Tag Archives: Blogging

Blog Disaster Planning on St. Valentine’s Day **Updated**

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There is the idiom; third time’s a charm, which pretty much found its way with me about my blog content. Let me explain. Not too long ago, I read a Twitter note from 1EarthUnited. Basically she was advocating the importance of backing up your blog content. My reaction was, “Okay, I should check into this in more detail and probably follow in Maddy’s footsteps. Back-up my blog content.”

Days turned into other days and nothing happened.

Suddenly, I see another Twitter note about the same subject, this time from Sofia Siberia. One should back-up their blog content. Well, I thought, perhaps I had better do this thing – back up my blog content.

Days turned into other days and nothing happened.

Guess what? Yesterday, the 13th, I happen to spot, When Blogs Disappear, by the famous blog dinosaur,Rarasaur .

Uh-huh, you are so right if you figured that it took a Maddy, next a Sofia, and finally, a Rarasaur, to prompt me into the third time’s a charm, idiom. I truly believe, if you experience something at least three times, in a close time frame, it is the sign to react to it or soon be kicking yourself in the butt for stupidity.

Believe me, I’ve done more self butt kicking in this lifetime so lesson learned.

I think it was a stupid block I had in my brain that made me think…back-up blog content=major ninja moves=too much time/effort=forget about it.

Well, if you have NOT backed up your blog content yet, and see the need for it, please research this important issue. I think all the time and effort we expend on each post is worthy of saving for future prosperity. Right?

In any case, I have implemented the following simple plan of action in case of an unexpected blog disappearance.

The Sun’s Back-Up Blog Content Plan:

(so far…still learning…work in progress…)

1. Go to your WordPress administration ->Tools->Export->follow the instructions>voila!….my blog content is now sitting safely (to some degree) in my computer files.

2. Subscribe to your own blog:  I already had this one set up eons ago when I subscribed to Google Reader. Once I had my reader in place, I just added my blog along all the other blog sites I subscribe over into my reader.

3. If nothing else, go to the pro for a detailed articles on blog disaster planning:

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What are your thoughts on blog disaster planning and what are some tips you follow to avoid the unexpected?

Please share…

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***UPDATE: Just letting you know, once you back-up (export) your blog content, you must create another mirror blog.  Here’s the quick run down from Maddy who experienced first hand the loss of a blog site.

From Maddy:

Hey guys! Take it from someone who’s gone through the whole process so pay attention! Sunshine, it’s a good start, BUT, your XML backup file is worthless in your computer if your real blog goes down.

Here’s why: when you export that XML backup file onto your computer, it’s just a database map of computer coded pointers that direct the transfer process. IT DOESN’T ACTUALLY CONTAIN YOUR BLOG POSTS, PICTURES, COMMENTS, NOTHING! All the data’s still on your original blog, so if that’s gone, say adios amigo.
Here’s what you have to do:


1. Log out of your current blog. 
2. Sign up for a new unrelated account, name it backup blog or whatever you like. (You need to have a new email address. WordPress will not accept your original blog email. If you do not have another email, you must create another one before attempting a new WordPress blog.)
3. Now go to the Tools Menu and Import the saved XML file
4. You’ll get a message that says, “Your transfer request is being processed, please allow 24 hours to completion”
5. Check back in 24 hrs to see if your blog is mirrored.

(Be sure to mark this PRIVATE since it will just be a mirror of your original blog.) Go to Settings->Reading->Site Visability->check “I would like my site PRIVATE” and SAVE.

Most importantly, be sure your backup blog is a separate brand new account, with different user name & login, otherwise once it’s locked, your dead in the water and there’s nothing you can do to retrieve it.

Thanks, Maddy!!

 and what is Valentine’s Day without a Johnny ♥…

~May you be blessed with abundant love and peace on this Valentine’s Day 2013 ♥

Simplicity

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What is simplicity and how do we find it?

It is common to hear or read about folks wanting more simplicity in their lives. Heck, even I would love to embrace the idea of simplicity in my life. However, are we talking simplicity as abandoning all creature-comfort for a life alone in some back wood cabin, chopping wood for fire and hauling water from some creek?

firewood

Or is this desire for simplicity something deeper…not a physical cabin get-away so much as simply letting go from fears found in a life filled with…“an empty abundance.”

“Our affluent society contains those of talent and insight who are driven to prefer poverty, to choose it, rather than submit to the desolation of an empty abundance.”
~Michael Harrington

abandoned car

When is too much……just too much? Maybe too much comes with abandoned cars or messy storage units once called a car garage…

messy garage

Maybe the drive to find simplicity comes when our “living” rooms turn into indoor dump sites with stuff we felt were needs, but in reality, became tomorrow’s garbage that we cannot seem to part with yet…

“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.”
~Vernon Howard

So, again, what is simplicity and is it easy to find without someone poking the fun out of you while winking and whispering, “Oh, living in the sticks, eh?”

dead branches

Perhaps simplicity can be found everywhere at anytime.

I am slowly learning about this thing called simplicity, starting with a ten-minute quiet moment every morning. Some call it meditation, but I see it as daily mindful sitting.

With eyes closed, body relaxed, I set the timer for ten minutes (although, Everyday Gurus suggests twelve minutes to maximize on the benefits) and begin to reflect inwards to focus with intention on myself. For example, a mindful sitting may look at how I perceive and process inconvenient life situations like staying calm while driving (heh)…areas I would like to see changes not only for a better me, but in the big picture, a better world–world peace, being one example.

This mindful sitting may seem trivial and maybe it is, however, I feel an overall calmness within myself since starting mindful sitting. To be honest, my mind tends to wander all over the place and I am working to stay focus and train my “wild child” mind.

In application to blogging, I got over the guilt that I needed to post something everyday. I had to be honest with myself and realize, my capabilities to process a quality post everyday and still perform my personal obligations was not, at this time, right for me.

As we go through our day, no matter how complicated or crazy our schedules become, one can go within to seek a quiet quality mindful sitting moment appreciating this thing called simplicity.

Why not look around and check:

Are there things I need to let go that hinder my practice of living life in blissful simplicity? Please share…

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“The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.”

~Steve Maraboli

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Curtain Call: Featured Blog…

To tie in this theme, simplicity, with the Feature Blog, In Blue: Make Believe Boutique came to mind. Blue describes herself  as “…surfacing bit by bit, in layers…” as a “…quiet and reflective artist…” 

I think you will find calm and spiritual peace as you walk with Blue’s unique writing reflections such as, the spontaneous healing of a tired soul.

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Inspiration today comes from Jakesprinter’s SUNDAY POST :Simplicity. Thank you!

A Love Affair Changed My Life

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Oh, COOL!  I love the updated My Blogs page with the WordPress New icon button. Did you see how a push on the Inspire icon leads to a…voila, a question just like this one:

What was the one experience that completely changed your life? What happened? How did it change your life?

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Are you kidding me?? You know the ONE experience that turned my life upside down and inside out as– blogging! Yah, it rocks your world too, huh?

For me, everything before WordPress was like the famous nursery rhyme so common long ago–hehehehe. (Hey, is this nursery rhyme still sung to young kids today?)

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a (dreary) dream. 

I guess having a dreary dreamy routine type of life is okay, to a certain point; however, at some crazy moment, you need to hop off the dream boat and wake up to something more, and I mean more than the…drag out of bed, go to work, come home, crash, and get up and do it all again…and again…and again…and…

STOP the dreary!

Anyway, for me, I think blogging can foster the brain into a deeper thought process. It definitely helps to exercise the creative side of ourselves and for some, a fun way to add self-help therapy into their lives. Blogging dropped the whole world in front of me as I sent out post after post after post. Online friendships soon began and now, my journey down the stream turned from dreary to simply, dreamy!

nature's water source

The (dreary) dream life sunk to the bottom of the stream and instead, a renewed love life floated back up…oh, I still have to drag myself out to make a living, but my brain feels very much in the beginning stages of a passionate love affair.

Is your day filled with thoughts about your blog and does it run a bit like mine…”What can I share with my readers today?” ”What photos should I use…is my grammar/spelling correct?”  ”How do I add this…when should I post…what tags to use”…and on, and on…!

One thing I do know, if this love affair should fade in time, I experienced a dream life…even if for a moment.

Now, that is something to smile about, eh?

Wait, before you go…

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Curtain Call: Featured Blog:

Confession time. Sometimes I am plain lazy. Take for instance when I visit a new blog, instead of leaving a comment, I simply read the post, press the Like icon and dash out quickly!

*my head hangs in shame*

Thankfully, some time ago, I decided to stop my lazy, despicable behavior and leave comments starting with the blog:  Pencil Pilot.  I thought nothing of it until Emma, from Pencil Pilot, returned to thank me for making her day better after reading my comment. Can you believe it? It was a memorable moment in my blog life.

Like most of us, Emma’s life runs with some smooth to turbulent moments and she finds writing “lesson the stress and sting” when confronted with these life upheavals.

By writing and creatively posting, however, is half of the process of releasing stress. The other half comes when readers decide to share some “love” and leave a comment behind. Pure bliss, my friends!

Basically, what I am telling you is, do not follow in my lazy footsteps and please, take a few minutes to add a bit of chit-chat in a blogger’s comment box…you never know who will find your thoughts exactly what they needed to get through their day.

Emma, recently decided to post more often, YAY,  and deals with fear here: 1984 Daily Prompt.

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My Love Affair Lesson:

Some love affairs imprint deeply into a person’s soul and even if circumstances draws the heart away in a season or two, the experiences gained will live on forever like a perfect life dream.

As Kozo from Everyday Gurus would say:

{{{HUGS}}}

 

Embrace Ephemeral Friendships

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Today, as I looked over the WordPress 2012 yearly report as compared to my 2011 report, I noticed an interesting change. It was not the increase in posts, views, or the countries most of my readers came from, since I posted pretty much everyday during the first half of 2012, but due to outside personal demands, decreased the frequency to at least three to four times a week.

No, the interesting change came from the top commentators section…then it hit me: Most of the names changed from last year! 

Of the five from 2011, three are actively blogging and we remain in touch as time permits. Another blogger seems to have gone into semi-blogging retirement and only one has remained my top commentator in both years. 

She is a top-notch, queen of blogging, none other than, Elizabeth– Mirth and Motivation!

This is what I think.

Friendships, whether it is long-term or just for a moment, is precious.

Every moment we spend together with a friend, whether in person, a phone conversation or sharing thoughts through blog commentaries is time given to us to be grateful.

Not every friendship is capable to last, unfortunately, just one of those glitches in the circle of life, and like the dayflowers that bloom for a day; some friendships are just those…ephemeral beauties.

Embrace beautiful ephemeral friendships in deep gratitude.

To everyone who has been kind enough to subscribe, visit and chat, thank you so much. You made my 2012 the happiest ever and I cannot think of better words to leave you with than Marcel Proust’s quote:

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our soul blossom.”

If you are curious to see my other four top commentators for 2012, you can read my gratitude post to them here:

Group Hug

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What interesting thing did you find over at your WordPress Yearly report?

But wait…

Curtain Call: Featured Blog

long road

“No road is long with good company.”

~Turkish Proverb

Good company is always great to have on your blog journey and Implicado, shares his world through his camera. You not only learn many things about his home country, Mexico, like death and life or Bullfighting, but he is all heart.

This is my favorite Cedric @ Implicado mantra:

 “All is well, everything is working out for my highest good, and out of this situation only good will come. I am safe” 

He says he does not like cats…only this kind of Jellicle Cat.  Haha…cheers to great company and to great blog friendships!