Fat Butt Friday - Walk Away Those Pounds

"One of my New Year's wishes was to shed some of the weight I had gained during my pregnancy with Little Monster, and so in my attempt to do so, I felt it was harder to hide late night snacking and lack of motivation if I put myself on the line and in the spotlight. Every Friday, I will be sharing my weight loss journey (including my successes and failures), as well as delicious recipes, meal ideas, and exercise suggestions. Join me if you accept the challenge to lose weight and gain a healthier life! (Don't forget to grab my button in the sidebar)"

   First of all...

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a one year subscription to SHAPE magazine.  Go HERE to enter for your chance to win. This giveaway ends 4/29 at midnight!
  
This week was a good week.  I am nearly at 15 lbs. lost and clothes that I once couldn't breath in, are buttoning without having to do a fat butt dance to get them up.  I spent last weekend planting and tending my new garden.  I am so excited to start receiving produce from my beautiful garden.  I soooo enjoy eating fresh produce.  I believe the warm weather has motivated me and all the outdoor activities have jump started my body.  Yay! It feels {awesome} to get this body up and moving!

In order for dieting to be effective, you must exercise!  Eating a low calorie diet is overall healthy, and yes exercise is important, but in order for you to stay healthy, you must do both.  You cannot fool your body!

source

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to add exercise into your daily routine is by walking. When you start walking you should get yourself a pedometer.  This will keep you honest and real about how much or how little walking exercise you are doing each day.  I unfortunately can not find mine right at this moment, but they are super easy to come by.  I believe I got mine out of a cereal box.  Really, I did! 

It is recommended that you increase your steps by 2000 steps each day, which seemed like a lot to me.  I would actually recommend using the pedometer on a normal day for yourself.  After a full day, record your steps and then increase them the following day by taking a walk around your neighborhood.  2000 steps is approximately one mile or 15-30 minutes of walking, depending on your speed. 

Don't forget to take it slow at first and do not exert yourself too much.  Remember that your body will try to trick you into thinking that you have had enough physical activity, but press on to burn those calories.  And like I always say...Drink plenty of water to replenish lost fluids through sweating.

Check out these 10 ways to be an eco-friendly walker on About.com

Here's something fun!  

Remember all those crazy diets people try to tell you to do to help you lose weight?  Here are two of them...

The Cabbage Soup Diet

The Grapefruit Diet

Who really sticks to these diets?

What is some of the weirdest or craziest advice you have ever been given to help you lose weight?

If you would like to be featured on Fat Butt Friday for your weight loss successes, please email me at moore8usa(at)yahoo(dot)com.  I would love to share your inspiring story with other readers.

The Independent Blogger - Changing Fonts (post & post title)

This can be a challenging process for both of these changes, therefor, I have left it up to Amanda at Kevin & Amanda to teach you this one.  I found these a while back after digging for forever and working with some other very difficult tutorials.

I {love} how simple the directions are that are given.   I so wish I had the time and patience to do this tutorial myself. However, for those of you out there that have been looking for a tutorial to do this go HERE to change your post font and go HERE to change your post title font. 

You will also find an assortment of FREE (my favorite!) fonts HERE on Amanda's blog.  She really does have an {amazing} blog that everyone should definitely check out if you haven't already!

The font can make a big difference on the page.  I personally believe that it keeps me interested; crazy fonts, lots of color, changing the size.  You know...like I do!  Watch out though, because changing your font to something that is difficult to read will send your readers packin'!  If you have to look twice to read it, then it may be too much!

The Independent Blogger - Favicons and Signatures

Favicon?  
What is that?

Favicon is short for Favorites Icon.  It is the website icon.  It is this...

I don't have one yet, but I plan to install one very soon. I have just been so busy!  It really is a simple thing to do though.  

Rather than give a tutorial here, I will just give you THIS LINK to the site that has the directions to install this little icon.  It is the same one I will be using.  You can even choose an animated favicon...one that moves!

Mac users beware!  You may not be able to see your favicon on a Mac!

Another item I don't have is a signature.  This is a personal choice.  For some reason, I just don't want one!  Some like it, some don't!  That doesn't mean it is considered wrong or "blogger uncool".  I read a lot of {amazing} blogs that have a signature. 

If you want a simple signature visit HERE and go through the steps to choose your signature.  

If you prefer something more like this...

then you will need to do it in Photoshop.

If you have been following the workshop, then you should be familiar with the steps it took to make a header and a button.  The same idea is used to create a custom signature.

In Photoshop, go up to File and select New.  Set your width to 300 pixels and height to 50 pixels.  Now add text and any other embellishments to create a signature.

Once you are finished, you will need to upload it to something like Flickr.  After it has been uploaded, grab the code and head over to your blog dashboard.  Go to Settings and then to Formatting.  Under Formatting post the code in the Post Template box.  Be sure to click Save.   

Get creative!  Mine was just a quick example!

Stay Tuned...

Tomorrow you can learn how to change post title fonts as well as the font in your post.

The Independent Blogger - Creating a Blog Button

I personally believe that the blog button is just as important as the blog header.

If you are only creating a blog for friends and family to read, you might not need a blog button. However, if you are hoping to capture a larger audience then having a blog button is a good idea.

From personal experience, a really catchy title along with a colorful blog button always makes me want to click on it.

I always get lured in.

There I sit reading the latest post from my favorite blogger and suddenly I notice a new button. Oh, wow, look at that! Catchy title! I wonder what...CLICK! There I sit reading the latest post from...my new favorite blogger!

One click is all it takes for you to gain a new reader. See how quick that was?

Readers become followers.

Hundreds of followers become thousands of followers.

Thousands of followers lands you a spot on CBS NEWS!

Okay, maybe not quite like that! But if an audience is what you desire, then having a great blog button sitting out there waiting to be clicked is a good idea (but don't forget, it all starts with a great blog title and header. gotta have those before a button, of course!)

And perhaps one of those people who clicked on your button will grab the code and add your button to their page. What a great way to increase traffic to your blog!

When I made my button, all I did was crop the title from the header and resize. However, if we are using the blog header we created HERE, it is a little more difficult to crop out the title without creating an odd button shape.

Instead, all I did was choose a section to crop in the header and add the title. Just like this...

Here is the button



See how I did that?

Once you crop the section out, you will need to resize it. I suggest resizing it to about 150 x 150 pixels or larger.  NOT too big though!

Using Photoshop, go up to "Image" and click on "Image Size". Change the width to 150 pixels and the height should change automatically. If you do not have a perfect square, once you change the width to 150 pixels, it is not going to change the height to a perfect 150 x 150. Don't fret, just go with what it changes to.

Don't have a fancy blog header to pull from?  In Photoshop, you can easily create a button from scratch by going up to File and selecting New just as we did when we created the header.  Change the Width and Height to 150 pixels. From there you will have your button.  Add color and text as you like.  

Now that you have your button, you need the code to place it on your blog.

Visit HERE on the blog 3 Kids and Us for step by step instructions on how to install your button. You can choose a horizontal or vertical format.

Let's see those blog buttons! The first 5 to send the link to their blog, so I can grab your button, will get a spot on my blog for at least the next 3 months. (Independent bloggers please! Come on no cheating!)

The Independent Blogger - How's it Going So far?

Many of you may be waiting to complete the workshop before you get a jump start on your own blog. Comments will stay open and I do hope that once you have completed anything you have learned here, you will come back to share your work. Even if it's a month from now!  I promise to take the time to visit!

We have gone through the hardest part of the workshop and, everything else should be downhill from here. Easy that is!

What you have seen so far, could be considered enough for some of you out there. A great header and matching background and your good to go. The rest is just details. I do hope that you will stick around for the rest of the workshop and I thank you all for your participation.

Stay tuned...

Tomorrow we will be creating a blog button, favicon, and adding a signature to your posts.

The Independent Blogger - A Background for Your Blog

This is a matter of preference for some. I have been to some very lovely blogs that simply have a solid background. Whether it be a solid white, gray, or any other color, there really is no set rule for your background, except that most times you want it to match. I also recommend something simple. Keep it simple to keep it interesting!

Simple doesn't mean solid color, just something that isn't going to outdo your header. If you look at mine you will see that it is a light shade of blue that matches my header with tiny polka dots...kinda like little cherries.

You can create a scrapbook background using Photoshop, just like we did with the header. I found a great tutorial HERE on the blog Kevin & Amanda. The instructions are easy to follow. I chose not to use this tutorial to make my background only because I felt that I didn't need a background like this. However, just going through the tutorial taught me and gave me practice with Photoshop. While visiting, take notice of the header and background, both created by Amanda, owner of the site. You will also notice how her header and background are done with the scrapbooking method. Very lovely! This works for her.

Another great site to use, which is also the same site that I used for my background, is Pattern Cooler. Here you will find pre made designs that you can choose from and then edit. You can choose colors to match your header for instance. If you do choose this method, I strongly suggest you download Colorzilla.

Colorzilla downloads onto your computer and you can use it to match up colors. For instance, I have the word cherries on my header in a very specific shade of red. when I was creating my background, I found it difficult to match up the reds without using this tool. Colorzilla keeps itself in the lower left hand corner of your server screen like this...

When you want to match a color, you just click on the image in the corner and a cross shape appears. Move to the color on the screen that you would like to match and it will tell you the Red, Green, and Blue color codes as well as the six digit code of that color. Some sites and programs ask for the three color codes, some ask for the six digit code. Both are there for you to use.

One other way to go is to choose a pre made background that requires no editing of any kind. You simply copy and paste the code and you are good to go!

Here are two sites with beautiful pre made backgrounds...

Shabby Blogs
The Cutest Blog on the Block

The Independent Blogger - Creating a One-of-a-Kind Header

So, you want to know how to make a header?

Of course you do!

Simple!

Easier said than done, huh?

Really, it is!

Well, simple for me, maybe not for others. But, if I can do it, you can definitely do it! Especially with these directions.

I always recommend using Photoshop to do most work, but if you don't have Photoshop, then Gimp will work as well. Go to HERE to get it for FREE.

My tutorials will be in Photoshop CS2. However, Gimp is so similar that hopefully you won't have any trouble keeping up.

The first thing you need to do is open up Photoshop and under "File" click on "New". In the window that pops up, change the width to 980 pixels and the height to 341 pixels.  Click "OK" when you are done.

You can change these numbers according to the size you need on your blog.

Not sure what that would be?  Go to your Dashboard and click on the Layout for your blog.  Then click on Edit HTML. Scroll down to Where it says HEADER.  Under the HEADER section it will say what your current header size is.  It looks like this...

Remember that you can still change it if you prefer another size.  I suggest moving up or down in the number value by 10's until you reach the desired width and height.  I also suggest testing it before you go through the entire tutorial to realize it is too big or small.

The number settings I used in this tutorial are the same as the header on my blog page. Be sure that you are using pixels not inches.
 

Going back...this is what your image should look like...

Next, go up to "Edit" and choose "Fill". Under the "Fill" menu and under the drop down list "Use", choose white then click "Ok".

This will fill the checkerboard looking rectangle with a white background.

From here, you can do a number of things. You can add textures, pictures, text, whatever. I am going to take you through a simple example of my own, and then give you some links to a variety of great places where you can download free backgrounds, textures, and other fun items to use along with this tutorial to create your own header.

Going back to the header, download the following scrapbook papers to use in this tutorial and save them to a file on your computer.

This tutorial uses the
Sweet Scape Papers

In Photoshop, go to "File" and open the blue damask paper. You will need to resize the paper to fit on your header. To do this, go to "Image" and then to "Image Size". Once the menu pops up, change the width to the same width as your blog header then click "Ok". In this case it would be 980 pixels. Notice that it changes the Height also. This is ok!

Once you have resized the paper, hold down the "Ctrl" button and type "A". This will choose the image you have just resized. Once you have typed "Ctrl A", type "Ctrl C". Make sure your cursor is over the image first. Lastly, once you have typed "Ctrl C", go back to your header image and type "Ctrl V". This should fill in your header space.

Next you are going to open up the pink striped paper. Again you are going to have to resize the paper but, this time let's resize it to 680 pixels.

Go back up to "Image" and under the "Image Size" option menu, change the width to 680 pixels. Once more, with your cursor on top of the image, type "Ctrl A", then "Ctrl C". Then go back over to your header and (with cursor on image) type "Ctrl V".

What these steps are doing is selecting the image (Ctrl A), copying the image (Ctrl C), and then pasting the image (Ctrl V).

This is what your header should look like...

Now open up the green lined paper and resize it to 400 pixels. Do the same steps as before; go to "Image", then "Image Size" and change the width to 400 pixels. Then once you have resized it, type "Ctrl A", then "Ctrl C". Then go back to the header and type "Ctrl V". This will put it in the center of the pink striped paper.

Next, type "Ctrl T". This selects the layer so that you can move it around. Move the layer around to any position you want it.

Moving slightly outside of the selection box will enable you to rotate the layer. Rotate the layer in any direction.

I added a Title (completely made up) and a few words on the lines of the green paper.

Here is what mine looks like...

Change it around to your liking. You don't have to position it exactly like mine.

If you would like to add a photograph, you can do that also. I have not provided one for you. However, you can do this by opening up your own photo now.

Resize the picture to the size you want by going up to "Image" then "Image Size"and follow the same instructions as before... "Ctrl A", "Ctrl C", "Ctrl V". Once you have pasted it, you can type "Ctrl T" to select the image and move it to where you want it. You may even choose to use an entire image as the background for your header. In that case, skip the papers and simply resize the image to the same size of the header.

Here is my example...

You can also add embellishments to your page. See that blank spot between the green layer and the photo? It bugs me to leave it blank as if something is missing. You can fill it with anything such as buttons, ribbons, more text, another photo, whatever. I will add some now to show you how it looks.

Always remember...

Ctrl A - select the image
Ctrl C - copy the image
Ctrl V - paste the image
Ctrl T - select the image to move it around

Here is my header with some embellishments...

Lastly, you will want to add depth to your images to make them pop.

Go over to the right side of Photoshop to where it says "Layers"

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the layers and double click on "Layer 1" (it may even say "Background Layer"). A menu called "Layer Style" will pop up. Click on "Drop Shadow". Change opacity to 25%, Distance to 0 (zero)px, Spread to 0 (zero)%, and Size to 15 px, then click "Ok". You can play around with these numbers if you like.

Once you have clicked "Ok", go back over to "Layers" and right click on "Layer 1". Choose "Copy Layer Style". Now, right click on all other layers and "Paste Layer Style".

Tip: If you want to move items in front of or behind another item, go over to layers and move them up or down in the list. Just click on the layer and drag it up or down.

There! You're Done!

Go up to File and save image two ways...

Save once in Photoshop format so that you can come back at any time to make changes.
Save a second time in JPEG format.

Please feel free to contact me with your questions.

Here are some great sites where you will find {wonderful} backgrounds and embellishments to help you create a one of a kind header. Most of them are FREE, which is what I like, but on some of them you will find a combination of free stuff and other items you can buy. I don't suggest purchasing anything simply because so many people out there offer a large assortment of free stuff.

Computer Scrapbook.com
Pixels & Ice Cream
Free Digital Scrapbooking.com

I would love for you to share your blog headers that you have created. Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your page.

The Independent Blogger - The Most Important Part of a Blog

...is the TITLE and HEADER.

And that is because it is the first thing everyone sees. I have gone through many headers. When I first started blogging, I named my blog "Just a Little Moore to Love". We are the Moore family, therefor, I enjoyed the catchy title. For awhile I just used this simple photo as my blog header...

but then I thought that since there are eight of us, an eight ball would be a great little item to add as part of my "logo". I even included it on my header.

Until...

Someone told me that the eight ball is drug related.

Seriously? Who knew?

Upon further research, I discovered this at Wikipedia...

The eight ball symbol is a reference for one-eighth ounce (3.54 g) of a powdered psychoactive drug (especially cocaine, but sometimes heroin, ketamine, or methamphetamine)

The disturbing news immediately put my brain on a mission to come up with something different.

What did I come up with?

"Sweeter than Cupcakes"

Acutally, it went more like this:

Life is...
Sweeter than Cupcakes
...and I'm enjoying it with six cherries on top!

Not at all terrible, but I really felt that most of my posts revolved around my children and it made sense to stick with the "six cherries on top" portion of that looooong title. Shorter is better!

Again, at first, I created a header using nothing more than a picture of my children and putting the title on top of it for this new title. Definitely nothing wrong with that, but I wanted something more. I just wasn't feeling my header. I didn't feel like it would stand out in the crowd. Many people use photographs in their headers, but the really great ones have cute little digital scrapbooking details that I just {love}. If I was going to use a photo, I needed to go that route.

...time went by...

Eventually, I ended up with the one I have now, but not before going through half a dozen other ones. Really! Ask my friends!
 
If this is your first time creating a blog, then I do suggest to seriously consider the title. You want it to catch people's attention (and definitely not be drug related unless of course that is your intention...and I do hope you aren't offended if I choose not to read your blog). Then think about what that title means to you. Of course, when you see my title, you think about cherries, but I don't have any cherries on my header. I decided to go with the color red instead. Sometimes, you don't need to go over the top!

If you already have a blog, now would be a good time to reconsider the title if you are not 100% pleased with it. It really is very simple to change your blog title and website address without losing any of your posts. And, if you are happy right where you are then start thinking of what would you like others to see, think, and feel when they read your blog title?

If anyone is interested in knowing how to change your blog title and blog address let me know. Otherwise, I will not include a tutorial for that.

Check out some of these 2 great blog headers created by the blog authors themselves. Take notice of how very different they are but are still able to capture your attention.

Trendy Treehouse
xoxo, Trina


Stay tuned...

Want to know how to create your very own header? That's coming up next!

Introducing...

A friend of mine was interested in blogging, so I helped her create a blog.

And, guess who created her blog header? Meeeeeeee!

She is an {amazing} woman with a lot to say. She just got it up and running, but feel free to jump on over to her blog, Random Thoughts of a Certified Control Freak, and become a follower.

I also created a blog header for Ryan, who saw Red's blog and wanted one of his own. He may not use it much, but here is his.

He has not written a post yet, but you can visit Fishing for Blue Whales if you like.