I got anxious, and with Ashley‘s surgery being tomorrow morning, I didn’t want her to miss out on this. So, I’m open! It’s been one very long and stressful journey, but I’m excited. I’m not going to lie though, I was second guessing everything I’ve made thus far for the shop last night, but I feel much better after finally listing it all. So, we’ll see what happens.

You guys might remember how very attached I am to the wreath’s I’ve made. I’ve asked Travis multiple times if I can just keep them. I’ve made a deal with Ashley that she can take them off of my hands, but I still get visitation, and I get them for the holidays. Well, I think that’s been rubbing off on Travis, because when I was taking a wreath to the post office today, to figure out my shipping costs, Travis was very concerned about where the wreath was going. “Hey, what are you doing with your wreath!?”. So, it’s going to be very hard to see them go, but I still kind-of-sorta have my fingers crossed that they don’t sell, just so I can keep them for myself.

Anyway, go and check the shop out here! I currently have 11 items listed, with three of those things being custom options.

So who is getting this crazy snow storm today? The snow is suppose to start falling here pretty soon, and it’s not suppose to stop until Thursday! Ah!

Posted on May 21, 2013 - 28 comments
 Filed Under: Etsy Shop

It’s been awhile since I did a Tech Tuesday post. Okay… it’s been over two months, almost three. But now that things with the Etsy shop have calmed down – I open tomorrow!! – I’m feeling inspired to blog again, and to start back up with the Tech Tuesday posts. (Check out previous tech tuesday posts at these links: How to Set up a Blog, Make a simple header, Free Social Media Icons, Placing Social Media Icons.)

Today, I’m bring you some simple blogging tips. Some I’ve followed since the beginning, and others I’ve learned over time. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments section!

• Put your “leave a comment” link at the bottom of your posts – Let’s say you only have your leave a comment link at the top of your posts, and none at the bottom. If I go to your main blog page, and read a blog post, I always end at the bottom of the post. I really liked the post, and I want to leave a comment. To do so, I have to scroll all the way to the top of the post to find your leave a comment link. Make it simple for your readers. Put a link at the bottom to leave comments, so when they reach the end of the post, the comment link is right there. No need to scroll or search for the link.
• Don’t use CAPTCHA’s – There have been so many instances where I go to a blog, leave a comment, and then hit the “x” before realizing that their blog requires a captcha. It really makes me wonder how many comments these bloggers loose because of that extra step. I understand there is issues with spam comments, but wouldn’t you rather go thru and deny the spam yourself, then risk losing a valid comment from a reader?
• Reply to comments whenever possible – Readers love when you respond to the comments that they leave. It makes them feel like they are welcome on your blog, and that you’re human. My impression of blogs that don’t comment back, is that they are “too good” to take the time and actually read what their readers have to say. Like they only posts for the stats. Be human, interact with people.
• Help your fellow bloggers out – I don’t know about all of you, but I feel like I’m in a community in the blog world. So many of my blogging acquaintances have become my friends. It makes me want to help them out and support them as much as possible. So link them up in your posts and sidebars, have blogrolls and buttons. Be the best blogging friend that you can be. I know this is hard because blogging friends seem “imaginary” (As Ashley‘s Husband calls me) but they are real people. These friendships are real.
• Don’t sign up bloggers to a newsletter from you, just because they joined a link party you hosted – One of my biggest pet peeves that bloggers do is sign me up for newsletters, when I never opt-in. This usually happens when I link-up to a link party. A few weeks later I start getting mass-distribution emails. I use my email A LOT and I don’t want it flooded with junk. I linked to your party, I gave you credit in my post, don’t piss me off with unwanted email, or I won’t link-in again. Just don’t do it.
• Have a search box – There is a lot of times that I want to find something on someone’s blog, and without a search box, it’s pretty difficult. Just make sure you have one, they don’t take up much space either and are so convenient to use for readers, and even for yourself when you’re looking for something on your own blog.
• Watermark your images – I use to do this, and then I stopped. Recently though, I found my Liquid Skittles images on other websites, without any credit. Some even claiming it’s their own. From here on out, I’m watermarking EVERYTHING and you probably should too. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Do you have any blog pet peeves?

Posted on May 21, 2013 - 28 comments
 Filed Under: Tech Tuesday's

Within the last couple of months, I’ve become really close with Ashley over at The HumberHome Project. So when I learned that she was having knee surgery soon, I knew that I wanted to send her something to brighten her day, since I know she’s really nervous about the whole thing. First I researched some flowers, which were crazy priced ($55+) and then I looked up Get Well Soon baskets which were just as expensive, if not more. And then I had a little light-bulb go off in my head… I’m kind of a DIY blogger, so why the heck don’t I just DIY up my own version of a Get Well Soon basket, plus it will be so much more cheaper and more heartfelt. That’s exactly what I did! If Ashley didn’t live over 11 hours away from me, I would have put all of her things in a cute basket with a big bow, like the below picture.

Sadly, I can’t hand deliver this baby. I have to ship it. For a crazy $17. Don’t even ask me how I fit all of that stuff into a large flat rate box, because I really have NO idea.

Here is what I included in her get well soon package and some ideas for your own DIY basket for when the time comes. (All under $30)

• A really fuzzy blanket: since she’ll be bed recliner ridden.
• Magazines in something she’s interested in: home decor, no brainer.
• Something fun to cheer her up when she’s bored out of her mind: candy drinking straws!
• Favorite snacks: Marshmallows & Twizzlers.
• Chapstick: Every girl needs this.
• A Notepad: With all of the down time, she can do lots of blog and etsy planning.

You could also include other items in your basket, if space allows, like: puzzle books, cute water bottle, more snacks, books and even some DVD’s to watch in their recovery time. It’s also much easier to follow a budget doing the basket yourself, just watch out for shipping costs if you can’t hand deliver it!

Bought vs. Made gift baskets, which do you prefer?

Posted on May 21, 2013 - 13 comments
 Filed Under: Projects