30 DAY MUSIC CHALLENGE: DAY 6

Day 06: A song that reminds you of somewhere...




this song reminds me of las vegas.  I had bought the cd on one of our las vegas trips a long time ago... we left the cd in the rental car, and I ended up having to buy it again when we got home.

30 DAY MUSIC CHALLENGE: DAY 5

Day 05: A song that reminds you of someone...




In memory of Mr. A (former patient).

30 DAY MUSIC CHALLENGE

Day 04: A song that makes you sad...

THE KIND-HEARTED BLOGGER CAMPAIGN

  BACKGROUND:

after experiencing some not-so-nice behavior in the blogging community, I decided to take a stand.  I have always been the kind of person to take a negative situation, and try to turn it into a learning opportunity.  It is either the product of being a social worker, or the reason I became one--whichever came first, I don't know.

I also provide training workshops on personal and organizational accountability.  sounds boring I know, but it's actually very helpful in life.  it's about recognizing and taking responsibility in what you can and cannot change.  If you see or are experiencing something you do not agree with, and you do not do what is in your power to change it--then you are also part of the problem.

I was recently involved (I don't like the word "victim") in a situation that was hurtful.  I got angry about it, I lost interest in blogging, I blamed.  but then I thought, "what can I do to change this?"  I can speak from my heart, and I can make an effort to be mindful of not doing the same to others.  and, even better I can hope that others will join in and do the same.

and so the "kind-hearted blogger" campaign was born.

 AS A KIND-HEARTED BLOGGER I PLEDGE TO:

• create, inspire, and admire rather than compete with fellow bloggers
• be understanding of each other-- in the blogging community, as well as in the world
• stay away from internet/blogging bullying
• speak my opinion freely, while still being mindful of other's feelings-- be tactful.
• make an effort--no matter how big or small the gesture, to spread kindness or joy to others
• acknowledge that I will make mistakes, (I am only human) but remember to learn from them
• know that at times I will post about the negative stuff in life, and maybe even some complaining (I am only human) but I will always follow up with something happy/positive too.
• believe that this world is a good place, filled with good people.

FEEL FREE TO JOIN IN (let me know if you do so I can link you)

<a href="http://emjayandme.blogspot.com/2010/07/kind-hearted-blogger-campaign.html" target="_blank"><img src=" http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/jo_annie/DOILYPLEDGEsditcopy.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://emjayandme.blogspot.com/2010/07/kind-hearted-blogger-campaign.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/jo_annie/DOILYPLEDGEcopy.jpg" /></a>

also, make sure to take a look at my blog pal lindsay's wonderful post on kindness. it's beautiful, and perfect, and I feel so honored to have contributed a small part to it.

MEET THESE KIND BLOGGERS: 

Pixies and Bears 

The Rik Rak Studio 

Way Out

Let's Run Away 
Seeker of Happiness 
One Day at a Time
Little Gorjuss Things
Inspired Mess
The Rockstar Mommy Chronicles
Eliza and Beth
Heart Handmade
Love Quirky!
Fizz Pop Bang Blog
Coffin Confections
Daring to Imagine Daring to Believe
A Soldier Girls Thoughts
Our.City.Lights
Pamplemousse
A Quirky Girl's Thoughts 
Consider My Dear
The Daisy Parade
Evershining Star
Kaleidoscope Eyes
Typical Ramblings, Atypical Nonsense
Sour Tang
Amylouwho
The New Me
Operation Nice
Michabella Living a Life of Love
Bread Without Butter
Lea the Lion
Today's Gift
Simplest Form of an Elle
My Lovely Little Suitcase
My Empty Nest is Full of Cat Hair
Gekakel
Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady Too
500 Strangers
Paper and Pen
Sparkle and Twirl
The An9e1a Project
Twisted Tree
Living 4 Quilting
So Sew Crafty
Stories at My Fingertips
Quiltmom's Journey 
This Mum's World
Pieces on My Mind
The Clip Cafe
Campfire Chic
Yesterday on Tuesday 
The Life of Ashley Fastle 
Life is a Canvas
Kat's Creations 
The Cat's Meow
Indie and Chic
Easily Distracted
Glass Plant
Searching for Serendipity
With Love, Jamie
Anzouya
Jasifer Lions Club
Brina's Blog 
Sandra Ortuno
Pull You Socks Up
The Hovey Hut
The Happy Scrappy Place
Buttons, Bows, and Brogues
Skook's Playground
Oh Snap!
High Hopes in High Heels
Paper Squid
Life's Indications
Art is Just Frozen Music
Zinga's Zoo
Down the Veggie Road
She Breathes Deeply
Kiorki Printing Press
Nynga + The Bear
Dreamy Fairytale
Everything of Me
Two Peas in a Pod
Fishnets and Hip Checks
Lulu in Los Angeles
RevasRags2Roses
The Copy Cat Blog
Cupcakes in the Kitchen
Sweetfaced Style
Medi EVI
©x3AlyyyKay™ 
Little Bee 
Simply Loverly
Swell Papel
Lillabilly
Toasty-Surprises
The Not So Pharaoh Farrows
Victoria's Secrets
Life on Planet Baby
Little Jenny, Big World
Monica Rambles
The Nearsighted Owl
Live. Love. Bake.
AJ the Purple
Sunshine and Carousels
My Little Blog Stop
The Ten Talents
Style a la Ec lec ti ca
It's Always Something
Assorted Musings
All the Pretty Thingss
Vivacious Mission
Melodies and Desires
I Dream Loudly
Dreams and Drifters
Lissame73
Misinterpretations
Life Lines
Mafiosa Grrl
Beneath the Acacia Tree
Of all the Nonsense
Carrie's Cache
The Feed Lot
Jillofallcrafttradez
Expecting the Unknown
Zomboid
The Freebird Photoblog
Ran Tan Waltz
Matchless Vision
From Gem with Love
Moonbeamwishes
A Little Bit of This & A Little Bit of That
Fashionable Academics
Oh-La-La 
Melissabee
Soft Weather
Hold On, Love
Smelling the Sneezeweed
Cats & Cardigans
Service Travel Growth
Born 2 Be Mom
Enlightened Cooking
Dear Kee$ha
The Land of Liquid Sunshine
Style Milk
Little Moments
Blessed Bee
Kiss The Olive Goodnight
Lucky Girl
She Wears Flowers
Bushbelles
Fuyume.net 
Little One, I Know You Grow
Whimsical Poppysmic
Mouse In My Pocket
Chronicles of Sarita
Mama's Little Helper
Sweet Pea and Poppy
Fabulous Fashions 4 Sensible Style
Live Laugh Love With the Pondering Princess
E.ssues
Pretty Petals
Cosmetically Curious
Makeup Fancy
My World Resting on Your Love
Bubbling With Elegance and Grace
Seven Cherubs
Mother. Musician. and Multi-Tasker
Dolce At Heart
Running With Chopstix
Pammy Blogs Beauty
Productrater
Dillightful Musings
Daily Dose of Dahl
Make Something Good
One Step At A Time
Free To Be Me
Boho Baby Bump
A Moment With God
A Mom's Joy
The Two Buttons
Narragansett Number 7
Diary Of A Super Mommy
Katie Anna B
Say Your Right Words
Chloe's Mom
Fourty Four Sunsets
Autism As A Whole
Elly Belly Babyee
abbzzw
A Splendid Little Life
The Vintage Tea Party
Crafty Bird Creations
Michael and Darby
One Kind Mankind
Country Blossoms
She Stamps by Cheryl
Our Youth
Fabulous Fashions 4 Sensible Style

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 3

Day 03: A song that makes you happy:

30 DAY SONG CHALLENGE: DAY 2

Day 02: your least favorite song

NIKOART

so my husband was gone pretty much this whole week.  he went on a diving trip to the big island with a bunch of his friends.

he brought back lots of fish (the good blue water kind-- mahi, ono)...and even better than that (well, to me at least), he brought back this beauty:

a gift from my friend (his friend's girlfriend) nicole, of nikoart.  she sent it home with him.  thank you, thank you, thank you nicole!!!! you made my day--I LOVE it!  this photo does not do it any justice though!

isn't it gorgeous??

30 DAY MUSIC CHALLENGE

Day 01: Your Favorite Song...

joining in with this blog: 


 

see the entire list here.

THANK YOU!

thank you so much for the kind, and encouraging comments, emails, texts, and messages regarding this post.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much response I have received.  I am so very appreciative!

It has helped to restore my hope in blogging, and the blogging community.  I replied to a friend's email saying that the reason I became a social worker is because I believe that the world is a good place, full of good people.  I feel validated that this is true.  It gives me so much hope for this world that my em jay will grow up in.

I make a lot of mistakes in life, and sometimes say or do things that I regret later...or realize was wrong.  I am so NOT perfect.  the complete opposite in fact.  I do however try to find ways to learn from my experiences and my mistakes, and I do hope that certain people are able to do the same.  this is how we grow. this is being human.

be kind, be compassionate, and believe in the world we live in!

thank you so, so much everybody!!!

the 30 day song challenge

 (from google images)

krystal from krystal's kitsch is participating in the 30 day song challenge and I plan to play along (looks hard, but I'll try)...

Day 01 – Your favorite song
Day 02 – Your least favorite song
Day 03 – A song that makes you happy
Day 04 – A song that makes you sad
Day 05 – A song that reminds you of someone
Day 06 – A song that reminds of you of somewhere
Day 07 – A song that reminds you of a certain event
Day 08 – A song that you know all the words to
Day 09 – A song that you can dance to
Day 10 – A song that makes you fall asleep
Day 11 – A song from your favorite band
Day 12 – A song from a band you hate
Day 13 – A song that is a guilty pleasure
Day 14 – A song that no one would expect you to love
Day 15 – A song that describes you
Day 16 – A song that you used to love but now hate
Day 17 – A song that you hear often on the radio
Day 18 – A song that you wish you heard on the radio
Day 19 – A song from your favorite album
Day 20 – A song that you listen to when you’re angry
Day 21 – A song that you listen to when you’re happy
Day 22 – A song that you listen to when you’re sad
Day 23 – A song that you want to play at your wedding
Day 24 – A song that you want to play at your funeral
Day 25 – A song that makes you laugh
Day 26 – A song that you can play on an instrument
Day 27 – A song that you wish you could play
Day 28 – A song that makes you feel guilty
Day 29 – A song from your childhood
Day 30 – Your favorite song at this time last year

Starting tomorrow...

JUST A BIT OF "SELF-TALK" ON A SATURDAY...

So, today while browsing my sitemeter... I kept wondering why there were so many clicks coming in from twitter.  I followed the link and was pretty shocked to discover that someone had posted about my blog.

Apparently the person was quite offended that I had used the name "em jay" since her very good friend has the same nickname.  Then I found a whole thread of tweets about me being "unoriginal" (I had actually never seen the other emjay blog till now).  I'm not saying that it is wrong to be offended or to post that opinion about me, because that is the great thing about this day and age.  With blogging, and twitter, and facebook, etc-- everyone is entitled to their opinions.  I'm also not posting this to point out the person, or to be mad, or upset.

I guess the reason I'm writing this is because I was pretty hurt, and a little bit disheartened by it.  Especially since I feel I put my heart and soul into this blog sometimes.  And  I also try to be very aware of not copying or offending anyone (though sometimes I take inspiration from others...and credit them)... I have always felt so supported, and have been overjoyed to find such an open community of crafters and bloggers on the web... it really disenchanted me somewhat.  I actually felt like it took the joy of blogging away a little for me and considered quitting.

But after some self-talk (yes, that's the therapist in me-- can't help it, it's my profession.  and therapists need therapy too!) I decided that it's true everyone is entitled to their opinion and to share it-- it's a free country as they say.  and really, you can't please everybody.  This blog is exactly what it's title is--about me and my daughter emily jay (em jay).  And my opinion is that there's nothing wrong with that.  It's also wrong of me to overlook all of the other wonderful, good-hearted people out there doing their thing...and allowing me to do mine.

So, I guess in the end this turned out to be an appreciation post of some sort.  as well as a "snap out of it Joanne, be a bit more understanding and accepting and...let it go" post. 

I guess it goes to show... or prove that I am only human.  We are all only human.  I am letting it go...

Thanks, everybody!

Be back later with a bunch of ATC swaps I've been working on...

p.s. em jay has a fever, again. what is going on????

INSPIRATION THURSDAY: DEADLIEST CATCH

I have been a fan of Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch from the very beginning. This season has been following Captain Phil's death. It's very sad, and also touching--the camera men are fantastic. I really hope they have won, or will won some kind of award for cinematography. They truly are amazing. They have been able to pay special tribute to Captain Phil while still maintaining and not losing focus of the show's true subject-- crab fishing. I think they've done a respectable job. In honor of Captain Phil, and Deadliest Catch--I decided to do a Nautical inspired post.

You'll probably laugh because Deadliest Catch is such a manly show, and this post and the stuff in it are so girly.  But I'm girl, so here goes:

 (from: Market Street Broads)

(from: 8smake)

(from: Quizz)

SIDE A:

1. Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse
2. Girl Sailor - The Shins
3. Across the Sea - Weezer
4. Overboard - Ingrid Michaelson
5. Badfish - Sublime

SIDE B: 

1. You're Crashing, but You're No Wave - Fall Out Boy
2. The Water - Feist
3. Sea of Heartbreak - Kapena
4. March into the Sea - Modest Mouse
5. Hurricane - Lisa Loeb

MONDAY LOVE

GOCCO

My newest obsession is researching gocco machines.  I've been debating for awhile whether to make the investment or not.  I could kick myself for not getting one when paper source had them in stock.  It seems the more I wait, the more they cost!  Here are some wonderful gocco creations to drool over...
 

( from ink shop)

(from little red fox)

 (from mullberry blue)

(from shadowboxer ink)

(from jimbot)

(from lineacarta)

(from run amok)

I may just have to make do with other printing alternatives--perhaps this one...seems I already have all the materials on hand.  promise to post when I try it out.

NIKOART

just a little bit of NIKOART love... 

I used Nicole's gnome, owl, and mushroom stamps.  All of her stamps are super cute! Also see Nicole's blog: Hoboville-- she's a very talented artist!

LOVELY DANITA, AND GENIUS TIM HOLTZ

I bought these lovely stamps by danita art awhile back from the crescendoh shop.  they are so cute and whimsical, and the perfect size for gift tags...

I made a mistake and bought a bottle of tim holtz distress stickles.  I had meant to buy the regular glitter glue stickles but grabbed the wrong one.

I decided-- what the heck, I'll give it a try. and squeezed some on to the background of the red queen tag.  when it dried...OH MY!  BEAUTIFUL!

it has a slightly matte, chunky glitter look. very vintage-y effect...

I LOVE IT...and now will be out searching for more...look at all the wonderful colors!!

(image from: nona designs)

BALL PUZZLE TUTORIAL

MATERIALS:

• empty favor container with a clear top like this, or this.
• tiny silver beads, ball bearings, or recycle an old ball puzzle by breaking apart and using the balls. 
• circle cutter (my container is round), or scissors (I use Martha Stewart)
• anywhere hole punch (I use making memories)
• cardstock
• rubber stamp.  I used an owl by nikoart.

step one: cut out background paper in a solid color from cardstock to fit the bottom of your container

step two: stamp your image onto cardstock, and cut out to fit the bottom of your container (I used a circle cutter because my container is round)

step three: punch two to three holes wherever you would like the ball to sit.

step four: color your stamped image and glue background piece together with stamped image. then glue to bottom of the container.

step 5: add in your tiny silver balls (two if there are two holes), then put a little glue around container cover edge and cover the box.  let dry.

my mom is really good at this.  she could get them in super fast!

you could customize the theme and use them for little party favors...they're so much fun, and easy to make!

MONDAY LOVE: STAMPS

I'm back into the rubber stamping phase again... I tend to go in spurts.  here are some I've been in love with lately...

love these stamps by nikoart: 

cute camera stamp by cocories:

love every single one by the greeting farm (images found here)

pink cat studio is adorable too...

and love, love, love stamps by danita...

I'm having so much fun creating!