Crescent Connection 4 Mile Bridge Run

Do you remember that time I crashed that Rock n Roll Marathon blogger meet up? Well, it was providential because through a friend I made there I have been given the opportunity to run the Crescent Connection Bridge Run as a BLOGGER!!!

Hold your applause, that's not the best part. 

Since I am running the race as an official blogger, I have the great privilege of getting you registered for the race at a discount. 

Yay me, yay you!

Here's the info. Register before May 10!! Contact me if you have any questions or need help. 

The race is just 4 miles and spans the beautiful Crescent City Connection bridge crossing the Mississippi River... at sunset to boot!

The CCC offers a really doable training plan for both joggers and walkers. And if you start today, you are only a few days behind. 

It's been a tough few months for me and this race could not be coming at a better time. I'm excited to hit the reset button, set some goals, and gear up for a great summer kickoff at the Bridge Run. WHO'S IN?!?!?!

No More Google Reader

If you peruse blogs you might have heard that come July, Google will no longer provide the Google Reader service. 

I didn't even know what Google Reader or any RSS reader was until about a year ago. When I realized that I could "follow" other blogs and they could all be compiled in my "reader" it was like a whole new world opened up to me.

Suddenly I didn't have to bookmark my favorite blogs in my browser or try to remember which ones I liked to read and search for them. They were all seamlessly compiled in my Google Reader where I could scroll through one by one. Google Reader told me which blogs had new posts so I could easily browse through the newest content on all my favorites. 

Going through my reader pretty much became my favorite way to procrastinate at work everyday. 

Kidding.

I was pretty disappointed to find out that there will no longer be Google Reader in July and I am still holding on to hope that they may change their minds, but in the meantime...

There are a couple alternative readers that I am trying to figure out in case Google doesn't read my blog and comply with my wishes. 

They are Bloglovin and Feedly. Here are some screen shots because this post would be boring without some pictures. 

If you have Google Reader, or are like I was not long ago and don't have any way to compile your favorite blogs, I would encourage you to try these.  

Just sign up, search for, and add all your favorite blogs (kind of like following friends on Twitter or Facebook). You can even import your Google Reader blogs into both of these services.

And if Yellow Brick Life happens to be one of the blogs you like, you can click on the tab at the top on my page that says "Bloglovin" or the one on the sidebar to follow there! 

I hope that didn't sound too in your face. I want you to like me but I would never try to tell you what to do. 

Anywho, happy reading! I'd better get back to work now...

Button Button Get Your Button

A new dawn has come to my corner of the blogoshphere and at the risk of sounding like I am tooting my own horn; I am going to tell you about it.

I have created a button.

All by myself.

For free.


I am no graphic artist nor do I have any knowledge of HTML gibberish. However; many YouTube videos and Google searches have proven that with the internet and a little grit, all things are possible.

I wanted a button for my blog and I wanted to make it myself. I toyed with the idea of buying some fancy Adobe program and YIKES... who knew they were so expensive? That statement alone testifies to my true cluelessness.

Then I discovered what I'm sure many bloggers discovered ages ago, Pixlr. And now I'm forever changed.

If you are not sure what a button is, you are in the exact same boat I was in 3 months ago. Yes, we can journey quite far in 3 months.

Don't feel bad, I will tell you. It is a little picture representing a website that when clicked, takes you to that site. (Kind of like when you click a photo on Pinterest.)

I have lots of them in my sidebar for sites I really like/visit often.

So now, if you are a blogger, you can feel free to grab my sacred little homemade code and plaster that baby anywhere you like.

It may not be fancy or dynamic. It may violate some laws of design that I have never heard of. And in all honesty, it may not even work. But it is my precious and I'm proud of it.






 Sidenote: If you are a blogger, how do you do your design? Do you DIY? What programs do you use? Do you want to be my mentor!? (JK... but not really.)


UPDATE: I couldn't leave well enough alone and revised it one more time. Here is the finished product!

Just Can't do it All

I really wanted to have a fantastic post for you today about one of my favorite things for Carolyn’s new linky party “My Favorite Things Thursdays” but it just didn’t happen. Hopefully I will be ready next week.

Right now I am kind of just keeping my head above water. I decided it would be alright for Andrew and I to totally max ourselves out by adding as much friend and family time as possible to packing and finishing up our jobs.

I still feel that way. I think traveling to five different towns over the next five days will be worth it to spend time with the ones we love before we move many states away, even if it leaves us exhausted. But what I also feel is that something’s gotta give and right now it’s blogging.

I can’t wait to announce the winner of the giveaway! I am blown away by your comments and so humbled and thankful that you take time from your busy lives to read my little words. I will still be announcing the winner tomorrow. However, I might be away for a few days so that I can be fully present with my flesh and blood people. I know you understand and I love you for that.

Take a sec and head over to Silly Happy Sweet to check out tons of product reviews/favorite things from around the blogosphere… it’s sure to please!

Bandwagons

I feel like I have jumped on a lot of bandwagons lately. I like to think that I am not afraid to do my own thing… but the truth is I love a good trend just like the next girl. Here are a few that I am DIGGING right this second.

1.Chevron.

I cannot get enough zig zags. Usually prints are NOT my thing. I tend to prefer solids and simplicity. But the Chevron trend has taken hold of me in my wardrobe AND home. I got this ahhhhmazing rug for NOLA for my bday and that bathing suit cover-up that I wear as a shirt (doing my own thing) from Target. I didn't realize I looked like such a dork when this picture was taken. Is there a fashion law about double-chevroning? It's meant to be broken.

2.The Hunger Games.

I won’t lie; I’ve been known to follow a reading craze. But seriously, I could not stop reading these books. I just finished Mockingjay last week and don’t know what to do with myself. Any suggestions for summer reading material that will be this riveting?

3.Blogging.

In case you didn’t know, I love the blog life. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. As much as I love writing posts, I love reading them even more. Here are some of my at-the-moment faves from around the web. Give them some love!

Maggie @ Gussy Sews 

Becca @ The Stanley Clan

Nicole @ Southern Plantation Living

Stasia @ Our Life on a Budget

Gini @ The Bramletts

Nester @ The Nesting Place

What bandwagons are you jumping on this summer!?

Bloggin Ain't Easy

OK guys. You might have seen that some of my pictures have mysteriously disappeared. I use a website called Photobucket to host all the images for the blog and undoubtedly, I do not completely understand how it works.

Yesterday I was categorizing the images in my Photobucket albums and apparently messed up the photos' links. So nothing is wrong with your browser or internet connection... it's all on me :)

I will try to get this fixed ASAP but I can't make any promises simply because I am figuring it out as I go and really don't know what I am doing. I can say at the least, I'll try not to let it happen again in the future!

Thanks for loving me anyway and here's to better blogging days ahead!

Update: I figured it out and fixed the pictures! Wahoo! I even learned to add pictures to the right side.                                                  SEE! -->