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Archive for September 2009

Don’t Miss This Bloggertunity: A Giveaway

By Nicole
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

UPDATE: The winner for this giveaway is #28, Heather! Congratulations. You can still take advantage of the 15% discount. Simply purchase the eBook here and enter the discount code: ‘mamasave15‘ at checkout.

Have you always wondered what “RSS” means, but where too afraid to ask?

Do you want to start approaching companies for product reviews or advertising on your blog, but not sure where to start?

And do you have a vision for your blog to make an impact on your community and your world and need a little motivation and guidance?

If you answered yes to any of the above, you’ll be glad you happened upon this post.

My good friend Stephanie from Metropolitan Mama has just recently published her first eBook, Bloggertunity: A Mom’s Guide to Blogging.

In this 85 page book, Stephanie gives you simple but thorough step by step directions on creating a successful blog. The book is available for $19.99, with 20% of the proceeds going to World Vision, a humanitarian organization that is dedicated to building a better world for children effected by poverty.

I mentioned Steph’s book last week in my Stroll Around the Blogosphere and guess what? She has been kind enough to offer a 15% discount to the fabulous readers of The Pixel Boutique! Simply purchase the eBook here and enter the discount code: ‘mamasave15‘ at checkout.

And? You also have a chance to win a free copy! One reader will be randomly selected for a download of the eBook.

Here’s how to enter:

  • Tell me in a comment below, what one aspect of blogging totally baffles you…a concept that alludes you. Or…if you’re a smarty and know everything, what blogging tip would you like to share with other bloggers?
  • For extra entries, tweet about this giveaway up to once a day and leave a separate comment for each tweet.
  • Giveaway ends Friday, Oct 2 at 11:59 p.m.

Video Tutorial: How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Part II

By Nicole · Comments (31)
Friday, September 18th, 2009

Today I continue the second half of this tutorial…how to add a horizontal navigation bar in Blogger…

How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Video 3

vid3capture

Code needed for this video:

3. Nav Bar Code

<div id=”newnavbar”>
<ul>
<li><a href=’http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com’>Home</a></li>
<li><a href=’http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com/yourpost’>About Me</a></li>
<li><a href=’http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com/yourpost’>Reviews</a></li>
<li><a href=’http://www.yourblog.blogspot.com/yourpost’>Links</a></li>
</ul></div>

(NOTE: If your nav bar displays as bullets, make sure you only have one set of quotation marks when the snippet is copied over. For some reason, single quotes seem to work better than double quotes, but toggle between the two if you have problems getting it to display correctly. Also, try erasing my single quotations altogether and retyping your own. There is something wonky about copying and pasting them that happens in Blogger.)

How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Video 4

vid4capture

Congratulations! You have successfully added a navigation bar to your Blogger blog.

Any questions?

Yes, you in the back…

Comments (31)

Video Tutorial: How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Part I

By Nicole · Comments (13)
Thursday, September 17th, 2009

After many requests by clients to add a horizontal navigation bar to their Blogger (Blogspot) blog, I decided to create some video tutorials illustrating step by step the process. Below I’ve listed the first two videos and tomorrow I will post the last two, for a total of 4 short videos.

If you’re not very comfortable working with HTML and CSS code, have no fear. BACK UP your template first (I’ll show you how and where to do that in the first video) and take it step by step with me. And see my very legal disclaimer below.*

So to get started click on the images below and follow the directions. All the code you need is also pasted below each video.

How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Video 1

vid1capture

Code needed for this video:

1. New Nav Bar:

#newnavbar ul li{
font-size:100%;
list-style-type: none;
display:inline;
padding:0px;
margin:10px;
border:0px solid;
}

How To Add A Horizontal Navigation Bar in Blogger – Video 2

vid2capture

Code needed for this video:

2. New Nav Bar Effects:

#newnavbar li a{
color:#e087aa;
}

#newnavbar li a:visited {
color: #9e9e9e;
}

#newnavbar li a:hover {
color: #f2b9cf;
}

That’s it for today. Sit back and take a break, you HTML guru. And come back first thing tomorrow for the rest of the videos. (Don’t worry…if you clicked “Save Template” all your hard work will be there tomorrow!)

*I offer this tutorial as a free service to you and am in no way to be held responsible for you screwing up your own blog. (But don’t worry…you’d have to try pretty hard to do that.) Thank you. ;)

Comments (13)

Take a Stroll With Me: Week 7

By Nicole · Comments (3)
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

strollbutton

I’m so excited to share a very special announcement about my dear friend and bloggy mentor, Metropolitan Mama. Her first ebook has just been released and it is goooood!

Stephanie has been blogging since 2007 and shares the wisdom she’s learned over the years. The information in this book is pertinent, practical and extensive.

If you are concidering starting a blog and have a laundry list of questions, this book is for you.

If you are a new blogger and would like to take your blog to the next level, this book is for you.

And if you are a blogger looking to  monetize your blog but aren’t quite sure how to approach companies and PR agencies, then this book is for you.

So what I’m saying is…if you are a warm blooded humanoid, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

As a blog designer I get asked so many questions about basic blogging practices…”What is a blogroll?” “What is an RSS feed?” “What blogging platform should I use?” Stephanie does a superb job answering not only basic questions but overarching, general ones as well.

Its a must read for bloggers, so Go. Check. It. Out!

The Basics of Blogging

  • Honest Services
  • 8 Excellent Tools for Optimizing Your Images

Every Blogger Should Know

  • Color Scheme Designer
  • Maternal Spark – Call for Submissions

For The Working Mother

  • The DeBroff Debrief
  • At Home Mom Blog

So You Say You’re Not Creative

  • Walgreen’s Free Film Developing Wednesday Only!
  • StylishEve

You Name It

  • Being Brave
  • Marinade Recipes from Musings of a Housewife
Comments (3)

To Barter Or Not To Barter…

By Nicole · Comments (2)
Monday, September 14th, 2009

One of the benefits of being an independent contractor is the ability to be a bit unconventional. I love having freedom and flexibility when working with clients and making my own business decisions. Its just me…not an entire firm.

One of those freedoms is the ability to barter (you know, trading one service or produce for another, where little or no money changes hands). Lately, it has come in mighty handy for folks. Seems when the economy struggles, bartering becomes more prevalent.

In the past few months, I’ve had two very good experiences with bartering. the first came when Charlie’s East Coast Gourmet needed a few little fixins on their blog.

charlies-east-coast-gourmet

In exchange for some nips here and a few tucks there, I enjoyed the best lobster tail and clam chowder a few short evenings later (and everything was still chilled in the cooler when it arrived at my door). If you’re looking for some tasty, fresh seafood, check out Charlie’s East Coast Gourmet (and they have great gift baskets too!)

Another great bartering opportunity came a few weeks ago when Brandy from the Sew Cute Shop contacted me about a blog design.

scsbanner

She asked if I was interested in doing some work for trade. So we worked out the details and in exchange for this:

I got this:

sew-cute-shop-auty-top

(A one of a kind Woman’s Auty Top)

and this:

sew-cute-shop-bag

(The Frenchy Shoulder Bag)

How cute are those? Brandy has so many fun and creative items in her shop…you really need to visit her blog and Etsy shop.

I think its important to keep a few things in mind when bartering:

1. Only barter for something you and the other person really need or want. Otherwise, its not a fair trade. Don’t agree to barter out of pressure.

2. Speaking of fair, make sure both parties are treated fairly based on product cost, service time, etc. Sometimes a little extra cash needs to be added to one side to make things even.

3. Be specific about what will be traded, on paper if needed. And checking references with past clients is totally acceptable.

4. Keep records (including those for the IRS). After all, even if its not cash, its still income.

A few great resources to check out are:

u-exchange.com

favorpals.com

swaptree.com

friendlyfavor.com

I’m already onto my next barter agreement and look forward to more opportunities in the future. Now if only See’s Candy wanted to trade…

Comments (2)

Design Focus: Rave & Review

By Nicole · Comments (1)
Friday, September 11th, 2009

Way back in April (gosh, I’m behind…), Leanne contacted me and asked me to help her redesign her TypePad blog, Rave & Review. Leanne’s blog offers honest, in-depth reviews for the stuff familes use. The goal of Rave & Review is to help moms and dads find products they can use to enrich theirs and their children’s lives.

Leanne had some ideas that she wanted to incorporate into her blog including nature, arts and crafts and bicycles. This is what we came up with…

rave-and-review-design-focus

Head over to Rave & Review for some up-to-date product reviews and giveaways. Right now, Leanne if hosting a giveaway for the Thilde Collection by Pia Ericksson!

Comments (1)

Take a Stroll With Me: Week 6

By Nicole · Comments (0)
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

strollbutton

The Basics of Blogging

  • Why Did You Start Blogging – by ProBlogger
  • 5 Rules for Better Web Writing

Every Blogger Should Know

  • Blissdom Conference ’10
  • Blog With Integrity

For The Working Mother

  • Celebrate National Coupon Month
  • Work It Mom

So You Say You’re Not Creative

  • WFMW – Homework Center
  • Quick & Creative Quizzes – Journaling Questions – e-Book

You Name It

  • Banana Stuffed French Toast
  • Threadless
Related Posts with Thumbnails
Comments (0)
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