My New Blog Button (Plus a Tutorial)

I think it's fair to say that I am the only person in the world who actually comes home from the beach PALER than before she left... (Major disadvantage of a spray tan!)

With that in mind, you will understand that skin like mine requires some time OUT of the sun... even at the beach!  So, since I'm on vacation, I've used some of my free time to play around with my blog a little bit.

And now, I am proud to introduce... My very own Blog Button!

<a border="0" href="http://www.emyselfandi.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad66/echapman26/button-1.jpg" /></a>

If you want, just copy the code above and paste into an HTML gadget on your sidebar.  The button will look cute (most importantly) and link back to www.emyselfandi.com! I would be super honored if you'd post it on your blog!

Even more impressive, I made it myself --- code and all!  And, because I love you...

I'm going to tell YOU how too!

1.) Find a photo or graphic you like.  My yellow books photo was taken by my friend Howard, but anything will do!  You can also buy great photos at iStockPhoto. 

2.) Add a frame, text, etc. to your photo.  I prefer to design at Picnik because it has fun fonts etc, but there are lots of other great free photo editing sites as well. (I'm pretty sure Photoshop & Illustrator are the very best, but I am a poor novice!)

3.) Upload and save your photo to Photobucket.  This is a free photo storage site.  I just joined today for this purpose and can't wait to play around more!  (NOTE: Before you save, it's a good idea to adjust the size of your photo to something that will fit in your sidebar.  Mine is approximately 200 x 234.)

4.) In another tab, log into your Blogger account and go to the Page Elements page. Click on "Add a Gadget" and select HTML/JavaScript.

5.) Copy and paste the following code in the text area:

<a border="0" href="http://YOURBLOGADDRESS.com" target="_blank"><img src=http://YOURBUTTONLOCATION.jpg></a>

 

6.) In Photobucket (or wherever you chose to store your button), copy the URL or direct link and paste it in both places where the code says YOUR BUTTON LOCATION.

7.) Replace the words YOUR BLOG ADDRESS with...your blog address. :)

8.) Save and share your new button!!

Easy as pie!  Now, go get busy designing!  

I'm pretty obsessed with this, so don't be surprised if I start designing new buttons every day! OR... if you want me to make you one, e-mail me & I'll be happy to do it for a teeny-tiny fee.

*And, by the way, I found this information primarily at Shabby Blogs - one of my favorite sites for designing blogs!  Definitely go check them out!

Two Opportunities

I have two big events coming up in my life:

1.) My Blog's First Birthday on June 24th
&

2.) My Three Year Wedding Anniversary on June 30th - Which will be celebrated with a three and a half week trip across country.  (One week to reminisce about each year of our marriage, and four days to convince Jeff we are ready to have a baby!)

So, how are these opportunities for you?

Well, first, I'm going to be hosting some fun giveaways on my blog birthday next week, and you'll have the chance to win some cool stuff.  (If you own a small company and would like to give something away, PLEASE email me!!)

Also, I am hoping to find a few bloggers to Guest Post for me during my trip.  (Don't worry, I'll still be writing and posting photos along our journey, but I want some other posts to break this up.)  If you have a blog and want a little extra exposure, PLEASE email me!  I'd love to set you up to post here while I'm gone!  Friends/readers are always asking me what blogs I read... So, I'd love to share a taste of your style and send them your way!

So see, not only can you win great items... But, you can also get your blog out there and find lots of other great ones to add to your reading list.

Get excited!

Can't wait to hear from you!

In Which We Go to a Water Park

Few things are funnier to me right now than the fact that my 92 year old grandfather, 57 year old uncle, 24 year old sister and me spent the afternoon at a Myrtle Beach Water Park. 

It was just like the old days... Kathryn and I ran around like the Bopsy twins in matching black bathing suits (although, to say we looked alike in them would be a BIG stretch), giggled our hearts out, raced down the slides (which I much enjoyed until I realized that my "victories" were really just proof that I am heavier than my sister), and made Poppy follow us around and cheer as we hit the water. *Don't worry... He just watched his grown-up grandchildren.  I'm pretty sure he had every single one of the health risks they advise to avoid the water slides if you have.  As much as he claims he can't wait to die, I don't want to personally be responsible for it!  :)

Of course, one of the major differences from our younger days, was the fact that every male we passed had to check out my sister today.  (I never remember this happening when we were six and eight.  Strange.)  Plus, at a few points after coming down a particularly "violent" slide, I worried that we might get kicked out of the park for "indecent exposure."  Wedgie much?  Not to mention the time when we were simply rinsing off under a mushroom-shaped waterfall in the kiddie pool, and Kathryn pointed out that we looked like we were filming a dirty rap video.  Awesome.

Uncle David fell into this childhood trance too.  In fact, after disappearing for about an hour, we finally found him swimming (not floating) around the Lazy River hiding behind rafts and avoiding the lifeguards who kept blowing the whistle and yelling at him for not staying in his tube.  Luckily, he was NOT wearing his speedo today.

There truly is something about being on a family beach trip with no boyfriends or husband that makes you revert - just a little - back to your childhood days.  (i.e. Kat and I sharing a bed and sneaking in little packets of Curious George fruit snacks.) And, I'm not going to lie, I kind-of love it!

Of course, I also thought a little about my future.  Especially when I saw a dad wearing water shoes running through the park with his little kids and a mom chasing behind them yelling "Wait!  Wait! We have a plan!!!"  Haha! That is totally going to be Jeff and me! 

Anyways, hope you guys are having a good week! Happy Hump Day!