Category Archives: teaching

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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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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A Blogger Blogging about her Blog {and such.}

Posted on November 7, 2011 | 12 Comments

Hello friends. Good to see you. New visitors welcome.

It’s another beautiful day. There is a smell of fresh brewed coffee. The kids are playing and the sun is shining. I live out in the country surrounded by fields of vegetables and orchards.

Because of what is called the lowlands, in the morning there is a nice white fog that extends the distance. It looks as if God painted a huge moving glorious postcard.

Sometimes while I’m driving to work, I see this white fog after a snow fall. It’s quite magical actually. It reminds me of the scene in Narnia when Lucy enters into the magical forrest.

I’d have to say it’s my favorite time of the day when you are between two places, home and work, just looking at the countryside, watching the birds take off. I see the same man jogging rain or shine.

Figure it out, figure it out, if you don't know how to do it, figure it out.

I notice the colors of the old withering farmhouses. I try to think of words that describe the soft colors of Italy.

The best words that I can come up with are soft butter, avocado and peach. Most of the old buildings are crumbling. I dream that I rebuild the home into a villa. Then I think, no, why would I do that? It’s so beautiful just the way it is.

The anticipation for spring is so strong, your hearts and minds start to see flowers. It’s a thrilling moment when the same snow covered field one day blooms. As we drive past fields of flowers, our family likes to say the colors, pink, pink, yellow, red, white, look, there’s purple.

Foggy mornings turning into sunshine days. Yeah!

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. Emmerson

It is nice to have you here with me. When I was just a little girl hum Doris Day, I wanted to be a published writer. I bought the beautiful empty diaries with angel covers. The first entry on the first page was always exciting with the anticipation of what I would write.

Life presents us with the solutions we are looking for.

As I write, I think of the people who have come across my words. Is writing crazy? Is it the same as talking to yourself in the mirror? If so, or, if not, even if people comment, the actual ACT of writing is me talking to me, right? Or is is you? See the confusion? I do. It’s ok though.

Be awesome. Be authentic.  Be inspirational.

Zero to Blog the film, the movie, the ebook

My ebook, Zero to Blog has been a journey of it’s own. I feel like the book wrote itself because it is information presented in a clear way to help people get their blogs on line.

I painted these for my sister. I see them when we Skype.

As a blog writer you have to figure it all out. I like that though. As my Uncle says, Figure it out, figure it out, if you don’t know how to do it, figure it out.

I suppose I watched too much TV and thought there was an actual book launch party. Maybe there are. In my real life, it didn’t quite go that way. The book launch party idea was to have a giveaway and a book signing. Well, it’s a digital book.

No bookstore. No signing. Or, digital bookstore online books signing party!

Beautiful just the way it is.

Now it’s your turn. I would like to know what you are working on. What is your favorite time of day? What images make you happy? What are ways can you describe color? What does your commute to work look like?

How do you sell your work. What has worked for you?

Thanks for stopping by, your comments are welcome.

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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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Bl❀ggity bl❀g bl❀g.

Posted on August 1, 2011 | 7 Comments

Hi friends and welcome back. Nice to see you. Welcome new visitors.

Hello Africa! Hello Asia! Hello Europe! Hello Australia! Hello Canada! Hello south America and above all hello U.S.A! Did I leave anyone out?! Hope not!

What motivates you?

Key kitty kitty kitty. That's me talking again to my cat. : )

Key kitty kitty kitty.

My best friend kicks my bum in tennis and probably anyone else’s. When we were playing at university we were great partners.

We spent our time between matches actually doing cartwheels on the court. Sometimes we’d do them during matches. :)

One day our coach pulled us aside and assigned us new partners. Not the Chinese, we chanted. They’d kill us at tennis. They were serious players.

Sure enough, my best friend and I found ourselves paired up with fantastic new partners.

I’m building bridges here.

Stay with me folks. There IS a reason I’m telling you this.

The reason is this.

I ask you, What motivates you most? Is it someone who comes over, puts your hand on your shoulder, smiles, and says good job, or is the person who gets behind you and yells ‘DO IT!’?

Can I let this go? Will I let this go? When? Now.

Oil Painting I made for my BFF.

When I was on swim team in high school, my sister was my best motivator. She’d follow me back and forth across the lanes and scream ‘Go Julie!’ Her coaching strategy was swim toward the chocolate cake and away from the shark.

The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

I prefer swimming towards the chocolate cake. But I think both motivators will work.

When we were back playing singles tennis, my best friend would look me in the eye and with a sly smile say You’re going down.

She’d say it with such conviction she would win! I think this is called psyching me out.

She’s an awesome tennis player.

The point is, get out there, do your best, don’t be afraid of things that are new, go towards your goals and model good behavior hopefully doing cartwheels inbetween.

Have a nice day and thank you for visiting.

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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

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Reach for the moon. ☆ If you don’t make it ~ at least you’ll be in the midst of stars.

Posted on July 1, 2011 | 7 Comments
When they say you can't, show them differently.

10 x No = YES!

Here’s a story I learned when I was young.

There’s a bunch of fleas put in a jar. They keep jumping super high. In fact, fleas can jump 60 times their height! The fleas are now in the jar jumping so high so high.

Then someone comes along and puts a cap on the jar. Bump bump bump. The fleas hit their heads. Ouch. They change their behavior and say in a tiny flea voice I will only jump as high as this lid. Ouch ouch ouch.

Then someone comes along and opens the jar. What do you think happens? Do the fleas jump super high or do they jump just as high as the lid?

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. ღ ॐ Friedrich Nietzsche ♡

Unfortunately they only jump slightly lower than lid. You know why? They learned they couldn’t jump any higher.

The point of the story is that we are all little fleas that can jump 60 times our height.

You can jump higher.

Please don’t let ANYONE ever tell you that you can’t do something that benefits yourself, humanity, your team or someone you love.

Even better do something for an enemy. Forgive them.

More Peeps?! WT~@#?

Surely a vanilla green tea with honey day today.

Tell me when you want me stop talking about this but I have a good number of visitors here. I think that’s unbelievable.

I just don’t know when I am going to get used to thinking I’m talking to more than my husband or children. Still it just floors me. I googled the question How many people visit your blog?

I keep getting referred back to one site and I found an interesting chart saying they get 20,000 visitors per week. I’m not buying it. Maybe they are. I just don’t know of any personally.

I am sure somewhere someone is. If so be brave, come forward, leave a comment. One guy said he got like I don’t know 250 per week when he wrote an iphone review. Probably.

Cough cough cough bull…bull. bologna.

Keep Calm and Carry On

Welcome new readers. I hope you become a regular visitor.

The bottom line is I am completely satisfied with the positive feedback I am getting and the steady increase in visitors. Thank you.

Do you like email – I don’t so much.

What do you think about the box that reads: If you are new you might want to consider adding me onto your email subscription? I wish someone would explain that to me. I personally don’t like email so much.

I do all of my communicating between my friends on facebook. What am I going to do with a HUGE list of emails? Sell them to marketers? No. Why? So they can send me junk mail that I trash?

I’m not going there. Am I wrong in thinking if someone wants to see what I am up to they can go to my site or drop me a line? People know how to bookmark, don’t they? Argh.

The first week I was blogging I added myself as a subscribe to my newsfeed by email button. I kept getting letters from myself and it was awful.

Reach for the moon. If you don’t make it at least your are somewhere amongst the stars.

☆

Have a great day and thanks for visiting.

Julie

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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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How to be successful without even trying.

Posted on November 16, 2010 | 4 Comments
Mimi Weddell Blogger

Develop a love for learning. ♡

If we can all agree that we got here now today thanks to the support of friends and loved ones I think we can also agree that it is also thanks to people who have motivated us.

One of my favorite teachers whom I’m grateful to is a man named Mr. Phil McGreevy. For some reason when I was going into high school I was told there was an experimental math class where ‘bright’ students were going to be experimented on. Like little hamsters. I still consider myself to be lucky that I was chosen to be in this class because the 24 of us had the honor of having the same students with the same teachers for the four years of high school.

Consistency, Relevancy and Going the Extra Mile.

Mr. McGreevy was a great teacher for so many reasons but mostly because he took the time to slowly explain everything from the start to the end. I always felt I could ask him at any time any question with out him getting angry. I loved the way he wrote on the blackboard because he had nice writing. He was consistent because he did things like draw squares around the answers. He also seemed to choose relevant homework.

Even though I had him for four years I remember one day when he asked who was interested in getting straight As – he was offering a Saturday workshop. Like most of my students they’d LOVE to have straight As but for various reasons their grades are all over the board. Most of them do follow what Mr. McGreevy called the Bell curve where he demonstrated that most students lie somewhere in the middle. I always wanted to be one of the students with the As. Maybe if I just did that little bit extra it would pay off.

Pay attention ~ here’s the key.

I attended his class and after doing various exercises and reading he got to the point of the argument. He said,

If

If

If

If you want to get straight As then all you have to do is develop a love for learning.

I was shocked. I was little bit disappointed because I thought he was going to give me the answers to that Friday’s test. I had to love learning?

Who loves learning? We only went to school because we had to. Love learning. That was the key. He was right. I don’t care how many times my mother could tell me about the starving children in Africa who didn’t have shoes or school it still didn’t make me want to study.

I don’t actually remember doing homework although I do remember it was assigned. I’m pretty certain I did it either during another class or before the class started. I’ll have to check with my classmates on that one.

I do agree that the key to learning is to develop a love for learning. I since have gone on to become a teacher. I found something even more important and that is the love of teaching. I truly love being infront of the kids and seeing them smile. I feel like it is an enormous privilege and honor to have this responsibility. I try to do my best with it.

One day I’m going to retire from teaching and just be an American living in Italy with her family and garden. God willing. In the mean time, I’m going to love learning.

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