I won! Nothin’ kicks a writing slump to the curb, like getting a custom sign in the mail! Whoot!

When Emily, from Chocolate Blue, asked what initial and kid’s name I wanted for my wall sign…I blushed.

I was kinda-sorta thinking about getting a sign with my blog name. How ’bout putting on a big J. Cause my first initial is J and so is Just a Blink’s.

I stammered on about how I had 4 kids so it would be hard to choose which one to get done. But, really I fooled no one about just plain wanting something for myself!

I knew seeing this handmade, Just a Blink sign would inspire me, every time I looked in its direction. My new wall sign makes me think about all the reasons I blog.

I love to:

• write
• be in this little slice of blogdom I call home
• forgive myself for misplacing commas half of the time, at best
• record and remember the moments that blink by
• dream of my future just for the sake of dreaming
• think beyond myself
• hear from my readers

Plus, Chocolate Blue threw in two super cute handmade notecards. Cupcakes!

Sweet!

You’ll be hearing from me tomorrow,

Jess

Check out my new and improved Welcome to Just a Blink page, formerly known as About Us. Click the Welcome to Just a Blink button in the navigation bar.

Composing a clear vision for Just a Blink was a treat and a challenge to write. I hope my new sense of direction will unify my posts and create a much homier blog home.

Over the next few months I intend to give Just a Blink a touch of a make over. I am working on getting the cake baked and I’ll turn it over to the skilled designers for the icing. I can’t wait! I am hoping to have the whole blog ship shape for my 2 year blogging anniversary coming up in May.

Thanks,

Jess

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to display my Super Blogger award from The Masked Mommy.

The Masked Mommy has inspired me to do a little comic book writing myself…

Super Plot:

Messy Jessy and Neat Pete are in an epic battle against time as they prepare for the arrival of the Double Trouble Twins. Can simplicity and peace be obtained with Super Ryan and Molly Girl constantly at their feet?

Stay tuned as they gather wisdom from friends (in life and in the blogdom) and strength from the Ultimate Super Power, God Himself, to live life to the fullest without clutter and delay!

Will they overcome their differences for the greater good? Who will reign victorious, the Garage Goblin or the mighty duo Messy Jessy and Neat Pete?

Only time will tell…..!

]]> http://justablink.com/2009/04/me-a-super-blogger-blush/feed/ 1 http://justablink.com/2009/03/internet-sminternet/ http://justablink.com/2009/03/internet-sminternet/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:33:49 +0000 Jessica http://justablink.com/?p=2296 Unplugging with A Soft Place to Land

Kimba from ASPTL invited her blogging community to unplug (go without computer time) last Friday and report back what we found.

Due to my early days of baby growing, my nausea and fatigue have guided me to a week or more of being unplugged.

I am back. But, it begs the question…

What did I do?

• I disappeared from facebook
• I left my email inbox full
• My Google Reader blog feeds (that I read daily) are stacked up to 250
• My blog writing fell of a cliff
• Photography…I have a camera?

What did I learn?

• Life happens all around me all time whether I capture it, remember it or even share it or not.
• Life happens on the internet (blogs, social media, email) with or without me around.
• I missed the daily dose of connectivity but felt a relief from it as well.
• I learned to guide my days by moments I got to have with my kids rather than by moments I got to have without them.

Where do I go from here?

I will let go of guilt and enjoy my time on the computer. The Internet, as I interact with it, is a great source of learning on a variety of levels.

How else will I know if so-and-so’s ultra-sound predicts a 10 baby? OR When my MOPS table is signed-up to bring food? OR How a good friend is doing at the Hospital with her sick baby?

Not to mention, what types of organizational, decoration-al and recreational ideas I absorb every week!

The Goodness of being Plugged In

• Reading blogs is like earning continuing education credits
• Writing posts is like a personal growth workshop or therapy
• Sharing status updates is what a cup of coffee together or chatting over the clothes line used to be
• Uploading digital photos with captions has become the new baby-book or scrapbook

P.S. I did give up checking my blog stats for Lent.

As my last post outlined, I’m pregnant! Kid number 3 is coming this Fall.

But, right now, I am living under a rock. Early bedtimes are stealing my blogging time!

My camera and my computer keyboard are collecting dust.

I will be back…closet reveals, darling kids, life ramblings, and spring decor are around the corner.

Sandy, a mom of 5 kids, does children’s book project themes for her family. My book theme about Sam and Gus was featured with her latest book theme post. I just thought I’d give a shout out to Sandy for adding me to her post! Thanks!

How impersonal. How selfish.

Before today I thought becoming a blogger meant that I would be one more of those people shouting from the roof tops, “Everyone needs to hear my special view of the world and the daily minutia of my family and work life.” I am proud of my family and myself for that matter but why would I need to write my journal for the world to see and comment on? Remember when diaries had keys? Now bloggers write like every reader is their family pet resting loyally at the end of their childhood bed in silence.

How pretentious. How boring.

I suppose having kids has changed my views of personal sharing due to the huge flux of “hey how are y…, why haven’t you updated your kids’ photo gallery online yet this week?” Guilt for not printing photos, jealousy of people that can update everyone often mixed with lack of energy for others all enter into my mind causing me to think, why not a blog? So here I am left with an “I guess something is better than nothing” approach to family connectivity, memory recall and self-reflection.

How suitable. How convenient.

My desire is to be able to look back and have a few more stories to recall than the one or two that typically get stuck in our auto playback. I am going to post the ordinary account of the details that makes us who we are as a family. But by all means when I do have some thing to report that is extra-ordinary you will be sure to hear about that too.

How sweet. How hopeful.