I Love You Because...

It runs in the family

These were taken all within the same 115  minutes and now that I'm looking at it I forgot to get Dad on his or Grandma on hers or me on mine.... The Apple love runs deep in this family.

 

Closing a Chapter.

I've been avoiding posting about this for over a month because I've had the entire range of emotions in the last 30 days and I'm not sure which one I'm settled with. In the end.... I'm content with my decision but that doesn't mean I'm exactly happy about it. 

(Taken from my last post on The Tombow Blog....) 

See that? Those are my babies. Cute, right? Yeah, I sure think so. They mean everything to me and I've been lucky to be able to work from home so that they can get as much Momma time as possible. Now, if you've talked to me at all in the last 18 months you also know I've had another baby that I'm just as much of a proud parent about... this blog. When Tombow came to me a few years ago about developing a blog I was ecstatic, such an amazing company with such high quality products, I knew I'd have a blast helping to build this idea. I knew the blog world inside and out and I couldn't wait to get started. I knew what type of design team I wanted and I couldn't wait to share all of that with our readers. I thought I knew a lot but I had no idea how emotionally attached I'd become to y'all. I had no idea how much our readers would help me grow or push me creatively, I had no idea how much I would love it and no one at Tombow had any idea how much of a success it would be. So THANK YOU READERS WE LOVE YOU! 

Back in December we (the DT, Tombow VP's and I) decided we wanted to rework the blog, new designs, new content, update and jazz it up a little. Spring cleaning... everyone likes a little update now and then, right? After a looong conversation about our social media presence it was realized on both ends that in order to do everything that we had planned the hours I was putting in needed to be amped up... a lot. A full time office switch was in order. After an even longer internal struggle I realized that I just couldn't do that in my present situation... My dream job? YES! Who could have asked for a better opportunity, right? BUT- did you see those faces? You wouldn't be able to stay away from them either. As much as I love my Blog Baby...... I am not able to help it grow the way it needs to anymore. It's time for it to spread it's wings and fly.... 

which means there is a new Blog Editor in town! Sharron Callahan joined Tombow the week before CHA as our Internet Marketing Specialist.  Sharron had to jump right in by joining everyone at CHA and was responsible for all the fabulous posts that you saw on Facebook and Twitter during the show. She will be your go-to girl, sharing with you her own Design Team, showing you the latest and great techniques and sharing with you the best companies to team up with. Sharron is a Cincinnati OH, Central Academy of Commercial Art Grad with degrees in Marketing and Interior Design. She has been running her own business for over 5 years in the Internet Marketing and Media Design field and I am excited to tell you that her eye for art and design is top notch. Sharron is full of personality and poise and I'm thrilled for you to get a chance to know her better. She paints murals and loves photography in her free time, she enjoys reading, riding her bike and going to the beach. Her claim to fame is that in 2008 she was in the movie by Tyler Perry, “Why Did I Get Married”, as a flight attendant. :)  You're going to love her. 

....and I am going to miss you.

Thank you Tombow for the opportunity to work with such an amazing company and even more amazing people and THANK YOU READERS for the strength and love, support and inspiration you've given me. I couldn't have ever known how much you all would impact my life but I know you'll take good care of my baby and be there to watch it grow into something so much more. 

 

Love Forever,
Joanna Wallace

 

Photography by Dixie Taylor Photography.
If you're located in Georgia, call her.... she's amazing and I promise you'll be happy.  

iHelp for Autism

There is a wonderful article up this week on SFweekly on Autism and emerging technology. 

If you get a minute read the article- then Doug;s comments below. It's a great read... and yes, we have in the past given Ethan his own iPhone and we plan an getting him his own iPad as well. I can't wait for this tool to be discovered by teachers and special needs departments throughout the country. 

Doug 08/11/2010 4:39:44 PM

Our 7 year old son is autistic and has been using our iPhones as iPod Touches ever since the first gen came out. He begs for it and we use it to help tutor letters, writing, reading, and even math. And to shoot bad guy airplanes. My wife bought us his-n-hers iPads this year, and our son has found the "Giant iPhone" even more engaging. We use both in different situations, playing to their strengths. The iPad has been a life-saver since he no longer uses the iPhone at home. Now when I call my wife's cell phone, my call doesn't get "suppressed" by him because he's in the middle of another wave of zombies. And the apps... science apps, on-demand weather (he has a thing for watching the weather), games, educational apps... I could go on and on. Thanks Apple.

there's an app for that!

I found my new favorite app. Now if only I could  click and buy then I'd really be in trouble! .... just sayin'. 

An Apple A Day.

 It's been a week and the learning curve has been steep. I've lost emails (lots of them! If I haven't responded to you yet, well... you might want to resend them) I still don't have my pictures transferred (although I finally asked Doug for some help and that should be fixed by tomorrow) and I'm still learning commands BUT I am officially a convert. I love the Apple OS. I love the simplicity and the storage and the wireless... everything! I love my iPhone and iMac sync-ing automatically. I love how quiet it is and how bright it is and how     well, freaking BEAUTIFUL it is! Oh and video chatting- Owen now thinks that Bampa lives in my computer. He woke up the other day from a nap and said 'Good Morning, Bampa' to the dark screen, it was hilarious! Yep, I'm an Apple lover and I don't think I could go even a single day without it! 

Home Office

Now you know why it takes me three hours to get a project done when it should only take an hour! But, isn't he cute? Yeah, maybe that's why I love my job!

10 reasons why...

...I LOVE my iPhone...
1. The Typepad App. I can update my blog on my iPhone, it will definitely come in handy on my trip.
2 & 3. The Scripture App.(and iWard) - the entire standard works, every handbook and manual, the hymn book and children's songbook and with iWard I have the entire ward directory too!) Saving me from lugging around a mega church bag and I'm reading my scriptures more now- having it with me ALL the time is super handy.
4. The Ceiva App. - I love sending pictures directly from my iPhone to Mom's ceiva in an instant!
5. The DirecTV App.- If I want to record something on my DVR I just input it into my phone and it will record for me at home... I LOVE THAT!
6. CuteMath App. - This is Lorali's favorite and she's actually moving up levels. It's so cute!
7. The Chess App. - Okay so I'm not as much as in love with this one just because I've only one 6 games out of about 40 but, it's been fun to play against my Big Brother,Chad and Dad and Doug constantly.
8. touchPhysics - I can't get past level 39... can anyone help?
9, 10 & 11. TV's and Movies and YouTube - nothing like having a quick distraction for the kids in the grocery store, car, doctor's office, recital.... you get the idea. I LOVE my iPhone!!!