blogosphere

First Post. New Blog. Hold Me.

February 9, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

I, Lisa Douglas, did the unimaginable (for me) – I traded in my happy-go-lucky Blogger blog for a shiny new WordPress one, professionally designed (with artwork from moi), and I have to tell you, while the thought of learning this whooooole other platform scares the bejeebus out of me, I couldn’t be more thrilled. And intimidated.

You see, to get into the nitty-gritty of why I chose to make such a drastic move, particularly when I’m featured in a book declaring me a long-time “Blogger-lover,” content to stay on that platform for-ev-er, it’s a long, drawn out, technical, Google-based story. To sum it up, my site wasn’t being recognized by Google, wasn’t searchable anymore, and it was dying, flailing about in the search engine, flopping like a fish struggling to survive on air, to be frank. Nothing I did on Blogger fixed this, either. My only recourse was to drop Blogger like a hot potato and start over.

My blog designer, Greg, did his best to stick with me through 1100+ posts, battling the codes and all the gobbledegook that comes from having four-plus years of someone’s chronicled life being transferred over. He fought valiantly, sleighing the dreaded migration beast. It wasn’t an easy task, being such a mammoth-sized blog and all, and I’m sure there are some hiccups that need remedying, still. But look at her, will you?

I drew the doodles, the notepads, and small icons in the post. Greg, before battling my migration, masterfully designed my logos, coupled with his coding genius, and got my ol’ blog to shine like a new penny, loading ridiculously quick, to boot. My talented artist friend, Robin, designed my signature in her one-of-a-kind handwriting. (I’ll be sharing with you the portrait she made for me once I receive it.)

If you are reading this via reader, email, or some other means other than visiting my site, I invite you to come take a look. Give ‘er a whirl.

What do you think?

(And please let me know if, at once, if you find a link that doesn’t work anymore, or something doesn’t look right. I am doing my best to pour over it one post at a time, but it’s going to take me a bit.)

Pinterest Finds – Things I Want to Try This Week

February 1, 2012 By Lisa 1 Comment

I am a huge Pinterest addict! There is something so fascinating about being able to see what a post’s about before you click on it, isn’t there? Visually appealing photography of a subject, or something of great interest that draws you in, wanting to know more. I almost always have eleventy-billion tabs open just to check out the post, in detail, and see if it’s something worth pinning or bookmarking. I also do it, particularly as an online publisher myself, to make sure it’s attributed correctly, and goes to the proper link/website.

I am always inspired daily by things I find there. Like this, from Lolli of Better In Bulk. She solves my sock problem with this GENIUS solution:

Source: betterinbulk.net via Lisa on Pinterest

Or this ingenious idea for helping to keep your refrigerator shelves clean, especially if you have (drippy) kids!

Source: amandathevirtuouswife.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

And THIS! THIS is genius for us. When trying to create our menu plan for the week, we often have trouble remembering all our dinners we like and cook. This sweet organizational tool is not just cute and adorable, but super-helpful, as it will help us create “cards” for each of our dinners with recipes on the back. I don’t plan on laminating mine, though, and I plan on using magnets instead, perhaps on a large cookie sheet, like this one and using recycled bottle caps into DIY magnets for days of the week? Or, maybe I can use magnetic paint on this frame?

Source: clairsfairytale.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: craftandcreativity.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I am so excited to go shopping and get started working on these. Just writing up the list for the dinners alone was super-helpful in creating this week’s meal plan! Can’t wait to show you the finished product on my crafts!

My Tips for Using Pinterest:

When I find a pin I like, I “right click” and open it in a new window or tab to look at later, so I can continue scrolling through my Pinterest feed for interesting finds. I, then, go back to look at them later, checking out each link, bookmarking and pinning appropriately. Definitely go and check out each post, though, not only to give the person traffic for the interesting post you like, you DEFINITELY want to be sure you have the right bookmark/pin for later!
I create boards that are relevant to me and what I’m looking for, and, perhaps, helpful for others – such as home ideas, recipes, crafts, things that are fun for kids, etc. Change the titles of your boards to reflect more about you (titled in your own voice, like “Homemaking Awesomeness”) and don’t forget to categorize them appropriately!
When someone follows you, check their profile for things that interest you and follow each board individually, don’t “follow all” unless you love every board they have.
If you’re on Facebook, too, don’t forget you can go into your Pinterest settings to click the “Find Facebook Friends on Pinterest” button.

For more great Pinterest tips, check out Amy from Mom Advice and her tips on “How to be a Pinterest Superstar” or be ready for Kelby’s Pinterest for Dummies book slated for sale in April 2012. In the meantime, Kelby has a great board on Pinterest chock-filled with tips for using Pinterest you should check out and follow.

Are you on Pinterest? Are we following one another? If don’t already have an account and you want to check it out, I’ll send you an invite!
Leave your Pinterest profile link below, and let’s find and follow some new, interesting people, shall we?

Pinterest Profile Linky

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Join the Internet Blackout. Stop Censorship. Stop SOPA/PIPA.

January 18, 2012 By Lisa Leave a Comment

You may have noticed a black bar on the top of my website today, as well as my avatar on my Twitter & Facebook accounts depicting black tape over my mouth.

Today, January 18th, the internet is being “blacked out” to lend support to the STOP SOPA/PIPA movement (SOPA=Stop Online Piracy Act. PIPA= Protect IP Act). If these damaging “anti-piracy” bills are passed, would censor the free internet as you know it. Your Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, favorite websites and blogs, all content user-generated as you know it, could and would be censored. Blocked.

Google has a quick, succinct and easy way to help you contact Congress and let them know your vote is NO. Or, watch these videos for more information about what SOPA/PIPA can mean for the internet, small businesses, social networking, and much more.