Category Archives: learning

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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Posted in art gallery - if you're new start here, happiness, Inspiration, learning, motivation

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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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Posted in family, Italy, journal, learning, relationships, teaching

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Here’s to new beginnings.

Posted on July 27, 2011 | 10 Comments
Tulips

Tulips. They don't bloom every year but when they do, well, there you go.

I think most people who are reading this can read between the lines and know exactly what I’m thinking. I may be wrong on that I may be right but generally speaking I think people are smart enough to tell if I’m being a true person over here expressing what my heart feels or if I’m trying to make it all look lovely with a bunch of pretty pictures and smiles.

I think you know. Then sometimes I think you know but then how could you know if I don’t tell you what is going on in my life? How could you know? Tell me. Use your words.

Words. Here they are. Ready? In the last year and a half since starting my blog I’ve had a lot of fun with it. I’ve learnt that the most rewarding parts are when you receive compliments that turn into long conversations of people actually helping each other. I’ve met people I didn’t expect to meet. Hello. Nice to see you.

I’ve also learned that if I don’t say how I’m feeling you aren’t going to know. So I’ll tell you.

I’m doing well, and you? How are you?

All things considered. I’m making a decision now in this moment to be nice, to be kind, to have integrity, to be a whole person and hopefully to have a cheerful disposition.

Love you mom. ♡

Love you mom. ♡

I’m choosing to publish this article and then spend some time around the house that desperately is calling for love and attention. It’s a lot to handle. It’s a lot to balance.

Life is just an act, isn’t it, an act of balance, give and take. Who would have ever imagined that by publishing a blog I would have heard some of the comments I have heard, met the people I’ve met.

I miss my family. I miss my friends.

I feel connected with them here on facebook and over the internet but this year we aren’t going back to California for vacation. This is due to financial reasons and work struggles. I don’t know why I feel like I have to explain it though but for some reason I feel like I do.

The four of us to travel to California costs about $4000, then we usually get a rent a car and you know the rest. This year, we have some lovely other holidays planned.

I love my house though so call me a pentofola if you will. A pentofola is a house shoe or slipper generally regarded as something you wouldn’t go out in. It’s not a compliment. It’s just me being lazy and enjoying my garden.

How are your summers passing? I’m working on spiritual and physical health by exercising, reading but more than anything trying to put into practice the ideas of love and forgiveness.

Each day I lose my patience again and I fall short of God’s wonderful mercy and love but I pray and I start again. For the most part, it seems to be working.

As always friends, I hope this post finds you lovely, lucky and in love.

God bless. Thanks for visiting.

Julie

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Posted in happiness, Inspiration, learning, motivation

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6 reasons my blog readers rock. ❒ ~ check ✔

Posted on July 17, 2011 | 22 Comments
Muah ♫.•*¨`*•♫.•´*.¸.• {blows a kiss.}

Muah ♫.•*¨`*•♫.•´*.¸.• {blows a kiss.}

Welcome back visitors for yet another pot of freshly brewed hot blog copy, using homegrown partially recycled pure grounds. Whatever that means.

Blog copy. Try saying that ten times fast.

I wanted to start off by saying I’ve had a few readers who have been such loyal blog followers leaving comments, hitting the facebook ‘like’ button, encouraging me.

I thank you for being my constant inspiration. Believe it or not, some of you wonderful readers have sent me long inspiring letters AND super cool REAL presents. That’s just too cool.

Like This!

Now my readers are going to ask What does blog copy mean? Then they are going to ask me what fresh brewed has to do with blog copy. I’ll have to send them to an expert because I have no idea.

Bwah ha ha

I’m digging myself quickly into a hole on this post. I can feel it spiraling down.  I still have friends who don’t know what blog means.

Note to self.  Should I start calling it an online journal?

❀ I know you are there. I can see you and it makes me happy and sad all at the same time.

❀ It's okay to take a break. ❀

1. I love my readers. Some of them I have known for ages and others are new. They continue to inspire me to write.

They tell me nice things like you never know Julie, maybe you will make someone’s lives better. They say things like they love to read my blog. I don’t know if that counts though because it was probably my mom. ;)

2. I love writing. To me writing gets my thoughts on the page and out of my head. Yesterday while shopping with my kids I sat down and wrote a list of 15 things I had to do. I felt overwhelmed and getting my list on the page made me feel like I could accomplish it. I’m just taking baby steps one at a time. Stay with me folks.

3. The more I give the more I receive. My friendships have been growing steadily and so is my reader base. I feel like I have never learned so much about life, love, laughter and people as I have in the last couple of months since sharing my life with others.

I had a lot of fears to overcome. I think we all get used to talking to our inner circle of friends or to ourselves we think that if we wrote it for all the world to see we would be drastically made fun of.

4. My learning curve is out of control. The minute I hit the publish button on my first blog entry most of you know I couldn’t sleep. I thought, Oh great, delete, delete, delete. My husband is currently worried about me because it has been almost all consuming.

I just read. I want to know what makes a blog successful so I just click away. Luckily I’ve been super peaceful and smiling.

I'll forgive you. ´¯`»¸¸.·☆

It's a new day and new dawn and I'm feeling good.´¯`»¸¸.·☆

I’m not so certain that spending more time online is a good thing though.

I have always sustained that a to be happy in life you have to find a balance of work and pleasure.

I’ll give you an example. Say you are successful. I ask you how you are spending your days. Are you spending them alone or with other people? What percentage of your time are you dedicating to your family, to your work, to entertainment?

How much of your time are you dedicating towards being a good person, toward helping others? How much of your time are you dedicating toward making yourself a better person?

As my best friend says it’s the doing that makes the difference. In writing and sharing, I’m a do-er not a be-er. Note to self: don’t forget to hyphenated the word be-er.

This chick is so cool. She's thinking about you. ❀

I can see you. Just tell me everything is going to be okay. It will! ´¯`»¸¸.·☆

5. People are curious. I think one of the reasons people are reading this now is because they want to know what it is like to live in Italy. I think I should write more about that. I’ll tell you. I spend a lot of time with my family, cleaning, cooking, writing, drawing,  a lot of time with my friends – as much as possible and the major part of my time taking care of life.

6. I push myself to succeed. I strive for excellence. I strive for peace. I model good behavior. I strive to be a better person. I’m crazy scared that I’m going to bomb in front of all of my peers so I’m doing all I can do to make this great.

I know it’s not. But like I tell my kids, I’m not a great mom, I’m not even a good mom, but I do try. I make it a goal. I know they know that. Making it a goal shows you care. I tell them I love them every day so many times. They know the story because I tell it to them every night before they go to bed.

I tell them I love them more than the moon, more than the stars, and more than all of the oceans.

Tell people you love that you love them. I don’t think you can ever say that enough. Be the change you want to see. Be inspiring. You think you don’t know how? I’ll give you a start. Smile at someone you don’t know. Live your life with passion. Pursue excellence. Take care of yourselves.

Until we blog again. Uh hmm, I mean journal. Have a good one.

Julie

Add to: Facebook | Digg | Del.icio.us | Stumbleupon | Reddit | Blinklist | Twitter | Technorati | Yahoo Buzz | Newsvine

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Posted in happiness, Inspiration, Italy, journal, learning, motivation, teaching, writing

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It’s a new day and new dawn and I’m feeling good.

Posted on April 14, 2011 | 13 Comments
Flowers for my sister. This is a water color painting a bit bigger than the size of a your laptop opened up.

Today I'm offering you love, a smile, a hug and some well wishes. .¸.•´* ♫`*.♥

I’m dedicating this post to my blogging friend over at Tiny Island in Singapore as she has shown the courage day in and day out to be an excellent blogger.

Two days ago I wrote on facebook that I was going through a bit of a difficult time and I asked for prayers. Within one day I received countless messages of support. I feel as though I am being held up by angels. It hasn’t been easy for me, this whole blogging journal.

Friends who have known me best know I have written a journal for all of my life. I like to write. Who doesn’t? How could you NOT like to write? It’s just like talking to yourself. I do it because I feel like once I get my thoughts written on the page, they might just make sense.

Then later I can go back and try to understand them.

That would be an ideal life, wouldn’t it? If everything just made sense?

I’m really hesitant to share why I’m going through my difficult times at the same time I feel like it’s absolutely necessary to write them down.

Bloggers have a love hate relationship in my opinion with comments. Comments seem to be the first thing people like to read in an article ~ to see what people are talking about.

But I don't want to go among mad people", said Alice. "Oh, you can't help that", said the cat. "We're all mad here."

But I don't want to go among mad people", said Alice. "Oh, you can't help that", said the cat. "We're all mad here."

Well, who writes comments on a blog when everyone is over chatting on facebook? When a blogger puts himself out for commenting and receives NO COMMENT, then they think Well, that was fun.

Plus, unfortunately, positive feedback never seems to be enough, or does it? How insecure can a person be? You could get a hundred comments. Or, you could get no comments in six months as one blogger confessed. When is enough, enough?

Hey, I heard that.

I believe words count. One of my favorite examples is:

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

It just matters to me how sometimes I think that this world is made up of good and evil. I always choose to see the good. That’s the positive person inside of me. But the more I read, the more I see, also see how the world is also full of evil. I see images of my friends who have their kids home from the war in Afghanistan. I read a lot. It’s a crazy world out there. It’s also a beautiful world too if you choose to see it that way.

I watch TV too. I saw David Letterman host a man who had killed someone in combat. He talked about it. What a burden to bear. I watch a channel here that shows how the prisons have a budget three times the budget that goes to education. That floors me. I worry sick about our youth. I think we have to transmit what love and life and  beauty are to them.

Do you guys have ANY idea what these kids are going through? I work with teenagers and they are just like you and I, they are REAL people trying to carve out a life for themselves given the resources they have.

And what are we leaving them as a human race? Are we leaving them an earth that is free of war and hate? Are we leaving them a world that is damaged by pollution? Are we instilling morals and values in them. Are we teaching them that by simple acts of kindness we can make our worlds better?

Do we say the words “You are bad.” or “You are a good kid, you just used bad judgement?”

Did you guys know that kids when they are like 11 or 12 don’t know how to make friends? They will walk up to other kids in the class and just be downright mean. They will say insulting comments to their friends just because they can. I like to tell them, you know that’s not really the best way to make friends.

They will learn. Kids are smart.

Yes, I can paint a pretty picture and make everything look beautiful and rosy. And yes, wherever you go, well, there you are.

What I am trying to say is folks, friends, guys and dolls, surround yourself by lovely things. Believe in yourself. I do. When and if someone says a comment that you choose to believe, remember, you are the one who has chosen to give importance to their words. So choose to hear the good things. Choose the positive. Choose the good.

Much love,

Julie

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Posted in Inspiration, Italy, learning, motivation, relationships, teaching, writing

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Tsunami in Japan ~ floods of prayers sent their way.

Posted on March 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

When an act of God completely unexpected happens it sort of stops you in your tracks and makes you take inventory of what you have.

At least that’s how I feel. I feel the same as my friend BJ at Tiny Island in Singapore who writes in her blog that she just can’t write considering what is going on north of Tokyo. It is terribly sad. Living through an huge natural disaster makes me just feel little and powerless over the huge hand of God. He can just move mountains if He chooses.

Friday, yesterday, he decided to send a HUGE wave over north east Japan and wipe away a city. I’m stuck to the pictures related in the media like watching a train wreck. I’ve seen pictures of things I never imagined possible. It breaks my heart.

So what can I do? Pray? That’s my first thought. I think what I will do is look for opportunity to help in any way I can. I came across one picture from a school in indonesia where the kids held a candle vigil and prayed. That’s what I feel like doing. Just being calm. I feel like I need to be calm for the people who have suffered.

I hope they know that prayers are with them all over the world, in this moment, mine.

Julie

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Posted in learning

I’ve opened my Etsy shop. {link on sidebar} Yay.

Posted on February 3, 2011 | 18 Comments

Well hello there friend.

♥ still learning kindness ♥

This academic school year is just flying by so fast. How fast? Fast as a smile caught out of the corner of your eye fast. ;)

It has been fun. It truly seems like yesterday that I was introduced to my new students and the school staff. We are all planning the end of year party with mixed emotions. I love change. I love moving forward. It scares me  but I approach it head on. Change is good. Life is good.

I had a nice chat today with our school administrator.

We had a cappuccino straight out of the vending machine before the bell rang. I can honestly say the two of us were laughing. We finished each others’ sentences. We were talking about Einstein and his theory of relativity. He said to me, You know when you are sitting on a bench waiting for a date, how time seems eternal?

Try to finish his thought. It isn’t difficult.

I told him, Yeah, and then when the date gets there, times seems to fly by in an instant. He just laughed and started asking me if I had already heard the story. I don’t think it takes a genius to know that good times are moments we want to hold onto.

One of my best friends told me in a long phone conversation years ago that great movies are just like life with the lulls edited out.

Isn’t it true?

Don’t you just love how a movie can transport you to another time, another place? Don’t you just love when you can identify with the main character? How many times have you walked out of a theater, turned towards you friend and just smiled, because you could relate so well? Or even said, That is exactly how I feel.

I love movies. Do you?

How about you? When you go to the movies, do you relate to the main character? Don’t you love how a film or picture can transport you? Who do you find charismatic or charming? Who is your favorite actor? Can you think of a time where time seemed to stand still? How about a time where time seemed to fly by? How about today? Is 24 a day hours enough?

I hope this post finds you happy, lovely and in love.

My question to you today is What have you brought to the table? What have you added to make your life more beautiful and compelling that it was a moment ago?

Julie

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Posted in happiness, learning

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I ♥ my readers. Great minds can make anything happen when working together.

Posted on January 7, 2011 | 9 Comments

Each time one of my readers leaves a comment I’m scared to look at it. I sometimes can’t sleep thinking oh great I’m going to wake up and some nut in cyber world is going to have written something mean on my blog and I’m going to have to delete it. Instead I wake up and I see words like excellent and exceptional.

Bike today.

I’m getting to know you all better and I thank you so much for participating in life, love and laughter. You guys are my extended students outside my classroom. I’ve particularly liked meeting people who need help on their endeavors like web site advice feedback. It’s nice to have found a fun creative place to play.

Whenever I’m in a classroom situation my students generally flock to me for information. Why is that? Even when I was little I remember the teacher asking me to explain simple concepts to the other students. I can only attribute it to the fact that both my mother and my grandmother, bless their hearts, were teachers.

If you have read my entire blog you will have seen that I used to write travel diaries from when I was younger. I travelled to Europe mostly before I moved here.

Back to you. My reader’s comments.

My first comment on my first post was from my friend from high school who I call double G. That’s for Gigi. Isn’t that the coolest name – Gigi? She said she’s adding me to her RSS feed. I seriously had never heard of that so I had to look it up on Google. I then read my comment from Pam at Bored Cook and she said Excellent. I felt like I got a good grade on a paper.

It's all an illusion.

One of my favorite comments comes from the nicest guy named Jeff. He wrote I find it hard to believe this isn’t the most popular self-improvement blog out there yet. I about flipped. I’m a new at this. I’d say it’s luck and passion. I also like to laugh and love to write. You guys made my dreams come true for getting 1,000 hits under two months. I’m aiming for another 2,000 in two more months. Does that sound about right to you?

A couple of years ago I was working at a Jr. High School here in Italy. You know what my students like to do? Before I walk in the class they like to write on the blackboard Prof Angelos is the Best. They also like to pass me decorated graffiti like notes written Angelos on them. The kids are 12 years old and so smart.

More Reader’s Comments

It’s your uncanny way of never “seeing” the obstacle of things and situations that make you a great motivator for me. Anne Marie

Your writing style feels like I’m sitting in your living room drinking tea and shooting the breeze. Jeff Burke

I love reading your blog! Miss A. Topp

The articles here are fantastic. Shane Mosley

Hey there. You might be new, but I enjoyed your commentary. Dr. Tom Bibey

Cool and funny tips! … I like the way you write and you have another regular visitor in me! Tomas Z.

Truthfully, this was a really outstanding post. Rosa Planting

You must be a wonderful teacher being who you are. Jeff R

Strong Voice. Shufina K., contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle

Not all reader’s comments have been positive.

On about my third day of blogging I tried adding my blog to a search directory and a guy said he though maybe I was writing satire. I had to look that up. If I’m writing Satire I’m unaware of it. That particular comment is not on my blog because he wrote it on the web directory.

Is this a positive or negative comment? I’m undecided.

The other comment I’m not sure was good or bad was a friend of mine on facebook. When I wrote I’m getting teary eyed when I see babies in strollers Tim wrote Careful, Nietzsche felt the same way about horses.

That comment was so above my head. Maybe some of you readers can explain it to me. I looked it up on wikipedia and it said Nietzche ended up in an insane asylum.

Before this starts sounding like too long of an undeserved Booker Prize speech I just wanted to say you have all been wonderful motivators for me. I write about motivation because I like to get my students thinking. I like to see them smile. I like a good laugh. Life is good. Life is wonderful.

Two quick and funny stories I’d like to share with you.

The first is about my holiday experience at school last week. The school was closed due to snow so the remaining teachers sang and danced. It was a moment I wished lasted forever. When is the last time you can imagine teachers singing and dancing in a teacher’s lounge? Kind of crazy.

And the second

I embarrassed myself on Sc.tt’s website that you can see to your right on my blogroll. I introduced myself as an English teacher and then I misspelled a word. I wrote back to ask him to please not publish it. I wrote through not threw. By that time it was already on his public New’s Feed. No going back. I then went to comment on one of his articles he wrote on a FOO camp – I had never heard of that so again I had to look it up. What I saw was a picture of a beautiful house and a bunch of tents in front of it.

It was hosted at a guy’s house named O’Reilly. I commented that I couldn’t believe Bill O’Reilly wouldn’t invite people in to his house or host them at a nearby hotel. Kind Scott corrected me saying it’s publisher Tim O’Reilly. Who would have known? I tried a third time to correct my mistake by telling him he ‘sited’ O’Reilly four times without giving the first name so my mistake was honest. By the time I hit the return button I saw I wrote sited instead of cited.

For the third time in a row I saw my name on the new’s feed calling myself an English teacher. Oy Vay says my sister. Oy Vay.

When travelling we always run into funny stories of miscommunication. Would you like to tell me yours?

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Julie

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Posted in happiness, holidays, Inspiration, Italy, learning, motivation

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Pre Holiday Jitters ~ Is there a gift wrappers pre hab?

Posted on December 16, 2010 | 5 Comments

Hi guys and welcome to my blog.

Christmas Shiner

Christmas Shiner

How are you? How is everything going in your pre holiday worlds? Hope you are welcoming the upcoming season with joy in your hearts. I know we joke on facebook and in conversations that we feel like we can’t get it all done but at the same time, I think we know in our heart of hearts that it’s really all going to be okay. Are you with me?

It’s all about the journey, right? Hopefully we are enjoying it.

I’ve been thinking about this blog and why I started it. I haven’t yet quite figured it out. I’m almost certain it has to do with spontaneity. I believe some things are inexplicable, like where children come from and how plants grow. Also how wounds heal. Who would have known.

I can precisely remember when I got my first cut on my finger and I thought, oh no, now what. I’m going to have to live with a cut on my finger for the rest of my life.

It was my sister, Lisa, who explained to me that God made us in a way that we heal. I was sort of shocked. She explained how a cut would stop bleeding because the blood got harder, dried, made a scab and in a couple of days it would fall off.

you inspired in me as a small child

you inspired in me as a small child ♡

Wow!

Just like that!

When I hear things like that I just am awestruck. Sometimes I have a young student in class shout out something to the fact that they are non believers in God. I just couldn’t fathom a life without religion and belief. How else would we answer the questions about where babies come from and how wounds are healed.

How the Internet is Changing our Lives.

I think with access to information available to anyone with an internet connection and nearly immediately people just want to learn. I think they like to learn and like absorbing information.

When I was a kid I learned like a sponge. I’m a little bit slower to learn as I get older yet I think people love to learn.

What floors me.

What floors me is that the more I learn, the more I connect, and reconnect with my readers and old friends, I find that people generally have a loving attitude. I find that most of the information that is shared is out of a loving heart with good intentions.

That is the choice I made.

Well, that’s about all I got for now. I just wanted to leave you with a few quick thoughts. I’ve had some REALLY stressful last few days. I found myself stuck in traffic and in situations I didn’t want to be in. I felt uncomfortable at meetings I wished I wasn’t in. But at the end of the day I felt thankful.

I felt thankful for my job, for my family, for my house, for my car, for my friendships, for my blog, for the ability to communicate, for my health and the list goes on and on. I felt thankful for having a blog, being able to write and paint, having readers and having a creative outlet.

Hope this post finds you lovely, lucky and in love. Have a happy relaxed easy joyful pre holiday season.

Julie

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Posted in family, happiness, holidays, learning, relationships

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My last day on earth. It’s all going to be okay.

Posted on October 30, 2010 | 1 Comment

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

I was thinking to myself. I said, Self, what if today was your last day here on earth?

So I thought, I know, I better make a list of things I need to do.

A list! For Goodness sakes. It’s my last day on earth and the only thing I can think of doing is making a list?

Okay I know it’s a morbid way to start a post but I think it’s good to think about our lives and what we have accomplished. I told one of my classes, If I were to die today please write on my grave, ‘She loved life.’ Can someone do that for me?

I’m happy to report I don’t think I’d change a single thing in my life. I feel complete. I feel lucky. I feel blessed. I feel like I’ve learned something along the way. I feel I am making, if not at least trying to make a positive contribution to my world.

Like This!

♡ A friend is NOT the person who says, 'Stop what you are doing before you make a fool of yourself.' but is the person who says "Let's make fools of ourselves together.♡

♡ A friend is NOT the person who says, 'Stop what you are doing before you make a fool of yourself.' but is the person who says "Let's make fools of ourselves together.♡

500 friends on facebook! Ha! That’s a laugh.

I know that when new friends go on facebook and see that, they must be put off just a bit. How in the world could I possibly know 500 people? I don’t. I am a teacher. And a blog writer. This year I have 150 new students. I have a bunch of friends from high school too. I think there are also some friends I have met from travelling. If you’d like to become a fan, just click here.

I can count my closest friends on my hands and they know who they are.

My Bucket List

1. A clean house.

That’s probably about it. My house is spotless as I write because I have just cleaned for the last four hours. So does that mean I’m clear to go? My family is with me and laughing. I am healthy. What else can a girl want? For the moment I can’t think of much.

I’m a little bit concerned about children of divorced parents. My eldest son is nine and that is the time my dad left for another woman. I think that’s why I clean all of the time. Oh well. There could be worse consequences.

Children of Divorced Parents

I love the ballet.♡

I love the ballet.♡

A strange thing happened this week at school. A girl still doesn’t have her class book and we are almost two months into lessons. I have written the mom and asked the girl every time I see her what’s up.

Well, now she has a book because I made a couple of phone calls. Looks like mom lives here and dad lives there and she’s just trying to make it through the day. Stories like this break my heart. She’s 13. If you saw her you’d say she looks 17. She’s a pretty girl with long curly hair. She’s sweet and she’s polite. When we gave her her new book, her eyes lit up like a child. I bet she does well in my class. I just have a feeling.

Another one of my students is comes and goes as she pleases. She’s only 12. Again mom’s here and dad’s there. So noone really knows how she passes her days. Now her life is part of my life and as I teacher I question how far I should go to intervene? Call her parents? Go pick her up and bring her to school? I have made phone calls. I’m keeping an eye on her.

They say kids whose parents have divorced are victims. Well, I felt like a victim for years, but I no longer do. Do you know why? Because I have decided I don’t want to feel like a victim. So I don’t. Words in this case are just labels. It’s part of my life, it’s who I am. And it is in the past where it belongs.

Day to Day, Minute by Minute, Breath by Breath, Step by Step

Being a teacher. Talking to parents. Talking to students. Being a mom, making it through another day, trying to thrive. Being a wife, taking care of myself, my house, my being and my surroundings. Adding a little bit of something that makes life beautiful, like candles, like flowers, like pinecones and kids’ handmade toys on the table and window. Being polite. Learning. Writing. Teaching. Sharing. Just life.

I’ll tell you one thing is for sure. It’s a good life and I’m not going to pass my last day here making a list.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day.

Julie

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Posted in happiness, journal, learning, lists, teaching

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