Sep 10, 2012 |
Recently, I’ve been asked for my Blog Button. I realized I didn’t have one. How terrible! A Blog Button is a Brand. It’s a digital calling card. It lets people know who you are and how to find you. It’s like having a Blog on speed dial.
Some Buttons are more detailed than others. Some are simple. But all are recognizable. I began scouting around for a photo or image I could use. Because Buttons are small in size in order to fit on a Blog’s sidebar (that column to the left or right of your main articles), I wanted something a little simple yet descriptive.
It took a little time, but I think I’ve captured the essence of who I am, and what my Blog is.
Anyone who wants to share my blog just needs to copy the coding text in the box under the photo, and post it to their own Blog! Their link will have just the photo, not the coding. How’s that for advertising?!
Now for the How-To’s. It’s really not at all as difficult as I thought it would be. In fact, I’m not a computer geek AT ALL (well, maybe just a little), so for me to be able to do this by my own research… that should definitely tell you this is easy-peasy!
1. Choose your image. Make sure you have the rights to the photo, or have paid for licensing (my Button image came from Shutterstock, I added the personal photo and all text). Save it to your computer desktop. Even if you have it in your digital photos, I recommend saving a second copy to manipulate without fear of losing the original.
2. Find an online photo editing service. I like Photobucket. It’s free. It’s easy. It allows for creative editing and photo correcting. Create an account if you haven’t already, and upload your image to your online album for editing. Be sure to save when you’re finished. [You can also edit the photo on your computer if you have Photoshop or PowerPoint. Upload the finished image to your online photo album.]
3. Open the image online and make sure it looks like you want it to. THIS PART IS REALLY IMPORTANT! Make sure to save your image to a small size. Buttons are typically 150 x 150 pixels. Most sidebars allow for 200 pixels so you definitely don’t want anything wider than that or it won’t fit. Resize your finished image, and save it to your online album.
4. Open the image again. You’ll see a box list of coding. Select the “HTML code” and copy the entire code. Paste it into a Word Document. [In the image below, this is identified as “Original Coding’].
5. Between the first two quotation marks (“), delete the link and replace it with your Blog home address. Otherwise, it will link back to your online photo only. [In the image below, It’s highlighted as “YOUR_BLOG_HOME_HERE” for your example.]
6. Directly underneath all this code, you’ll want to add the Additional Coding. [In order for you to visibly see it, I had to post it as a photo image. Otherwise, it would act as code, which isn’t helpful for learning.]
7. Where the red link and highlights read “ENTIRE_ABOVE_CODING_HERE”, delete whatever is between the two quotation marks (“) and replace it with the ENTIRE original coding. Make sure the two coding sections are right on top of each other. [See the last section in the image above: “END CODING should look similar to this:”
8. I recommend saving this coding in a Word document for future reference. You can use it as a template for making more badges and buttons for your Blog.
9. To add the Button to your Blog: add the text in HTML format for either a Post or a Widget, and save.
10. If you add it as a Blog Post in HTML, do NOT revert to “visual” post editing before saving. This will invalidate some of the HTML and you’ll have to re-add the coding to make it work.
That’s it! I hope this keeps you from experiencing the headaches I had when trying to find this information. Please let me know if this helped you or if you had problems with my instructions.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 9, 2012
[NOTE: You can find links to all My Housing Project posts here.]
When the Fruitless Mulberry was cut down a year ago, the remaining roots started to wither and unlevel the underground. So as I worked on pulling up the Mock Orange root ball, Dot sat in the shade and began to pull up roots.
Dot’s Hard Work
Pulling Up Roots
It’s exciting to find actual soil mixing up as well; that will make planting next year so much easier for both myself and the new plants.
As one led to another, she was careful to not dissect the largest root; but rather keep it intact until the end of the day. The little dried up feeder roots were easily pulled, but the thicker ones took some effort.
Thick Roots
So Lizzie Cat got involved.
Lizzie Helps Dot
At day’s end, this is the result of Dot’s hard work:
Roots
I can’t wait to get out there and rake the ground level again. And then work on another section of the yard.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 8, 2012
As some of you know, I’ve recently been writing reviews for Trekaroo. I love finding little and big places to review. My mental checklist lights up like a neon sign everywhere I go:
Is it family friendly? How expensive is it? What’s the average age range? Is it clean/fun/educational?
I also love reading reviews from other people. Whether it’s a 140-character Tweet or a hundred-page historical guide, I love reading reviews and viewing photos about travel.
So I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to host a link-up where others can share their travel experiences for all to see?
I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes (Trekaroo!), but I know Larissa has some great posts about Brazil. And Kate and Mary and others have experienced some wonderful moments in Toronto. Tina lived in my beloved NYC. So why not share?
Are you looking to travel somewhere? Do you have a Pinterest board set up for inspiration? Does your social media always include suggestions of far away places? Or do you prefer the happy solitude of your own backyard? By all means, share and share alike! If you’ve ever blogged about travels and vacations, link your posts up here!
The more the merrier: you never know who you might inspire to travel to your corner of the world… and beyond!
[Please note: “Destination Station! at Frankly, My Dear…” requires a backlink for all posts. This helps us avoid spam and other unsavory content. Thanks for understanding!]
Sep 7, 2012 |
I just finished watching President Obama accept the Democratic nomination for Presidential candidate for the upcoming election. Last week, I watched Mitt Romney accept on behalf of the Republicans.
Without disclosing any political leanings I might have, because that’s a personal issue, I have made a few observances that I want to share.
- There is no Ideal Candidate.
- There is no Ideal Party.
- There are aspects to each that I like, and aspects to each that I don’t like.
- I think Electoral Votes should be obsolete. I believe the Popular Vote should be recognized.
- I think State-issued ID’s should be required for all voters.
- I seriously dislike mudslinging, and it doesn’t do anyone a disservice by saying “my opponent” and “they” instead of naming the person/party. Literal finger pointing feels like an attack.
- I don’t like people standing up to say they speak for me. I am female. I am a mother. I am a Christian. I am a worker. I am a business owner. I am an employee. I am a homeowner. It is impossible for another person or group of people to completely represent me, and I wish they would stop trying.
- Just because I am all those things does not mean I agree with those who are trying to speak for me. I do, however, respect those who speak to one or two of these things without acting like they speak for me in my entirety.
- I agree with many people on many things, but I don’t agree with just one person or party on all things.
- I am not looking forward to the abundance of negative political ads that are now anticipated.
- No one is perfect. I’m not. You’re not. I don’t expect the candidate I choose to vote for to be perfect.
- I do, however, believe public personas, particularly powerful politicians, have a duty and responsibility to maintain a better character. Not just a clean image; but actual character.
- I respect people who own up to their mistakes. I dislike people who shovel blame onto others.
- I think this country needs some major changes on some issues, and should remain hands-off on others.
- I’m worried that being Politically Correct will get in the way of Common Sense, and I’m worried that Bipartisanship is a thing of the past.
Anyway, part of me is looking forward to the election. Another part of me is terrified.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Sep 6, 2012 |
Smell
that dusts worries
away.
Wet
that refreshes
my soul.
Plops
that look like
pawprints
on my windows.
Splats
that drum
a happy tune.
Sensory Overload.
I love
Rain.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
