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If you view websites and blogs on a mobile device like your phone, ipod, blackberry or whatever, you may know that sometimes it’s rather difficult to view your favorite places on your device. I know how frustrating it can be myself as I often view my favorites on my iPod when I’m away from my computer.

So, to that end, I have recently added an option on this site that will automatically detect where you’re browsing from, and will then display a mobile-friendly version of this site if you’re in fact on a mobile device!

You also have the option of switching to the regular version from your mobile if you wish AND you can even check out the mobile version on your regular computer – just select that option at the very bottom of the page. (Scroll all the way down and take a look if you’re viewing this on the web. It’s at the very bottom on the left side. Then click it again to switch back when you’re ready.)

Pretty cool!

If you have a website you want to add this option to, simply install the WordPress Mobile Pack and, if you want, a mobile-ready theme (like Carrington Mobile). Or simply use one of the one of the basic themes that come with the plugin.

The other cool thing about the plugin is – if you install it on your blog and YOU have a mobile device, it even makes the admin area a mobile version for you! How cool is that? You can moderate comments, publish new posts, adjust your settings and much more.

With mobile devices getting better and more common all the time – especially with Apple’s newest gadget, the iPad – it really is important to offer these options to your visitors and potential visitors who might find your site via a search or something. Just think about how many people can’t read your blog otherwise. Installing something like this is a smart move. And of course, you can always uninstall it if you end up not liking it.

So far, I like the plugin and I think it’s worth it to use it. You never know when someone is reading your blog via a small screen. And really, isn’t that what blogging is all about – your readers?

Do you use the WP Mobile Pack or something similar? Tell us why or why not in the comments.

Be blessed,

Here it is, already summer and I’ve been sorely lacking in the writing department. It’s not that I don’t have anything to say – there are many stories to tell – it’s more like I’ve been so busy with other things that by the time I think of writing something to post here, the clock is telling me it’s time for bed!

And I’ve even had to put my computer on an automatic shut off time or I’ll sit here until the wee hours of the morning trying to accomplish all of it.

So, the writing seems to never get done lately.

But I’m changing that today.

But first, let me tell you the other half of the problem -

I upgraded this blog to WordPress 2.8 a few weeks ago and things just aren’t working properly on the admin side. The admin dashboard panel is all out of whack and half the tools aren’t working at all, like the drop down menus and what-not. It’s not really affecting anything out here on the actual blog itself, thank goodness. But it’s really annoying to navigate around behind the scenes.

Since I still cannot figure out what is wrong, I’m just going to leave it as is for now and hope that I can upgrade to the next release when it comes out and maybe that will solve this issue. Or something.

So anyway . . .

It’s officially summer. The kids have now been out of school for 9 days and we’re settling into a summer rhythm. The weather, however, is not fully cooperating this week. It has been overcast, cloudy and a little rainy at times. We’re hoping summer is in full bloom by next week.

Speaking of next week . . . I am completely amazed that next Saturday is the 4th of July! Where did the time go? It’s mind-boggling! I can hardly believe it. And if I hadn’t just looked at the calendar, I probably wouldn’t.

I’ve got a ton of pictures and artwork to upload and hopefully I can do that next week when things slow down a bit. There’s pictures from the end of school activities, some hot weather activities and some from my husband’s sister’s visit a few weeks ago.

(That was great fun, by the way! We enjoyed meeting her girlfriend and her gorgeous standard Poodle. I’ll write about that soon.)

The pictures my husband took at the Classic Car Show last weekend didn’t turn out well, though. He’s going to be bummed about that. It was only 2nd time he’s used my camera and he just doesn’t know enough about the settings to get good shots. He’s used to a good ol’ point and shoot type camera.

The good news is that there’s another car show in a few weeks so hopefully we’ll get some good ones then. Maybe I will be in charge of the camera for that one. . .

Now it’s time to think about fixing dinner, though.

One last thing before I go . . .

I just posted a new “Gallery” page in the navigation above. There are a few of my recent designs posted and I will be uploading more soon. Feel free to check it out. And if you need a designer for logos, website/blog headers, 125×125 ad spots, or whatever, let me know. I’d be happy to work with you.

Speak soon!

In the arena,

Want to work with an award-winning writer? Now is your chance! Hurry and book for the 2nd half of 2009 before the calendar is full. I still have some space available. Check out the Hire Me tab above for info on how to contact me and your reserve your spot now.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

A couple days ago when I updated my theme, it knocked out some of my widgets and I could no longer use them. I couldn’t figure out how to get them back. Nothing I did worked. They were just lost.

Fortunately, it wasn’t forever. Because . . .

I began searching and came across a plugin by Justin Tadlock (who is an awesome WordPress theme developer, by the way!). His rockin’ plugin – Widget Reset – worked like a charm and I now have all my widgets back.

Thanks, Justin!

Earlier today I tried installing a plugin on this blog and not only did it crash this blog, it crashed all of my sites on my hosts server along with the sites of those who share my server!

Sorry, y’all. It was an accident.

But I fixed it! Thankfully, I was able to go in via my FTP program and delete the offending plugin. That righted the whole system in minutes. Boy, was I ever glad for that. All in all, the server was only down for about 15-20 minutes.

Usually if a plugin has a problem, WordPress simply deactivates it but for some reason, it didn’t do that this time. In fact, it’s really kinda weird. The plugin didn’t cause any problems until I updated the settings.

And while all of this was happening, guess where my 4 year old was?

In the bathroom. With the faucet running.

Yeah, it looked like the Great Flood. I thought Noah was going to show up any minute.

Glad that’s over as well.

Would it be ok if Monday was over already too? Maybe I should just go take a nap . . .

In the arena . . . or possibly hiding under the covers,

Did you know I design blog headers and ebook cover graphics, too? Yes, I do. And you can get one now for the introductory price of $55 for a limited time. Just send a payment of $55 to me via PayPal along with a description of what you want. You’ll have a design within 48 hours.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Before I show you my new theme preview, let me say that yesterday’s post about being picky was *supposed* to be about not finding a new theme for this blog that totally fits my vision. I had intended to talk about being picky about my site design. Well, that didn’t happen. LOL

Anyway, although there are many themes I truly do like and wish I could use them all, there just isn’t one (that I’ve found, yet) that follows exactly what I see this blog as being. So, I thought since I’m a graphic designer – but not a web designer, technically – I would try to create my own. And I’m happy to say that coding with WordPress (the platform this blog uses) is fairly straight forward. Although, if any of you pro’s out there have any tips for me, I’m all ears!

The weekend was largely spent learning the basics of coding a theme with WordPress and yesterday I threw together the graphics vision. It’s not entirely finished yet and I don’t plan on having it live until next week at the earliest but I thought I’d give you a preview. I would greatly appreciate any feedback you have for me.

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Please tell me what you think and again, if you know a thing or two about creating a WP theme from scratch, please do share any tips you have.

Have a great day!

In the arena,

(The gallery seems to be having a few issues. If you can’t see the image in the box above, click the middle of the box and it will open the image in a new window.)

By the way – if this is your first time here, or you haven’t done so yet, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can use any feed reader you wish.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

It’s time for a new theme here at AA|Blog but I’m not sure what I really want. I have *some* idea – 2 or 3 column, widget compatible, custom header image capable and preferably free – although I am considering a premium theme.

So far, I really like Fresh News, WP Remix and a couple of others. On the one hand, I’d like something “newsy” or magazine feeling but on the other – I’d rather have full articles on the front and not have truncated posts like many of the magazine or news style themes have. I like being able to read the whole post without having to click to another page to finish it.

I also want to be sure the theme doesn’t truncate (or cut off) the RSS feed. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves as an RSS reader – having to click to the website to finish reading something. Trust me – if I want to post a comment or something, I *will* click through. Just don’t expect me to click to finish reading. It’s not only cumbersome, it’s time consuming and when I have a bajillion tabs already open, it’s just not fun. Let me read the whole post in my RSS reader or I’m likely to unsubscribe.

It’s about value.

Oh, but anyway . . . I was talking about a new theme, wasn’t I? LOL . . . it’s been a long day. Can you tell?!

Yeah, I think a new theme is what I’d really like. I do like this one, though but it’s kinda limited in what I really want to do with the site and some of the newer premium themes have some great options.

All of that to say – do you have a favorite theme? Would you purchase (or have you) a premium theme? How much are you willing to spend on such a theme?

Please tell me your thoughts.

In the arena,

By the way – if this is your first time here, or you haven’t done so yet, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can use any feed reader you wish.

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.

Just wanted to let you all know I’m doing updates in the background (upgrading to WordPress 2.6 and such) so if you notice anything that’s broken, missing or otherwise not working properly here, please let me know. Either leave a comment on this post so I’ll see or you can send me an email. (There is a link to my contact info on the About page.)

I’ll be back later with some new posts and thoughts both here and at The Weight Loss Papers (which I have been neglecting lately, sorry).

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.