Pages

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Book Review: Blogophobia Conquered


Fear not, dear almost-blogger.

These are the soothing words of Laura Christianson in her worthwhile e-book, Blogophobia Conquered.

blogophobia-conquered-coverlr-5-11-09

I wouldn’t consider myself a blogophobe, really. More like over-confident and under-informed.

Laura’s book will serve you well if:
  •   you are trying to determine if you need a blog
  •   you have fears about your abilities to blog successfully 
  •   you just want to get started, and need a guiding hand to hold.
Or perhaps, like me, you launched a blog in typical I-don’t-need-to-read-the-instructions, I-can-figure-this-out-myself fashion. Now it’s time to go back and fill in the gaps left in the wake of your exuberance.

In her friendly tone—comparing blog hosting services to ready-made pie crusts—Laura provides practical encouragement rather than stuffy technical jargon.

Most helpful for me, she emphasizes the discipline of time management. (C’mon guys, am I the only one who struggles with this?) Scheduling, for a creative type, is a party-killer! After a few months of winging it, I concede that I must set clear goals and make a plan. Here are some of Laura’s suggestions:
  • Commit to a set time period (a year) to experiment with your blog and build your brand.
  • Decide how often you will post and set “reasonable, attainable goals.” She points out that burnout is your worst enemy.
  • Act like a real Editor! Make a schedule, calendaring the days and topics you will post.
Laura-ChristiansonMHhr-200x300

You can download the first chapter of Blogophobia Conquered for FREE, and there’s much more to check out over at Laura Christianson’s site, Blogging Bistro. If you seek a more confident and successful approach to social media, she may become your new best friend.

Monday, March 8, 2010

And The Gold METAL Goes To…

In the spirit of the Olympics and last night’s Oscars, let us honor some high stylin’ cabinet hardware that deserves a moment on a podium. Or, at least, a shining moment in the blogdom.

The Bronze Metal goes to 

         Avante Ironcraft Pull Avante Sq Knob

       One of my favorite decorative hardware collections is Ironcraft by Avante. I’ve seen these lend a tasteful rustic splash to a simple contemporary kitchen with stunning results.

 

The Silver goes to

   Alno Hickory Cup Pull Pol. Ant           Alno Polished Antique

Do you agree that these sweeties from Alno in Polished Antique would be exquisite on white painted cabinetry? Proof that decorative hardware truly is the jewelry your kitchen wears.

 

Roll out the red carpet . . . The Gold Metal goes to . . .

RMHdwr sink

RMHdwre Coffee Bean Tile

              RMHdwr Knob          

  RMHdwre 12 inch rail pull

OK. These pricey Rocky Mountain Hardware gems are out of reach for most of us. But we’re just window shopping here. And I’m only suggesting that we can find a way to tastefully gild a kitchen without resurrecting polished brass.

Rocky Mountain’s Silicon Bronze is an alloy of copper, silicon, and zinc. Even a little splash of the resulting coppery-gold patina would go a long way to bling-ify a room.

Kind of reminds me of Sandra Bullock last night looking as golden and statuesque as the Oscar statue itself!

sandra bullock oscars 2010 

NY Daily News

Yay or nay on Silicon Bronze for cabinet jewelry? Leave a comment or just thumbs up/thumbs down.

 
Clicky Web Analytics