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amy_chen_design_kindness_rocks_1.jpg

Kindness Rocks

April 22, 2020

Hi, and happy Earth Day! It’s been a full year since I last wrote in this space. I’ve recently had the urge to start blogging again, but after “falling off the wagon” with it for so long - I haven’t really known quite how to pick it back up again.

A lot has happened in the last year, but I don’t want that to be the focus of this post. In short, I had my first mental breakdown last summer (that involved weeks of panic attacks, hospitalizations, medications, therapy..) and has been followed by months of PTSD / flashbacks / self doubt, etc. To say I felt like I had hit the ultimate rock bottom would be an understatement. Some day, maybe I’ll write more in depth about it all - but for now I’ll leave it at that.

For me, it has been really weird to still be in the process of healing from “fresh” personal trauma while also being faced with the new (global scale) trauma of a pandemic. I’ve just been taking it day by day - and leaning into living slow — and lots of art making.

Today’s post is about the kindness rocks project / movement - which just felt right as a returning blog post topic - all things considered. You can read more about the project on their website if you’ve never heard about it before.

Their mission:

ONE MESSAGE
AT JUST THE RIGHT MOMENT
CAN CHANGE SOMEONE'S ENTIRE DAY, OUTLOOK, LIFE

Read More
In art, design, diy, wellness Tags kindness, rocks, painting, crafting, kids craft, mental health

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summer arrivals @shopamyventures 🌞🐚⛵️🍍✨

#shopsmall #vintagehome #etsyvintage #summer
my last stop in cape may was @gooddeedsmarket to pick up a couple new @inciardi mini prints for my growing collection 🥲 regretted not bringing more quarters (and had to break a $20 😅), but was so excited to see a different collection of prints avai
first beachcombing haul of the season 🧜‍♀️🐚🌞

#capemay #capemaynj #jerseycollective #southjerseyadventures #jerseyshore #summer #beachcombing #beachcombingfinds
some more from @takearecess in cape may 🌞 (take me back) 

icymi: my code “amyventures” now gets you 25% off for a limited time thru June 27 🍹💦🍓 (15% off after that)

** I make a small commission off of every purchase made through thi
took a recess to cape may yesterday in celebration of the summer solstice 😎

started at higbee beach (took some fun photos for @takearecess 🌾, had a picnic lunch 🍓, and beach combed 🐚), stopped at the lighthouse (because I always have to say hi t
strawberry picking and everything I made with said strawberries now on substack ✨🍓✨ (link in bio)

#strawberries #strawberrypicking #pyostrawberries #upickstrawberries #jerseycollective #longvalley #longvalleynj #northjerseyadventures #strawberryrec
so glad I made it to @longvalleypeonies this year 🥹 the fields are a dream to walk through with over 65 varieties of peonies to see / smell ✨🌸✨

I believe today is the last day of the season to visit this year, so stop by if you can! 💕

#longvalle
the most joyful + sparkly little shop I ever did see 😍 ty for existing @susan_alexandra 🥹💖🌈🌼🦋✨ 

#susanalexandra #nyc #nycshopping #lowereastside #les #thingstodoinnyc #orchardstreet #orchardst #charmjewelry #joyspotting
the matcha stop of the day was @12.matcha 🍵 (expect a line no matter what time you go, but I thought it was worth the wait) - quite possibly the best and smoothest matcha I’ve ever had 🥹 (zero clumps, not bitter, not too sweet, sooooo green)
still dreaming about this rose pistachio croissant from @libraebakery 🤤🥐🌹 (pretty sure the birds are too 😂)

next time I’ll have to order a few more things to try so I can take them home in a cute butter yellow box 😏 (was trying to pace my
a little camera roll dump from last saturday morning’s walk up bowery in pursuit of sweet treat(s) & matcha 🙃

#nyc #igersnyc #bowery #eastvillage #noho #joyspotting
sunday reset by the sea with my best girl 🥹🐾🐚☀️🍦 had to visit one of our favorite places before the summer season fee kicks in mdw 🥲 - we walked nearly 10 miles (from lot c to the lighthouse and back + a bit of the bayside beach 😅)

a much need
cake club last weekend at @reccreate_collective 🍰🌸🍓 with @sarabryn for ✨dog moms day out✨

got to decorate mini cakes in this hidden gem of a creative community space just a short walk from @prattinstitute (where I graduated 11 years ago) 😅 so mu
got matcha lattes from @matchaful 🍵 and ogled over the stickers and fun things at @greenwichletterpress 👀 and @bignightshop 🍅 

(a few stops and sights along the way in the west village before heading to brooklyn to decorate cake 🍰)

#westvillage
saturday at @unsqgreenmarket 😍 (forever one of my favorite farmer’s markets to walk through; it doesn’t get old) ✨ stopped to smell the flowers (duh) 💐 and then grabbed a chocolate croissant for breakfast 🥐

#unionsquaregreenmarket #un
take me back 🥲

#capemay #capemaynj #capemaypoint #capemaybeach #jerseycollective #southjerseyadventures #summer
summer arrivals @shopamyventures 🌞🐚⛵️🍍✨

#shopsmall #vintagehome #etsyvintage #summer my last stop in cape may was @gooddeedsmarket to pick up a couple new @inciardi mini prints for my growing collection 🥲 regretted not bringing more quarters (and had to break a $20 😅), but was so excited to see a different collection of prints avai first beachcombing haul of the season 🧜‍♀️🐚🌞

#capemay #capemaynj #jerseycollective #southjerseyadventures #jerseyshore #summer #beachcombing #beachcombingfinds some more from @takearecess in cape may 🌞 (take me back) 

icymi: my code “amyventures” now gets you 25% off for a limited time thru June 27 🍹💦🍓 (15% off after that)

** I make a small commission off of every purchase made through thi
the only way to survive the heatwave for the next few days is with this strawberry rose coconut mint mocktail 😌🍓🍹🌿🥥🌹

blended up frozen strawberries with coconut water & a small sprig of mint, topped it off with @takearecess strawberry rose
took a recess to cape may yesterday in celebration of the summer solstice 😎

started at higbee beach (took some fun photos for @takearecess 🌾, had a picnic lunch 🍓, and beach combed 🐚), stopped at the lighthouse (because I always have to say hi t
nothing more satisfying than a good matcha pour 😌 

thickened strawberry juices, vanilla soy milk, coconut whip, matcha, + ice 👌🍓🍵🥥✨

#matcha #matchalatte #strawberryseason #strawberrymatcha #summer #sweettreat
strawberry picking and everything I made with said strawberries now on substack ✨🍓✨ (link in bio)

#strawberries #strawberrypicking #pyostrawberries #upickstrawberries #jerseycollective #longvalley #longvalleynj #northjerseyadventures #strawberryrec
pancakes on a random week day (for lunch at 2 pm) because why not? 😏 peanut butter between the layers, served with maple syrup & coconut whip, and topped with strawberries (cooked down with a little lemon juice and sugar just til they’re s
so glad I made it to @longvalleypeonies this year 🥹 the fields are a dream to walk through with over 65 varieties of peonies to see / smell ✨🌸✨

I believe today is the last day of the season to visit this year, so stop by if you can! 💕

#longvalle the most joyful + sparkly little shop I ever did see 😍 ty for existing @susan_alexandra 🥹💖🌈🌼🦋✨ 

#susanalexandra #nyc #nycshopping #lowereastside #les #thingstodoinnyc #orchardstreet #orchardst #charmjewelry #joyspotting the matcha stop of the day was @12.matcha 🍵 (expect a line no matter what time you go, but I thought it was worth the wait) - quite possibly the best and smoothest matcha I’ve ever had 🥹 (zero clumps, not bitter, not too sweet, sooooo green)
still dreaming about this rose pistachio croissant from @libraebakery 🤤🥐🌹 (pretty sure the birds are too 😂)

next time I’ll have to order a few more things to try so I can take them home in a cute butter yellow box 😏 (was trying to pace my a little camera roll dump from last saturday morning’s walk up bowery in pursuit of sweet treat(s) & matcha 🙃

#nyc #igersnyc #bowery #eastvillage #noho #joyspotting sunday reset by the sea with my best girl 🥹🐾🐚☀️🍦 had to visit one of our favorite places before the summer season fee kicks in mdw 🥲 - we walked nearly 10 miles (from lot c to the lighthouse and back + a bit of the bayside beach 😅)

a much need cake club last weekend at @reccreate_collective 🍰🌸🍓 with @sarabryn for ✨dog moms day out✨

got to decorate mini cakes in this hidden gem of a creative community space just a short walk from @prattinstitute (where I graduated 11 years ago) 😅 so mu got matcha lattes from @matchaful 🍵 and ogled over the stickers and fun things at @greenwichletterpress 👀 and @bignightshop 🍅 

(a few stops and sights along the way in the west village before heading to brooklyn to decorate cake 🍰)

#westvillage saturday at @unsqgreenmarket 😍 (forever one of my favorite farmer’s markets to walk through; it doesn’t get old) ✨ stopped to smell the flowers (duh) 💐 and then grabbed a chocolate croissant for breakfast 🥐

#unionsquaregreenmarket #un
spring in the garden state 🥹🌷🌸🌿✨

#spring #newjersey #jerseycollective #njisntboring #njisallgood #locallivingnj #flowers #april #northjerseyadventures #gardenstate

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Amy Chen (unless otherwise stated). If you decide to reference anything from my blog / website, please give proper credit. Thank you! :)


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