how i feel about the whole copycat epidemic

it seems like every time i am on facebook, twitter, or instagram lately, the #1 topic of frustration is the copycat syndrome that is going on with everyone, so i am here to lend my 2 cents to the whole thing.

first of all, majority of the time, we don't actually know WHO the original source of an idea is. sometimes i am simply feeding my social media addiction and skimming the sites not even realizing ideas are embedding in my brain. then later, when i am putting together some ideas, i realize that i got some of them online but honestly don't know where. i could say that i got my idea on pinterest, but even making a comment like that is insulting to some. 

perfect example: i want a church pew! where the heck that sparked from, i have no idea, but it definitely came from the internet. it resonated with me a few days and then i started diving into the pages of pinterest to look at the other church pew ideas of others. when my idea came to mind, i had no idea church pews were so damn popular!


here's how i feel about the whole thing...


we are all feeding off of each other and generating ideas from everything. sometimes the only way to do something is the exact same way as 3.2 million other people. if i physically go onto pinterest and see something i like and then physically click over to a tutorial and follow the tutorial to create my own, then i am most definitely going to credit the blog or website i used. however, if i am cruising along and see something and am all like "oh wow, that's neat! i can do that!" and pin it and then make my own, i am not going to go in search of an original link to a site just to give someone credit for something that i clearly put together myself. however, i am going to say that one thing that seems to irk the nerves of so many people... "i got the idea on pinterest". 9 times out of 10 i have at least 3 or 4 similar pins of the same idea anyways, so to me, a statement is not that big of a deal. blogging is already enough work. actually scouting out the original "owner" of an idea like this would be ridiculous, in my opinion.

i know that that just isn't good enough for some people because there are so many bloggers out there that try to claim that their idea for something was original, and i completely understand how annoying that can be, but i say get over it. we all know, that that other person knows, that half a dozen other bloggers made that same craft or blogged that same topic THIS WEEK. those are the bloggers that eventually fall off the radar anyways so why even worry about it? they probably won't be around in a few months anyways.

i love to pull ideas from other people, but for the most part, i like to be my own person and do my own thing. i rather like being the oddball sometimes and actually find joy in marching to the beat of a different drum. that doesn't mean all of my ideas are original, i just don't typically follow the norm and trendy kind of turns me off.


in wrapping up my thoughts...

• just be you! do your own thing (in the real world and in the blogging world)! your efforts at being original will be recognized by others and it will pay off in the long run.

• we all have ideas, some similar, if not the same, as others, but if you stumble upon an idea and you try your hand at it, just give credit the best way you can. it only makes you a more credible person (and blogger) if you are honest about where your ideas originated.

• in the nicest way i can say it... you are only making yourself look like an idiot when you try to claim someone else's original idea as your own. i hate to say it, but it is probably one of the top mistakes new bloggers make.

what are your thoughts about all this copycat business going on lately? is it making you crazy?

......................

15 post ideas for blogger's block

i have noticed quite a few people say that they have been in a writing slump since the start of the new year. even some of my favorite blogs haven't really been posting on their regular schedule, probably due to this same reason. once fall and christmas are over, that lull between january 1st and early spring give many a case of blogger's block. quite honestly, i dislike this time of year. not just for blogging, but in every aspect of my life. spring can't come fast enough.

some people feel that they don't like to blog just for the sake of having a post, but here is a list of 15 post ideas that may help you break through that blogger's block or may even help get a new series started on your blog.


1. your favorite pins on pinterest: if you are a blogger, the chances are great that you have a pinterest board. why not share some of your latest finds. valentine's day is coming up, why not share some of your favorite valentine's day related pins?

2. your favorite things: perhaps you have a collection of items that you have grown to love...a pair of shoes, a brand of make up, a type of soap, a new candy, whatever! tell your readers all about them and they just might find something new to love too.

3. your week/weekend in phone photos: you can't go wrong with photos. we all love them. i personally take a lot more photos with my iphone, which means i have new things to share that i don't always capture with my canon.

4. what's in my bag: some people may view this idea as a one time post, but not me. if you are a woman, then i am pretty sure you have more than one bag. and if you are a mother, you have several. share with us what you carry in your purse, diaper bag, make up bag, gym bag, or camera bag. YES, we are all interested!

5. a day in the life: this is one where you can grab some of your friends to join in. share a day in your life this week, and then a IRL friend another week, a blog friend another, a working mommy another, a stay at home mom another, and so on. i personally love to read about the diversity of others.

6. a recipe: we all cook, and we all have recipes whether we have them written down or just in our head. i don't know of a single person that only relies on prepackaged foods to feed themselves on a daily basis, so share those recipes!

7. link love: this is a great way to share the links to all your wonderful internet finds, whether it be a new blog, a sewing pattern, a great font, a recipe... the links are endless.

8. 10 things about me: we always like to get to know the people behind the blog. share a few things every now and then. you may find that other's have some of your same likes, dislikes, habits, or even similar stories.

9. a list of your favorite websites, blogs, or iphone apps: we are all looking for the latest and greatest.

10. favorite handmade finds: i love handmade and so do A LOT of other people. share what you have found lately. a great place to look is on etsy.

11. "currently": i don't know who started this, but the first place i saw it was over at sometimes sweet.

12. a product review: we are a society of consumers. we are always buying "stuff". pick something you have purchased recently and tell your readers all about it, why you like it (or dislike it), and where we can buy one too.

13. recommend a book, a movie, or album: everyone does one of the three...either you love to read, watch movies, or listen to music.

14. create an outfit with polyvore: inspire yourself and others by creating an outfit and sharing with your readers.

15. join a link party: there are probably hundreds of link parties on a daily basis. a few that i love -
the paper mama photo challenge, wordless wednesday with in the moment with, coffee talk with 23seventeeen


all of these are great ideas that can be turned into a quality post. i hope they come in handy next time you find yourself struggling to put together a post during a block.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

NABLOPOMO

yup, i'm participating!

for those that don't know, NABLOPOMO stands for national blog posting month. basically, it is a challenge to blog every day for an entire month...30 days in november. i honestly don't even think my life is interesting enough to fill 30 consecutive days, but i am great at pretending to be a know it all at many different subjects, and i am sure i have some dirty little secrets i can dig up, so perhaps i can be successful at this.

so what will i be blogging about?

honestly, i don't know. of course, some of it will be stuff i normally blog about and perhaps even some crafts and recipes i have planned. but other than that, i really have no plan. jess over at irocksowhat wrote a post awhile back about ideas for getting over blogger's block that i loved, plus kathy, over at mama's losing it, always has great writing prompts every week. check them out if you are worried that you won't be able to post for 30 days. i know i certainly will be.

if you have any suggestions for me, let me hear them in the comments. perhaps there is something specific you would like me to blog about. i pretty much have an opinion about everything, just please don't ask me to talk about politics or religion.

let me know if you decide to participate so i can stop by and keep up with you.

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: sixcherries

a few tips on how to be a better blogger

whether you are new at blogging or developed a few bad habits along the way, we all can use a reminder or two when it comes to being a respectable blogger. no one is perfect (including me) and we all make mistakes, but if you want to keep loyal readers and continue to grow your blog, here are some things to keep in mind. 

1. respond to comments as often as you can, even if it is just to say thank you. i get so wrapped up in a busy life that sometimes i forget to respond to my comments, but for the most part, i do. responding builds a relationship with your readers and keeps them coming back. that's what we want, right?

2. STOP spam commenting! this is the most annoying thing EVER! i really don't want you here if you are only here to ask me to come over to your blog and follow you. i started this blog as my own personal life journal and it has grown a little over the years and i have made some wonderful friends along the way who are very interested in what i have to write about. i don't expect my content to suit everyone's interests, but if you work hard and keep your blog up to date, people will come and they will follow you because they are genuinely interested in YOU. to me, it's not about the number of followers i have as it is the number of people that come back. i like to hear what you liked about my post or describe an experience you had that was similar. you can even respond to any questions i have asked. not every comment you make has to be an in depth composition, but i am going to assume you didn't even read my post if all you say is "hi, i'm your newest follower, come by my blog and follow me too". we all put a lot of effort into writing our posts, show some respect for one another.

3. STOP rude anonymous commenting in their tracks! everywhere you go there will be people who will want to criticize you for what you say, what you do, what you wear, how you look, how you live YOUR life, etc. and unless you or someone else is publicizing criminal acts on their blog, don't let the negativity others besiege get you down. just put it behind you and move on. this kind of behavior just out right makes me angry, but it happens. i have never had any comments that were distasteful or put me and my family down, but i see it all the time. there are 5.2 million other things you could be doing with your life, and thousands upon thousands of other blogs, and you chose to spend it pissing off or hurting the writer of a blog you dislike? it makes me wonder what else are you wasting your life away on? don't like it? move on.

4. ALWAYS link back to another person's content if you knowingly use their ideas or photos. sometimes it is even courteous to let them know. just sending a quick email with a link to your post is all that's need. nothing is more uncool than claiming another person's idea as your own.

5. turn word verification OFF! i can promise you, you will generate way more returning traffic and receive a lot more comments with it turned off. why? because it's annoying and a waste of time and i may not leave a comment if i have to endure trying to decipher a bunch of random letters and numbers.

these are just a few of the things you can do to help maintain your integrity in this big blog world. you don't have to be a super blogger to be good at it as long as you be yourself and follow these recommendations.

what would you add to this list?

joni - sixcherriesontop (at) gmail (dot) com | twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram: mamacherry

8 weeks to a better me | week 1: blogging inspiration

dani over at sometimes sweet has started a great little project called "8 weeks to a better me" that i am participating in. the idea came after writing this post that encouraged her to write a few "better myself" goals that she would work on during that current week (a total of 7 days).

dani's attempt was to provide herself with short term attainable goals that she says were to "broaden my horizons, expand my mind, and spend the time I have wisely."

that one week sparked dani to start this 8 week project.  she has brought together some of her favorite bloggers to work with her on this project with each week focusing on a different "theme".

this week's theme is blogging inspiration.

for more information on dani's "8 weeks to a better me" project, be sure to stop by her blog sometimes sweet; where you can also watch a great video from her first guests.

i have intertwined dani's goals for this week into my own goals and tweaked them a little.

three blogging goals for this week:

1. the small things - photograph several moments that i don't normally photograph such as phoenix tying her shoes or tyler brushing her hair and share at the end of the week.
2. support local - blog about a local business or event in my area.
3. love your community - make a list of the places i would recommend if someone from out of town were to visit my town/community. share some unique details about these places and take or find photos to share as well.

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2011 ultimate blog party

welcome!

my name is joni and i am the face behind six cherries on top.

i would totally pour you a drink to welcome you all, but the only place i have stopped lately is the gas station and i just don't think gas station wine or a 40 is what you had in mind.

so i will just get right to it...

it shouldn't take you long to figure out how my blog got it's name. i am a stay at home mom to six amazing children. my little cherries.

life is DEFINITELY sweeter with six cherries on top!

when you are here, you will typically find lots of stories and photos of our crazy little life. i want to prove to everyone that you don't have to have it all to have happiness, which is why we have recently began the journey of a minimalistic lifestyle. 

i have been blogging for a little less than three years now, growing my family, improving my photography skills, and meeting so many wonderful people along the way.

i would most certainly categorize myself as a mom blogger who enjoys sharing our everyday life of a big family with others, but be sure to stop by often to also read my occasional product reviews, enter my giveaways and check out my photography and craft projects.  

if you would like to read more about me, feel free to click on the link at the top. 

there are several ways you can follow me including facebook and twitter over in the left sidebar. 

thanks again for stopping by!

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a message in the movies

eat, pray, love and crash.

the two movies i watched back to back yesterday.  i hadn't seen eat, pray, love, and haven't even read the book or even come close to really knowing what it was about, but i knew i wanted to see it.

when i saw it on the on demand channels the other day, i was quick to push play, but then decided i would watch it alone.  i am always an emotional rollercoaster and i just knew that this would be one of those movies that would take me on one of those rides and for some reason, i wanted to ride alone.

i had quickly forgotten about the movie, but since elijah was still not feeling 100% i decided to do a little cuddling on the couch with him and watch something.  like i said, i had forgotten about it, even as i cruised through the on demand channels.  then there it was.  i quickly pressed play and sat back to enjoy.

it did exactly what i thought it would. made me think. made me want to surrender myself and completely live in the moment, enjoying every little detail of each day.

but then as i ended one movie and changed the channel to put on something for background noise as i got up to do something more than just sit on my couch all day, i came across crash.  i have seen this movie before, but it is one of those movies that once again is a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions and so i stayed...just a while longer.

and then after too many hours of sitting and watching, i found myself thinking about both movies.

both of them about coming to a realization about yourself and making changes.

then i realized one thing. one thing was causing so much stress and frustration in me. this blog.  i have said it before and i will say it again...blogging is a lot of work.  it really is.  i love doing it, but i don't want it to be the only thing i do. some days i find myself saying "wow that would make a good blog post, or that would be a great moment to share on my blog." i want to actually live my life and enjoy my children without worrying if my blog will suffer for spending more time with my children or if people will stop coming by if i don't post every day.

and then i remembered why i started this blog in the first place.  it was for me.  so i could look back at all of those wonderful moments that i spent with my children and my family and remember. it's not about whether i took the best photo, or if my edit is perfect. who cares?

maybe you haven't noticed, but i haven't really participated in too much outside of just writing for my blog lately. it actually feels good to just write. straight from my mind. so, when i saw these two movies today, it confirmed everything i was feeling inside...that i need to find my true self and balance.

not quite a depressing feeling, more like a yearning. to take pictures because my children are so beautiful, and the sky is so blue, and the grass is green and i love it all so much. every moment. not because i have to get the photo for a challenge.

two stories that come to mind when i am in a funk are the daffodil principle and welcome to holland.
and i always find myself going to them for support.  check them out! you will love them both if you don't already know them.

so what does all of this mean?  

well, i won't be taking off on a journey to find myself, but it is simple...i don't know! because knowing means i have a plan and i don't want a plan. i just want to enjoy what is around each corner each and every minute of my day.

if you are wondering, yes i will continue to blog. but only because i want to...not because i have to.

and if you haven't seen these two movies, go see them NOW!! (just be warned that crash has a lot of "language" not suitable for little ears, but please don't let this deter you from watching this movie. please don't!)




my photos in this post are totally random.



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