Book winner...

Oh my goodness.  Okay... so life has been busy for me.  A little bit of junk (you know), a lot of family and church activities (Easter - so fun!), a really special boy's birthday (and a surprise trip to Disneyland - just me and him), and getting ready for our upcoming photography workshop - let's just say BUSY!

So, I am sorry to say that I completely forgot about the little book give-away!  I went to www.random.org and #9 is the winner - so, Beth with your sweet comment:

"I have been wanting to read her new book. Didn't you feel temple worship was such a big part of conference. I would love to read waht she had to say!
I have enjoyed reading your blog and think you have a great talent for writing. Never sale yourself short as a daughter of God you can do anything. You just happen to write very well! 
I enjoy seeing your gorgeous family!

♥♥♥s
Beth"

You are the winner!  Please leave a post with your e-mail and I'll get your info and send it over to the author.  Yay for you!

*Also, Salsa Mama, I need your e-mail address too!  I need to get you the workshop info!*

I have a voice....

and I want it to be heard.  

I can make a difference.

I can be an advocate for change.

I have a team on my side.

Thoughts have swirled through my mind as I've wondered what to say... how to approach this issue.  How to share how violated I have felt.  At this time, I choose not to share much, but I will share this:

I want you all to be aware that if you have images/pictures posted publicly ANYWHERE on the internet.... they are not safe from the users on this website - www.polyvore.com.  It does not matter if your images are copyrighted, watermarked, etc. - they can clip an image from ANYWHERE the members have access to, and they have.  Pictures of babies breastfeeding, pictures of small children, etc - it goes on and on.  The original purpose of this website was for fashion building.  It has somehow turned into a sick and twisted, strange "role-playing" site.  I have spent much time on the phone with employees of Polyvore (they only have 7 employees), hours and hours on the website pouring over and contacting photographers and websites with stolen images, making lists, taking screenshots, documenting phone calls, gathering an army.... person by person.  When talking to one of the co-founders of the website he said that "most of the community are assholes."  Sorry!  I'm not one to use that word.... but we need to know what we are up against.  I asked him how he was going to address the issue of innocent children being victimized on his website.  His only response was that they didn't have the means to currently address it and that they would have to rely on the community to flag inappropriate behavior.  Rely on a community of "assholes"?  I guess I can't understand that.

I am grateful for blogpatrol.  Grateful that I felt the need to check it and recheck it.  Grateful for the HUNDREDS of pages of reports (of IP addresses, what people viewed on my blog, how long they were there, etc.) that they have sent to me to help me in this situation I am in.  They have been quick to get me whatever I needed.  I have to say this again.... if you do not set your blog to private, you MUST put blogpatrol or some other kind of sitemeter on your blog.  You MUST check it!  You must watermark the images - that is the only way for me (or anyone else who is helping me) to find other victims.

Currently, there are still stolen pictures of mine on this website.  I want them gone.... every single one of them. 

You can contact Polyvore.  You can ask them to block their users from clipping from your blog or website.  Just be aware that there are still ways around it.  They can still get your pictures if they want them, even if Polyvore does block your images.  There are petitions against Polyvore. Do a little google search and you can find the petitions and their phone number.  THEY HAVE GOT TO PUT A STOP TO STEALING PEOPLE'S PICTURES!  

ETA: Just because a picture is somewhere on the internet does NOT mean that a member of Polyvore can use the picture.  The images are often copyrighted - and therefore should not be used unless given permission by the photographer.  I do not intend to have Polyvore closed down.  I can see that there is some good in the website.  I can also see how many members have not been educated on what is and what isn't allowed.  As of today, I can see how they are trying to make some changes.  As of today, my pictures are gone.

It just stinks....

that I have to do this.  But I HAVE to.  There is no way around it.  I have been in tears all morning - a total wreck, sick to my stomach, hands shaking, wrenching sobs, feeling like I've been irresponsible as a mother.  My pictures have been stolen AGAIN... and this time it's just gone too far - WAY TOO FAR!!!!  This website makes me want to kneel next to my toilet.... let's just leave it at that.  I have to leave my blog up for a few more days to work with the "owners" of the website to get my images deleted to prove that the images are mine.  Why is this world filled with sick people?  I have been taking screenshots and am hoping this will be resolved soon... but my blog will be private.  I will continue with my craft blog.  All of my posts from this blog have been transferred to a private blog - all of my comments, all of my links, all of my precious family memories.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE protect your families.  Put some kind of blog patrol on your blog.  Watch your statistics.... watch where your visitors are coming from, look for suspicious behavior, or JUST GO PRIVATE!

*I'm still mulling this whole thing over in my head.  This blog may stay open... just without pictures of my kids faces.... or maybe not.... I just don't know*

UPDATE:  Everyone who reads this needs to install some kind of sitemeter or blog patrol on their blogs.  Google it and you'll find one to use.  Watch it closely.  However, you will not be able to keep all of the weirdo-s out, I'm certain of that.  Check the stats regularly - take action if you see anything suspicious.  The "people" who stole my images say that they are harmless and didn't know people wouldn't want their images used by strangers.  For real?  This website is FULL of kids - just random snapshots taken from blogs, modeling agencies, etc.  Supposedly all harmless... but I didn't see it that way.

Tower of Strength...

I LOVE having little "give-aways" on my blog.  One of my blog-readers happens to be an LDS author, named Annette Lyon.  I often saw her post on my blog and enjoyed reading her sweet comments.  Then one day it just kind of hit me.... I have her books on my shelf.  Her books... sit on my shelf.... and she reads my silly little blog.  I've cried over pages that she's written and been touched by stories of love and perseverance.  Her talent is one that I've always wanted.  Even though I was always in the Honors English classes in high school, writing has always been difficult for me... it's always been a struggle... a struggle to be able to communicate my feelings on paper.

Her newest book "Tower of Strength" looks to be just as good as her other books.  I want desperately to snuggle up on the couch and get lost in it's pages... but life continues on and my "list" simply won't allow it.... yet.  But I will.... and hopefully soon!  I DO have an airplane ride coming up.... so for sure then!

H.B. Moore, Author of Abindai said this, "As the title suggests, Tower of Strength is a powerful read.  Tabitha is a woman readers will immediately connect with, becoming caught up in her journey to find a second chance at life.  Annette Lyon deftly weaves a tale of loss and new love set in a historically vivid era and delivers a novel you won't be able to put down." I LOVE novels that I can't put down!

Annette offered a book for me to give away, to one of you.  Just leave a comment and I will choose a winner, one week from today.  Good luck!