Prochein Amy

Yesterday I was helping Youngest pull up her panties and pants in a restaurant bathroom.  As I was pulling them up, she hugged me and said:

“You are the sweetest Momma in Texas!”

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I’m in, are you?  Michael has the details:

Last week, I posted the challenge for August of blogging at least one thing per day that brought happiness to you. Just wanted to remind everyone that August 1 in Monday and if you want to participate, there is still plenty of time to get in on the fun. A bunch of people did this last year and I can see I had a great time doing it.

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Reduce your junk mail by visiting this site to Opt-Out of pre-approved offers. This also makes me feel better since I have heard of people stealing your pre-offers and using them.

 

Your rights as a consumer include the ability to “Opt-Out”, which prevents consumer credit reporting companies from using your credit file information for pre-approved offers of credit or insurance. The consumer credit reporting companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion, want to help companies give American consumers the choices they want. This choice includes the right to say, “Please don’t send me these offers”. That’s why the four consumer credit reporting companies have developed this website. Please note: this process may not be used to Opt-Out businesses / companies.

Hat tip to Mom for the link.]]>

Many design shows talk about having a focal point or an insperation piece to decorate your rooms.  I look at your header graphic as the focal point for your blog.  You could go the Minimalist route and have a purely text blog, but what fun is in that?  The header graphic is usually the hardest thing to come up with, but once you have it, everything falls into place.  You can base your section headers, color scheme, and pretty much everything else on it.  Not that you can't start with something else, like a background, but your header will still influence the rest.

As for the type of header, that goes with personal prefrences.  There are not any real guidelines that you could make, except your own.  Mine are simple, clean graphics and easy to read text that stands out.

When I am working on a header, I stew about it for awhile, thinking about the blogger, their main tag line, what they like, and what they want.  If you are working on a header for yourself, the process will go faster, since you will work out things as you are doing it.  But if you are working for someone else, it is a slower process.  But either way, the process is pretty much the same.  You might think it is a negative process, but really, it is just hashing out the details.  I am actually going to use a real life example, the header for “And What Next“.  (And, no Sissy, you were not a PIA!)

Sissy's likes were beaches, dogs, and she wanted something to convey her searching for answers.  She suggested something with a girl on a path.  Here is the first one.

My thought process was playful, Dorthy was searching for answers, and the smart blur effect made it look really cool.  But alas, Sissy had a horrible childhood experience that involved the Wizard of Oz, so we were on to more.  This time she mentioned she wanted something that looked like it was coming out of the frame.  Then I came up with the next two.

Both of these used the out of frame look.  Notice the butterfly wing sticking out of the frame of it?  The butterfly represents new life.  The beach one has the path and beach.  But alas, these were not the one.  To grown up for Sissy.  She wanted something more playful.  And she mentioned again something about a little girl and path….  So back again…

Girl, out of frame design, but not a go.  I have to admit, this did not seem to fit Sissy either.  Ok, so path… girl.. Google for images.  So then I found the perfect picture. 

Little girl, no path, but she is peeking into the unknown.  And I made a pink frame for it to extend from.  As soon as I finished it, I knew it would be a good one.  I am glad she did not have any bad experiences with Alice in Wonderland!

This post turned into a “Behind the Graphics” and Blog Design combo, but I think this gives you a good idea of how you can get to a good header.   Use Google's search for images and Microsoft has good clipart. 

You don't always have to use actual pictures, you can use simple shapes.  Play with the graphic program you have (I will review my preferences next week).  Try stuff out.  It's not like you are wasting paper or supplies.

Here are some headers that use shapes.

As I review this post, it does not seem as focused as the others.  You can go so many ways with header graphics.  The possiblities are endless!   

Step 3: Now it is your turn!  Think about what you like for your header. What your want to convey?  What do you like about other headers?  Do you have any favorite pictures? 

To view the Blog Design Table of Contents and start at the beginning, click here.

Again, please let me know if you have any questions.  And if you would like me to work on a header for you, email me…

Next Blog Design Series post is here.

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My husband has started his blog!!!   He is the smartest man on earth.  He did not listen to me when I told him that the first post has to be lame.

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In a discussion about a co-worker, we were trying to figure out where this guy was coming from.  Then I realized what was happening.  While we were explaining to him what needed to be done, instead of hearing the specifics, here is what he heard:

“Blah, blah, blah….work for you…blah, blah.   Blah, blah, blah… more work for you…. blah, blah, blah.”

At One Happy Dog Speaks, she has two graphics that rotate.  One is a computer board with paw prints.  It was inspired by her computer background and love of dogs.  The second one is my favorite, mostly because it was fun getting there.   And we start our “Behind the Graphics” story with version 1.

Notice the related elements in use.  A Dog (found on Microsofts Clip Art site) and he looks happy! And he is on the run, just like VW.  He orginally had a newspaper, but that did not go, so I put in the platter for the tater tots.  You know – she calls her boys Tator and Tot!!!  

VW liked it, but something just did not go.  I realized I did not like the idea of her having her kids on a platter.  Kinda ooogie.  So then I came up with the next version.

Notice the blue eyes like her boys have?  We both liked this, but VW was not happy with the tots looking like flat chips.  So I searched again on Google for better pictures of tator tots with no luck.  I emailed VW to let her know I would have to go get some at the store to get better pictures.  Luckily she had some and took pictures.  She made me laugh when she said “This has got to be the silliest thing I’ve done in a while!”  Can you just imagine her taking pictures in the kitchen?  If it was me, I would take them after the kids were in bed and when I knew my husband would not be coming in.  

 

I was never able to get the tots to look right, so I asked for my anti-MIL to help.  She is very artistic and amazing with PhotoShop.   She was able to get the tots looking right.  We then changed the font to blue and we had a winner!!!  You can see it at her site. 

Bonus Material:  Here is one that VW did not like, but I did not expect her to.  This one made me laugh since I know that VW does not like dresses. 

  To see other collaborated blogs, click on the logo.

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I am officially bowing out of the competition with Bou, VW and Sissy (but will still keep ya’ll updated).   After 3 weeks of not going to meetings and just eating like crazy, I gained 9.3 lbs.  _{(Please lift your jaw off the floor!)}  The reason?  Stress, not going to the meetings, PMS, DMS _(during), loss of motivation, loss of will power and bad choices.   After almost 3 YEARS I was sick of it.  But not sick enough to stop.  I can tell I gained 9 lbs.  I feel like crap, my clothes feel tight, and I feel blah!  With that as a motivator, I asked for a new card to track my weight loss at Weight Watchers.  I am starting over.  These last three weeks don’t matter.  I am thinking of it as a vacation.  Kinda like work – you go on vacation and it takes you awhile to catch up after you get back.  Ya, that’s the ticket! 

But I also have another great motivator.  With a very nice bonus at work, I get a slice of it for NEW CLOTHES!!!!  It is the most I have ever had to spend on clothes at one time.   I want to get to my goal weight before I spend it.  While I am working on losing my weight, I am going to clean out my closet.  Out with the 80-90’s styles.  Out with the clothes that will always be to small.  Out with the young stuff.  If I have not worn it in the last year – out!!! 

I can not believe how lucky I am.  I am not going to waste this money.  I will plan out what I want to mix and match.  A base wardrobe that I can work from.  My planning/research/motivation will be great blog fodder! 

Wooo hooooo!!!!  I am so happy, I think I am going to cry!  I am such a chic!!!!   

Wah!

Last week I worked more than I usually do.  It finally got to a point where I felt I could not take anymore.  I had a strong desire to just shut down completely.  But I never have made it to that point.  I can remember another time that I went over my limits. 

Around the time my youngest daughter was  1 or 2 months old she was not a very happy baby .  I am not sure if she had colic, but it was very stressful taking care of her.  I needed a break.  Something came up and our babysitter could not come through so Mark and I could go to dinner.  When I hung up, I remember the feeling of anxiety and wondering how I would make it without going crazy. 

What is common about both of these things?  Knowing my limits.  How many of us know when we are over doing something?  That we need a break?  Or if we do know, do something about it?  Knowing your limits is something that comes with experience.  Typically speaking, older women are more demanding than younger women.  I think this is because of their know how to mark their limits.  They know how far they can go. 

Years ago, if I had worked those hours, I would have still worked the full week.  But I knew I needed a break and asked for a comp day on Friday.  And it made a big difference.  There will continue to be times where I am pushed over my limits, but each time I will get better at demarcating and coping.  And I won’t feel guilty about it.