural conflict because of the need of immigrants to maintain population.

Which organizations are involved in worldwide economy?

The United Nations.The International Monetary Fund founded after WWII, US and Brittain got together and came up with the IMF in Washington DC with the goal of having stable exchange rates and  be a credit rating agency, so you could say what countries are having problems.

Then they started loaning. Post 1970 they said, we’ll give you the loan, stabilize your currency but your they installed conditions such as ensuring that they had to privatize energy. They loaned 16 billion dollars in 2008.

World Trade organization with protests since WWII.

It’s job is to be the judiciary for global trading, resolve disputes between countries. They are famous because they adjudicate the agreements and oversee them without getting involved.

The European Union

They say the European Union will one day be bigger than US and China. Now after two wars in the last century encouraged trade and migration of people in Europe, regional identity still exists but borders are open.

Iceland has been devastated perhaps the most because they poured all of their pension funds in mortgage-backed securities in US then did not controlling shares, and lost their backs. a Case of Portfolio investments.

To watch this lecture, I found it on itunes university, Duke University, entitled, David Brady – Understanding the Global Economy.

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i ♡ u

Posted on November 30, 2011 | 2 Comments
Jacqueline Kennedy throwing the bouquet at her...

Image via Wikipedia

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. ♡ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Sent from where I’m at.

I’m thinking back to a few months ago before I used facebook and before I had a blog. How simple was life then? I see how the internet is changing our lives. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Like my dad once told me, You can’t stop progress.

I’ve always been big on computers and technology. Couple that with me being a bit of a book worm and not too bad in school and that I like to read everything I can get my hands on. It only makes sense to start a blog and work on social networking.

While I was on vacation I had the pleasure of getting away from the computer. I think that was necessary. Necessary to see what I didn’t want to become: someone who spends his or her life infront of a computer screen. I want to live.

I’ve made some decisions and I’ve made some changes.

I’m spending way less time on the computer and much more time outdoors with my family. I just sometimes look outside and listen. That doesn’t exclude the fact that I love to write, to share and to connect. I like to watch my kids play. :)

♡ A house is a home with a soul. ♡

Blogging is a strange new place for me, lovely, yet newish. Let’s say I was a purist. I would write just for writing’s sake. Because I love to write. I also love to connect. I love that feeling when I am relating to people who read this and I hear back from them.

I like the comments. I love your comments. I think about them. I can’t believe how wonderful it is to communicate so fast and free. If you were far from home before email, you’d know what I mean.

Do we define ourselves by what we write? Or by what people say to us about our work?

I thank God for my teacher who told me on my first essay I wrote when I was a little girl that it was excellent. I wrote it in my journal and I’ve kept it. I’ll look it up for you if you’d like.

Today I got back an essay I wrote yesterday. I did it in one night and Mrs. Lannes gave me an "excelent." ;)

"excelent." ;)

Is it just me or is there a lot going on? Did someone say popcorn?

How do you organize or categorize life? I just do what comes naturally to me and that is to write it down to try to make sense of it all. Then I can come back to it later and say, yes, that is exactly what is going on, what I have to do.

On my list.

Two big things right off the top. One is back to school on Tuesday. It will be the first time in six years that my two sons will be at the same school. {Wipes sweat off of brow.} That should make my mornings a little bit simpler.

New website in the works.

My husband is a cook and a masseur. He liked my blog so much he asked me if I could make one for his business. Sure.

Here it is:

So I did. It’s super cool and I love it. I have it in the fine tuning stages, but soon all of you can see exactly where we have our little shop. I’ll get information in there for how to get there, store hours, pictures of the four little rooms. It’s a Day Spa he runs with his mom and their assistant. It’s cute. You guys will love it.

The house

Our house is a blessing all the way around. I don’t think one day goes by where I don’t thank God for having a house.

The Italians are much different then Americans when it comes to staying close to home. That’s just my opinion.

Our house needs attention ♡

It’s a 100 year old house that we have restored. If we leave the house for a week, it seems unrecognizable. I can’t get over how something like a house that seems like it is just walls, a roof and floors seems to be a living creature. Houses have their own souls. If you leave them alone, they’ll mesh with their surroundings.

The reason I’m telling you this is because I find our house needs constant love and affection. Just like my husband, myself, my family, my friends and my work. You have to give of yourself if you want your life to thrive.

Again, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong in the past.

I have been working on changing light bulbs, retouching here and there, adding some plaster if needed, buying things that get old and need replaced, refurbishing what I can and constant sorting of things. Everything has a place. Little hands seem to like to move them. Or perhaps there are night time sock and shoe parties where I’m not invited?

Hope this post finds you happy, lovely and in love.

Julie

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‘Let’s eat Grandma!’ or ‘Let’s eat, Grandma!’ Punctuation saves lives.

Posted on November 25, 2011 | 13 Comments

Hi guys and welcome back to my blog. Thanks for dropping in.

Do you often check your stats?

I was humbled when doing my internet research and came across blogs that have a reported reader base of 300,000. I was so excited about my first 1,800. I went into the kitchen and told my husband. He was lovely and supportive. He said Julie, give it a chance, you have only just started.

Time to reflect.

Time to reflect.

He’s absolutely right.

I am reminded to thank God for my many blessings.

I spend a lot of time figuring out the basics, how to choose a picture, how to get my categories and my archives visible.

There’s a lot of behind the scenes work going on that I don’t know if my reader is aware of.

Here’s a little award going to the behind the scenes workers at this blog. Someone needs a little love and appreciation today. Smattering of applause.

Some people added me to their lists of blogs they like to read. This brought new visitors. Thank you. It is a nice friendly surprise ~ sort of like a present you didn’t expect.

More Readers Comments.

I set you free now and every moment.

Be young. Go ahead do something impossible. Could anything be more sweet?

Most comments are super supportive and positive. Thank you! A guy left a comment saying anyone who writes their biography in the third person is a dork. I deleted it. I reserve that name for me from people I truly love like my sister, my husband and my best friend – who by the way also call me Mutt, Monkey, Jules, Julie Bulie and JB.

Each Word You Say Represents Who You Are

Often when my younger students use questionable language, I sometimes give them a tiny note, a wink and a smile.

Give.

They told me in person It’s not our fault.

I told my sweet and smart students I’m going to buy you a shirt and write It’s not my fault on it for the amount of times I’ve heard that. I love that they have added me to their facebook accounts and include me in their lives. Hi guys! :)

They gave me a couple of toys to play with at school: a spinner top, a stand up Winx as big as my index finger and a poofy top Cars pen.

Smiles. Silliness. Wonder.

Just how cute this is? Wouldn't this make a great gift?

Everything is going to be okay. Really!

Life is Participation.

I walked into class and some of my students noticed I got a new hair cut. They gave me compliments. I think were sincere. Although at the moment my hair is getting really long.

I’ve learned so many things from people and living lately. I would say the number one thing I have learned is how to be a nicer person. I mean it. I surround myself by lovely people and I thank you for being here right now in this minute reading these words. Hi! Welcome.

I’m Still Smiling.

I received a ton of stuff from my loved ones. Thank you so much. They continue to spoil me. I don’t know what I have done to deserve such wonderful treatment but I try to be humble and thankful.

My kids got a lot of clothes, toys and candy. I get love.

We talk about health, not smoking and going the extra mile – and flossing. how knowledge will make you a better people. We talk about how making decisions now effect the rest of our lives.

Miro. Love it!

Miro. Ha!

I feel privileged to be a writer and a teacher, to talk to them and to you too. I’m also enjoying every beautiful minute of this glorious day. Thank you.

I know I got through to my class because they got real quiet and started listening, eyes transfixed. We talked about health we talked at length about existentialism, fatalism and Christianity and dreams. They get it. Kids are smart. They are our future.

As always, I hope this finds you well, happy, lucky and in love. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read and visit. Have a great day.

Julie

Be inspirational. Be inspired. Note to self: Try harder. And smile. Everything is going to be alright.

A Sweet Afternoon ~ Semi Abstract~Fine Art Canvas print

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Zazzle Affiliate → jbulie added ♫.•*¨`*•♫.•some #Zazzle

Posted on November 12, 2011 | 2 Comments
Two Cats in a Window Postage Stamp

Two Cats in a Window Postage Stamp approved by US Government.❒✔

 Art is c❀❀l.

This post is dedicated to you Mika, Mom, Michelle and Janie→.

 

Hi friends.

I’m going to share with you today whay I have learned about selling artwork online and affiliate sales. I feel like a bit embrarrassed because I am so late to the game.

I put it some of my art for sale on ebay and sold quite a few, okay, 12 paintings so I thought, you should figure out how to sell your artwork online.

I did as any of you would have done. I googled sell artwork online. Then I started reading everything I could on the subject.

Art is c❀❀l

You get your own decent artwork up for sale. I’m not saying I’m a pro at this at all because I’m just learning by doing. It is exciting to see that someone buys your work on a mousepad.

I opened two stores here and here. You should do the same. Then you save your artwork as a high quality image and upload it to the website.

If you need any help selling your artwork online, let me know and I’ll help you through it. Also, if any of you pros out there have any tips you feel like throwing over to a newbie like myself, I’d sincerely appreciate that.

Since posting this particular post, I’ve had three real life friends ask me how I am doing it and my husband too. I am figuring it out. I want to give you exact instructions, so please bear with me.

Clicking here will take you to my zazzle recommendation.

L❀❀king g❀❀d on G❀❀gle

Part II - How do I become an affiliate and earn 15% on things I like in links around my blog?

Refer a friend program. Get $10 for you immediately!

Use this code:

Get $10 off your next order from Zazzle! Zazzle is the best place to get unique, custom gifts for everyone on your list this year! They have everything you could want from holiday cards and custom postage, to t-shirts, mugs, and smartphone cases to gallery-wrapped canvas and so much more.

more!http://zazzle.extole.com/a/clk/2MFJG

1. Bookmark this page by adding a bookmark above, click here and register, taking note of your id, then come back here. You’ll need your id code. It’s 16 digits.

 Art is c❀❀l.

2. Choose products you’d like to like to sell. You’ll add the code to your store name after a ?rf= If you refer someone to buy something from your site you get a referral fee of 15%. This used to be 7%. You get a code and you type it into the product you like.  Then you get referral credit. I’ll give you an example.

Say you want to buy this cute little daisy coffee mug. The URL is:

http://www.zazzle.com/fun_daisies_mug-168474009784388469

All you have to do is type ?rf=238662101328135626 after the url when you link it. I used my personal code as an example. You’d insert your code instead. Click here to see. The Url that will earn you 15 percent is ready to link.

key: This works on ANY product you like. You can choose.

3. Pay it forward by copying this little flower and linking it somewhere on your blog and linking it to my store, zazzle.com/jbulie*.

visit zazzle.com/jbulie

You can do that two ways. One is to add a text link, the other is add an image link. Here, I’m giving you some code you could just copy and paste right into your site, if you’d like.

Copy and paste this code to link to my zazzle shop

<a href=”//zazzle.com/jbulie?rf=238662101328135626″><img src=”//jangelos.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/iheartjb2.png?w=50″” alt=””visit” width=””60″” height=””60″”></a>

{and} copying and pasting this code will link you to my blog:

<a href=”http://julieangelos.com”><img src=”http://jangelos.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/iheartjb2.png?w=50″ alt=”visit zazzle.com/jbulie” width=”60″ height=”60″></a>

Thank you.

As always, I hope this finds you lovely, lucky and in love. Let me know how your projects are coming along. :)

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Looking for the window to open.

Posted on October 14, 2011 | 10 Comments

Hello. I’m republishing a post I wrote on May 26, 2011, but then for privacy reasons added a password protection.

I’m starting to be okay with it now so I’m letting my friends and blog readers in on what’s happening in my life by making the article public again.

This is motivated by the fact that I went to talk to the highest person I could think of today in the government. I brought a file full of supporting paperwork as a last ditch effort to get my job back. The man is extremely busy but has not received me in his office. I waited for three hours without an appointment until finally one of his four secretaries surfaced.

She was lovely. It felt good, no it felt great, to just look into someone’s eyes and explain my situation. She said she’ll call to set up an appointment with me. I just feel like I have to meet with this man to talk and figure out what happened. The receptionist had me in tears. I wear my heart on my sleeve. She talked about Karma. She offered me the entire pack of kleenex.

Sometimes the act of someone offering me a tissue is enough to send me into tears. People’s kindness at certain moments is unbelievably touching.

At least I’m making steps, albeit baby steps, towards either reconciliation or moving ahead with my life. Wish me luck.

Julie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When a door shuts ~ a window opens.

When a door shuts ~ a window opens.

First published May 26, 2011

Last week I got a dreaded letter from the Department of Education that basically fired me.

It was and is devastating.

People near me are supporting me and lifting me through this difficult moment for me and my family.

I’ve received countless telephone calls, text messages, online chats and letters of support as well as visitors who sustain me while I run from one office to another: lawyers, teachers union, my old school and administrative offices.

It’s been difficult to say the least.

I haven’t talked about it because I’m in shock.

Also I’ve had to get a lot of paperwork done trying to sort things out, hopefully with a positive outcome.

In a nutshell, my American University degree has not been deemed necessarily equivalent to an Italian degree therefore annulling my two credential courses taken in 2000.

Some people say it’s the government. Some people say it’s the school. Some people say to just keep my head up high.

My friends are stunned as well as me and my family and my students. I wish they had told eight years ago before being called to teach.

I was a private school teacher for eight years. Then I was a public school teacher for the last eight years.

Now I’m looking for a window to open while a big door just slammed shut leaving me and my 150 students to basically sink or swim.

That’s all. I’d get into the particulars if you’d like, but I’m still trying to sort it all out myself.

Much love and thank you for reading. Your kind words. prayers and encouragement are appreciated.

e' la vita continua. ♡

e' la vita continua. ♡ come scendi sali ♡

In fact one of my dearest friends was so shocked, angry and hurt about my news I found myself consoling her. Bless her.

I’m especially worried my students who have exams coming up in a couple of weeks.

Here are some of my comments left by students and friends on facebook.

~~~~~~~

My advice for you would be simply to trust your heart. Maybe take a step back like you said and just let everything settle down and then see how you feel. A mother’s intuition is a powerful thing. I personally think that it’s God directing us to do what’s best for our children.

Your writing is an inspiration to me and to a lot of people and I have to honestly say that you are one of the main reasons why I get so much enjoyment out of facebook. You’re so engaging and interesting and just plain NICE and I’m happy and honored to be your friend.

Here it is: Stay In Your Lane

Many people spend their lives trying to become someone that they hope to be as opposed to the person that they actually are.

This approach to life only leads to frustration and unhappiness. Contentment, peace of mind, mental and emotional satisfaction only come when we stay and flourish in our assigned lane.

In Romans 12:4-10, the Message Bible encourages: Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else.

If you help, just help, don’t take over.

If you teach, stick to your teaching.

Love from the center of who you are, don’t fake it.

In the body of Christ we each serve a vital and unique purpose.

If the eye is trying to be a hand How will we ever see?

If the nose is trying to be a knee How will we ever smell?

If the foot is trying to be an ear How will we ever walk?

As 1 Corinthians 12:8 puts it God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

God wants each of us to stay and excel in our lane. If you’ve grown frustrated or unhappy in your endeavors, it is time to ask Am I operating as the one and only me or am I failing at being someone else?

~~~~~~~ a school mom writes ->

I really don’t like it. After a school year they end up which such a good idea? No way. Something is gonna happen, trust me!

~~~~~~~

You’ll be great….no matter what happens…and hey i am with you!!

~~~~~~~

I mean it is sad. You need to be in people’s lives because you get as much or more from them as you give. I would say we are not too disimilar in our love for the world and its inhabitants.
~~~~~~~
He says. You know, I know from experience that in life, as you go down, you go back up. I had sunglasses on or he would have seen my tears.

~~~~~~~

♥ Nella vita tutto può succedere, anche l'inimmaginabile.

Nella vita tutto può succedere, anche l'inimmaginabile. ♥

Here’s a Google translator link to read the comments in English.

Protestiamo! Non si può togliere un insegnante a un mese dall’esame! Non si può togliere la professoressa che ci faceva ascoltare Jamelia e Daniel! che ci faceva fare le prove d’esame ~ quella prof che consideriamo più come un amica. Quella prof che ci raccontava dei suoi figli. Non si può! Preside non puoi togliercela. Noi ce la teniamo!

~~~~~~~

One of my favorites, really well written.

Ho appena saputo della bruttissima notizia non sa quanto mi dispiace !!!
Ormai ho capito che il mondo va all’incontrario e che non va mai come vuoi : i buoni se ne vanno e i cattivi rimangono …

in questi tre anni abbiamo dovuto sempre batterci contro la scuola per riavere le nostre insegnanti , ma ogni volta se ne sono andate via le migliori, come in questo caso .
le dico GRAZIE …

.. Perchè lei è stata l’unica persona che ci ha sempre capiti;

.. perchè ogni volta che avevamo bisogno, lei era sempre pronta a darci una mano;

.. perchè ci ha fatto capire che si puo’ imparare anche divertendosi;

.. perchè nonostante tutto lei ha sempre creduto in noi e ci ha sempre sostenuti;

You always believed in us, supported us, no matter what.

.. perchè per tutti noi non è stata solo un ‘ insegnante , ma qualcosa di più;

For all of us, you weren’t just a teacher but something more.

..perchè ci ha fatto capire la parola : SPERANZA che per noi ormai non esisteva piu’.

You made us understand the word HOPE that for us no longer existed.

Ed oggi è questa che ci fà continuare , che ci fà lottare pur di riaverla tra noi.

Per tutto questo la ringrazio di cuore!

Mi creda: la scuola non ha ancora capito che facendo questo sta’ mettendo ancora piu’ in difficoltà dei ragazzi ed una insegnante che è anche mamma!

Continuero’ a sperare che tutto venga risolto e che lei possa ritornare tra noi perchè ce lo ha insegnato lei ! spero di cuore che come io la ricordero’, anche lei si ricorderà di me.

Mai arrendersi!!

Prof, non ci scorderemo mai di lei. Grazie a lei ho imparato che nella vita bisogna provare come io nel canto Jamelia and Michael Bublè!!! Però una cosa è certa, protesteremo e come ho già detto rivolta!! :) grazie di tutto prof da … e … (ke è a casa mia) :)

~~~~~~~

Mi dispiace tantissimo prof. Ci eravamo affezionati tanto. Non puo andare via così. Faremo di tutto per riaverla con noi. Le vogliamo tutti bene!

~~~~~~~

Carissima a scuola mancavi tantissimo. Purtroppo i tuoi ragazzi non ti avranno per l esame. Spero che tu possa risolvere al piu presto questo problema. Ti voglio bene!!!! Un abbraccio e un bacio a te e ai tuoi cari !!!!

~~~~~~~
♥♥ e’ come faccio io senza di voi?
♥♥ .. ha ragione ci manca tantissimo :) ♥
♥♥ ci manca ♥
♥♥ anke a me manca =(
♥♥ anke a me :(
♥♥ prof ci mancherà tanto !
♥♥ ah mi dispiace tanto =( ci mancherà moltissimo prof ♥
~~~~~~~
Prof, lo sa che mi manca davvero tanto?! ♥ Adesso ci hanno dato un’ altra prof ma nessuno riuscirà mai a superarla! Se lo ricordi prof…Will be forever in our hearts ♥ (Mi corregga se sbaglio!) Un bacio la sua alunna

E’ stato un onore conoscere una persona splendida come te …. Un abbraccio

~~~~~~~

Ritengo che anche noi genitori dovremmo fare qualcosa o perlomeno io intendo fare qualcosa. Giusta o sbagliata la ragione, non entro nel merito, non si può togliere un’insegnante ad un mese dall’esame di terza media. Se loro dicono che c’è un’irregolarità nella laurea, io dico che se ne dovevano accorgere prima, sempre che sia vero e che NON intendo fare le spese della loro inefficienza.

~~~~~~~

Prof lei deve tornare per favore. Le voglio troppo bene. Voglio ke tutto questo si risolvi. tvtttb.

~~~~~~~

Dolcissima prof. io non ho prole per cio che e’ successo. mi manchera troppo. Lei e’ buona comprensiva. Le voglio troppo bene. Lei e’ bravissima ad insegnare. Non ascoti mai la gente cattiva a vada avanti.

~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

arrivederci prof ci mancherà! sappia che io protesterò.

~~~~~~~

Finalmente hanno trovato qualcuno competente!

~~~~~~~

Prof non possono toglierci le sue lezioni.

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