How to Mobilize Your Blogger Site

I know many of you do not blog.  I am sorry, but this is all about blogs.

Last week I attended BlissDom.  We discussed many things, but at the very end a keynote speaker addressed the fact that many people read blogs from their mobile devices.  I know I do, especially when I am feeding the baby.

So is your blog mobilized?

If your eyes just glazed over or you crinkled your nose and went, “Huh?” Well you may want to finish reading this.

My site was not mobilized.  It looked like this on my Droid.

Now it looks like this.

No need to zoom in.  No long loading time because of sidebar buttons or widgets.  You can still makes comments and read them.  Your site, just simplified.  You click on the arrow next to the post title to read the entire post.  Easy.

If you have the Wordpress free version your site is probably already mobilized.

If you are a self-hosted site you need a plug in.  There are many out there, but Allie at No Time For Flash Cards installed WP Touch on her site over the weekend and it looks great.
If you are on Blogger, here is what you do.

• Go to the Beta Dashboard of Blogger Draft, http://draft.blogger.com/
• “Settings” Tab
• “Email & Mobile” Tab
• The very first section is “Mobile Template”.  Click the Yes button. 
• Save the settings at the very bottom.

You are now mobilized.  Congratulations.  Your header and everything will automatically appear similar to mine above, but in your version of course.  So, even if you are placing free content from other websites to your blog, your followers will be able to easily read it from their mobile device.

Your readers always have the option at the bottom of the page to view your site in web version, if they do not like the mobilized version.

I don’t have the step by step directions for WordPress, but it appeared to be very easy for Allie.  I believe she even did it while nursing.

I just wanted to share how to do it in Blogger with friends that just may want to do it.

Bathtime Reflections

Admiring her new “shampoo do”.

She loves the mirror.  I keep one close to the bathtub.  It is the only thing that makes washing her hair remotely close to tolerable for her. 

This was shared over at Household 6 Diva’s Foto Friday.  This week’s theme was “reflections”.

Clothespin Color Wheel

Allie did a color matching activity very similar to this one over a year ago. I made this version thinking it would be the perfect multi-level learning activity for my home. All you will need are clothespins, paint, marker, scissors, and posterboard.

 

I traced an upside down large mixing bowl to get my big circle. Then I sectioned it into 8 pieces, but you can do as many as you like. I painted each section a different color.

As I painted the sections I made sure that I painted a clothespin for each color as well. You will see two of each in the photo because I made two sets (and then had to make a third).

I wrote the names of each color in the section. I also wrote the names of each color on the clothespins.

I gave the kids the circles with the clothespins already attached to the appropriate sections. I asked them to pull off all of the clothespins and put them in a pile. They loved pulling them off, maybe a little too much.

Then I told them to match the clothespins to the colors on the wheel. I demonstrated one match up to really show them, too. Charley started right at it.

This activity is great for matching, learning colors, and motor skills. We did this activity with Little Man while we were fostering him as he had trouble doing the pincher hold.  This activity was more for him to work on motor skills and hand-eye coordination (not so much on color matching). Oh, and it worked. He is got better every time we played this activity. Even his therapists noticed a big difference.

This activity helped Charley learn to match alikes and get more familiar with her colors. But it doesn't hurt to build those motor skills, either.

This activity is requested constantly at my house. The littler ones have so much fun playing with it that I had to make one for my four year old son, too. I am hoping we will have our colors down as sight words. We should as much as we play this. So there you have it, an activity that can be done by different ages and developmental stages (including special needs). Here is my daughter so proud of her completion. I know that you can't tell from the picture, but she is very happy and proud.

How to Make a Homemade Geoboard

My son has these in his preschool class. I thought they were really neat and wanted to have one at home. Have you seen the prices of these? I know they are worth it, but if I can make one inexpensively...why not?

 

All you need are colored rubber bands, black paint (helps the rubber bands show up better), ruler, rounded tip nails, hammer, and a wood plaque. You can use any piece of wood, but the store bought plaques are already have smooth routed edges.

I bought the rubber bands, plaque, and nails at Walmart and spent only $5.50. Your prices may vary, but it should be close. Here are the exact nails I bought. I had a hard time finding adequate ones at the home improvement store.

 

I had Cole paint the plaque black with a small roller. This provides a nice even coat with quick drying time.

While he was painting I marked the nails with a red marker. This way I could keep the height of the nails even. I just lined a bunch up and made one mark across then at once. It was very easy.

Once the paint dried I made a grid on the board of 1 inch squares. [When I make another one I will make 1.5 inch squares, to give a little more space.]

 

Then I hammered the nails until the red line was in the wood. This is what it looked like all done.

It looks a like a medieval torture device, but it isn't sharp at all. It could still hurt someone if not properly supervised, though. This is definitely for preschoolers and not toddlers (although Charley insists on playing with it). I would suggest supervising, at least the first few times it is played with.

My son had a great time with it. He was so excited and recognized this from his classroom. What a great way to practice fine motor skills and experiment with shapes.

 

We plan on making a few more for friends. They were such a hit.  They are a perfect way to add some indoor fun to winter days.

 

I linked this post up over at Joyful Learner for Math Links Monday.

How Much Do We Love Our...

 

“It’s constipated…con-sti-pa-ted.  You and your poop are not consummated.”

Don’t get me wrong, we do love our poop and talking about it. 

But we don’t love it that much.

 

What things have you found yourself saying lately?

Light: Baby Style

This week’s theme for Foto Friday  is “light”.  I took pictures of different things, but never found that shot that said light to me. 

Then I was changing the baby’s diaper in the living room.  She giggled and stared at the ceiling fan.  All of my kids have done it.  I am sure your kids did it when they were babies, too.  I just don’t get the ceiling fan thing, especially when they aren’t even rotating.

So after her change, I laid on the floor next to her and got her view of the ceiling fan. 

 

It isn’t what I think of when I read “light”, but it is what my baby would probably think of (if she knew what light was).  So it was just fitting to take the picture from her view. 

Why We Do It

The miracle of life is amazing to me.  Sperm and egg…embryo…fetus…baby. 
Any woman that has ever had difficulty trying to conceive knows that timing needs to be perfect.  You chart and graph so much to expose the opportune time to create a life.  So much, in fact, that you could teach some research scientists a thing or two.  I know this from experience (but that is another post).

I am awed by the miracle of life.
Now imagine all of that timing coming together to create a precious little life and it not being in your body.
Imagine steps ordained and seeds planted long before you ever knew that little heart had even started beating.

Imagine that child coming into the world through another woman. 
Imagine that child scared, in environments that aren’t safe, and not knowing that it isn’t alright.  It isn’t their fault.
And now imagine that child in your arms.  Entrusted to you.  Your care and love is what is needed to heal a broken heart, a wounded trust, and maybe even a bruised body.
That is foster care. 
It isn’t easy to know what they have been through.
It is even harder to know they may return to it.
But knowing that you made a difference, that you were that safe place to land (if only for a short while)…I simply have no words.
I have been asked a lot about foster care by readers, friends, and even strangers. 
We now have 2 foster children in our home and the questions and comments pour in (good and bad).  I just felt I would share why we do what God put on our hearts to do.
If you think you have the heart for foster care, I would love to talk with you.  It may not be the right thing for you and your family.  But if you feel the tug I encourage you to research it more.  Find a foster parent and talk with them.  Really talk and ask the real questions you want to know the answers to. 
You can always email me at momtriedit@gmail.com. 
Kim

Which Stairs to Choose?

Who says that stay at home moms can’t be rebels?  When I saw that the suggested theme for this week at Foto Friday was “stairs” I immediately knew where I wanted to go. But it was in an area of the state park that is closed for the season.

So I just went around the barricades.  Yep, I am real wild one.

I think it was worth it.  I got a couple of shots of the water tower I was dying to get.  My favorite ended up being the one looking up from underneath.

 

Right next to the water tower is a large lodge (that is closed for the season).  I had to get a shot of the snow-kissed stairs.

So there are my stairs.  I couldn’t decide which one to post, so I did them both.  Which one do you like better?  Please be nice, I am just learning photography and Photoshop Elements. :-)

 

Linked up at Household 6 Diva for Foto Friday.

Kim

Things About BlissDom

In two weeks I am going to BlissDom, again.  Last year was my first time and my first blogging conference ever.  I was very nervous.  I had no idea what to expect. 

I was overwhelmed by the flurry of talk on twitter about new wardrobes and technology gadgets.  I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but the first night (the night before the conference actually started) I was feeling completely out of my element and discouraged.

So why am I going back?  Why am I telling you this?

Because the next day I recognized familiar faces (that recognized mine back), got hugs, and gained knowledge.  BlissDom was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone that blogs.  I learned a lot and created amazing opportunities for myself and my blog.

(These pictures were “borrowed” from Janna at The Adventure of Motherhood and Monica at Daily Dwelling). Love these ladies!!

BUT, do know these things ahead of time:

• A lot of bloggers are shy and introverted.  Just because their site reads easily and openly, does not mean that is how these women are comfortable.  Some are very shy, while some are not (me).

 

• There will be clusters of women standing together and laughing.  It will take you right back to the hallways of {gulp} high school.  It may look clique-ish, but it really isn’t.  These women read each other blogs, email, tweet, and talk all year long and this may be their only chance to see each other in real life.  They have already connected and bonded with each other.  They are just hanging out with friends.  They are not trying to exclude you, they are just caught up in the moment of being with their friends. 

 

• If you see a blogger you recognize and really want to tell them you read their blog and love it, by all means walk right up to them and tell them.  More than likely they will love to hear it and reply with a huge smile and a big thank you.  You just may start up a conversation and get a new friend.  :-)

 

• On that note, there are some snotty people there.  Yep, I said it.  You cannot get 500 people together without a few people that think they are superior.  It is the law of averages.  Those people are very few and far between.  If you run into them, just shake it off and don’t let them ruin one minute of your experience.  They are not worth it.

 

• Don’t worry about wardrobes.  There are women wearing everything from t-shirts and jeans to suits.  No matter what you are wearing you will fit in.  I will be in jeans the entire time.  I will have sweaters and loose shirts and my high heeled boots.  Be comfortable, be yourself.

 

• If you see me, NO MATTER WHAT I AM DOING, please come up to me and say “Hello”.  I would love to meet you.  Here is a picture of me, so you know exactly what I look like. 

You can’t miss me, I have bright orangish-red hair (no not dyed, but the grays that keep coming are making that day sooner).  I will also have the cutest little baby you have ever seen with me, unfortunately my son pictured above will be at home.  He would probably find the sessions boring.  ;-)

 

BlissDom (and other conferences) are full of information and offer a great chance to network with people in all aspects of blogging.  They will supply you with motivation, information, and tools to make you the blogger you want to be. 

They will not give you some special secret to make you as big as Dooce.  They will not make your numbers skyrocket over night.  They will not have advertisers and sponsors filling your inbox with offers of big money.  You will probably not get a book deal signed there. 

The secret to success in blogging is the same secret to success in everything.  Hard work, commitment, and balance.  These conferences will help you find the level of work and balance you need to make your blog successful.  Everyone’s idea of success is different.  Just like everyone’s blog is different.  You get to find what is right for you.  The best thing about conferences is that it is all right there for you to discover yourself (with very helpful tips from people that have been there, done that).

If you are going to BlissDom, I hope to see you there.  Leave me a comment or tweet me and let me know you will be there so we can meet.  If you aren’t going, which conference are you dying to attend?

Kim

Recycled Marker Color Labels

I know many of you have markers.  Crayola has had these markers made of recycled materials.  While this is great for the environment, it isn’t so great when my kids go to color.

This is what happens when 2 or 3 preschoolers/toddlers color with these markers.  The lids are off and you can’t tell what color most of them are until you write with them.  Frustrating for a young child that is trying to be creative and expressive.

Now imagine you are a preschool teacher, daycare provider, or therapist and have one of these holders pictured above. 

When the kids get to coloring, they do not put them back in the appropriate lids.  With no color stripe on the end, how can they see what color they are actually grabbing?

This was the problem in my son’s preschool class.  I had an idea and volunteered to help.

I cut pieces of construction paper to correspond to the colors of the markers.

I used clear packing tape to adhere the colored paper to the markers. 

I taped the paper to the ends of the markers like this.  Make sure that tape is exposed all around the paper, so it will stick to the marker better and not curl up.  Lots of little fingers will be touching these and picking at them.

Now the markers look like this in the holders.  Little artists can see which color they are grabbing. 

The preschool teachers were very happy and the kids were happy. 

I did this over a month ago and the tape is still holding. 

Success!

So if you are experiencing the same problem in your house or classroom, try this.  It really helped us.

Kim

Say WHAT?: Diaper Butterfly

 

“The baby’s diaper does look like a butterfly.”

 

While I was changing the baby’s diaper, Charley made the observation that the poop inside looked like a butterfly.  So I just had to look down and take a second look.  Sure enough…looked just like a butterfly, so I said the above sentence.  Have you noticed that most of my “Say What?” posts are about poop?

It is amazing some of the things that come out of my mouth that I never thought I would say (or need to).

What crazy things have you caught coming out of your mouth lately?

Kim

Catching Snowflakes

We had snow over the holidays.  The kids had a blast. 

Big cousins taught Charley how to catch snowflakes properly.

She loved it.
This post is linked up with others over at Household 6 Diva for Foto Friday.  Head on over there and check some others out.
Kim