You Know You've Been Blogging Too Long When...

You start thinking about hosting a linky party!

Yes, I am thinking (what am I thinking!) about starting one.  

I've even gone so far as to design some possible buttons for it.  

 or

Do you like one better than the other?  

I think I do, but now I want to add some things to it.

I've thought about what "my rules" would be...
 your link must be something you're excited about,
such as
home projects,
cooking,
gardening,
 things you've seen that you are drooling over, 
things you're dreaming about doing, 
somethings you're excited to be listing in your etsy shop,
etc.  
Just what you are feeling that buzzzzz about!  

Hmmm....anybody else notice that these are things I frequently blog about?

So, I'm asking you,
would you want to participate?

I have to pick a day and I'm thinking about Sunday as in "What are you buzzing about Sunday?"  

Am I crazy to even think about this?

Thanks again for buzzing along with me!  

I am always so delighted to see you have stopped by for a visit.

  
I am crazy, aren't I?

And........will you still come visit even if I don't start a linky???

Picnik and Google+

Today I joined Google+.

Why?  

Just for Picnik.  I'm going to miss you Picnik.

While I was there, I played around and made this image.

(Remember, I'm just playing....although I am having a current love affair with aqua and red.)

So, for those of who are going to miss (sob) Picnik, I've got good news.

The Google+ photo editing works JUST like Picnik.  

Same fonts, 

same effects, 

same easy to use format.

But, 

on the down side,

you have to join Google+

and

even worse

it's just not as cute and fun as Picnik.

::::::::EDITED ALERT:::::::

I just got a comment from Jenn over at PicMonkey and I think I'm in love.

(Shhh....don't tell Worker Bee....I'm not sure he'd understand.)

PicMonkey is from some of the same team that brought us that marvelous Picnik!

Go!  

Now! 

 Check it out!

What are you still doing here?

Okay, you can stick around long enough to leave me a comment, but then go straight to

PicMonkey!

Buzzingly,

Birthdays and Blogthdays!

GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!
THANK YOU FOR COMING BY ANYWAY!  
HOPE YOU STAY A BIT FOR A VISIT.

Yesterday was my birthday!  

And did you know that my first blog post was about my birthday two years ago?  So my blog and I share birthdays in the same month!

Well, in honor of my blog turning 2 and me turning
 _ _
(let's just say it's an even digit in the tens place and it's not 2 or 6 or 8) I am having a fun giveaway.

I'm making it easier on myself this time because I am the WORST about getting my giveaways in the mail. I even try to get Worker Bee to help and HE forgets to mail them too!  So, I'm giving away something simple to mail off......

Why what could that bee, dear Sweet Bee?  

Why GIFT CARDS!!!  Who doesn't love a gift card?  I know I love them.

There are two cards I'm giving away.  

The first one is $25 to Amazon.com to thank you for following along, leaving comments, or just buzzing by on occasion.  

The second card is for $10 to Starbucks!  That way you can take a friend out for coffee and pretend it's me.  Okay - that would be just too weird.  Just go have fun and enjoy your special treat!  Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back, you know.  

Well, there have to be rules for this kind of thing, so here they are:

1.  Leave a comment AND a way to get a hold of you on this blog post.

2.  For one extra chance, please put my giveaway button with a link back to me on your blog and leave a second comment.

3.   That's it.  Because it's my birthday I'm opening this up to the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD - or at least the part of the world that comes by and visits me here at Sweet Bee Cottage.

4.  Deadline for entering is Saturday, Oct. 8 at midnight PDT. (Just in time for Worker Bee's birthday!) I'll announce the winner on Oct. 9!

5.  Oh yes,  dreaded rule #5 - you DO NOT have to be a follower!  (But I will be flattered if you decide to come along.)

Thanks!  Just thank you!  

My life is richer because of you!

Giveaway Winner!

Thank you all so much for your sweet comments.  I never imagined that 500 people might want to occasionally buzz by my blog when I first started it and it is such a delight to see so many of you.  

Well, I used a random number generator and 

Number 15 is Amy from Bumble Bee Lane Cottage.  (And no, us bees don't stick together, it was totally random.)

Last time I did a giveaway I used Tara Frey's pretty little random number generator, but now I can't get on her blog.  Does anybody know what happened to her blog?  To her?  

Well congrats to Amy and thank you for all your visits.  And......I'll be having another giveaway in late September for my own 4_ birthday and my blog's 2nd birthday!

Thanks again for your visits and your comments.  School is starting soon and my mom is moving to her practically brand new little cottage in a couple of weeks, so if you don't see me much just know I'll be back and buzzing around before you know it.

With honey for you all,

Look What's New on Blogger? Favicons!

Have you ever wanted a favicon for you blog?  Not know what a favicon is?

Well, for those of you who aren't sure what I'm talking about, a favicon is the little logo that appears next to your blog name in the browser window.  If you look at mine, instead of the orange blogger logo, I now have a bee skep next to my blog address.

And, by the way, is it pronounced favicon with a long a or favicon with a short a as in cat?  Burning questions you know.

Want to know how I got it there?

I just stumbled upon this on the design page.  I noticed that there was a favicon box in the upper left above the nav bar.

See?

I couldn't stand it!  I wanted one!  I've wanted one, but I sure don't know enough HTML to make one for myself.  So I tried this.

1.  Choose an image - keep it simple because these are very tiny.

2.  Make sure the image is square.  Bogger won't accept it if it isn't.  My little bee skep wasn't quite square, so I uploaded it to picnik.com.  There are probably other sites you can do this one, but I'm partial to picnik since I love how they "pick blackberries" or "steal picnic baskets" as the site loads.  Appeals to my sense of whimsy.

3.  Upload your image and the first screen is the edit screen.  I clicked on resize and made sure to unclick "keep proportions".  I then made sure the numbers matched.  I had to play with these a bit so the proportions didn't get too off.  At first I had a very skinny bee skep - not nearly as cute as the one I have now.

4.  Once you're happy with your image, save it.  I called mine "Sweet Bee Favicon."

5.  Then click on the edit button for the favicon, upload your image, and then save!  That's it!  Really, the hardest part will probably be finding the right image to use.

Please fell free to ask me any questions if you give this little project a try.

Have fun with it!

Thanks for buzzing in today.  I'm always tickled to see you've popped in for a visit.

And, if you want, please enter my giveaway by clicking here and leaving a comment.

 

For those of you who love Cath Kidston, you can download desktop wallpaper for your computer by going here.  There are several to choose from.  I downloaded all of them, of course.

Sweet, isn't it?

Have You Seen the New Blogger Fonts?

I am a font lover!

I can spend hours just looking for the right font for some worksheet or test I'm producing for my classes,

SO,

imagine my complete and utter delight to learn that blogger is expanding

 - wwwwwwaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy expanding -

the number of fonts available.

I've already changed my fonts twice!

So how can you do this for yourself?

1.  Go to your dashboard
2.  Scroll down to the bottom and click on "blogger in draft."

3.  Now scroll to "design" and click on that.
4.  Next click on "template designer"
5.  Then on the left scroll to "advanced" and click.

6. Scroll down to "text font" and enjoy the plethora of options!  You can see it on your blog before you change it to see if you really like it and if it's easy to read.
7.  You can also change your blog title, sidebar, and post footer fonts too!

Oh boy!  Oh boy!  Oh boy!

Now go play around and see what you can do to make your blog even more your own!

I LOVE IT!

Thanks for buzzin' in!

 

Time for a Little Blog Redecorating

Had to make some changes to the decor around here.  I must confess I have not put away the 4th of July decorations, but it just felt like time to change the blog look.

Do you love to redecorate your blog?  I love to change things up every few months. 

Have you tried to make your own header?  

I use Piknic to resize an image and add text over the top.  

It's such an easy site to go play on.

I also just love Shabby Blogs backgrounds.  There's always something I find that I love.  

I love The Background Fairy too.  

Do you have a favorite free background site?  I know there are a lot of them out there.

Someday I would like to have a blog designer create a look for me, but I'm afraid that is just not in the budget right now.  

What are some of your favorite things you've added to your blog?

Have you tried the new blogger design template?  

I haven't yet, but I will.  I like some of the changes I've been seeing on a lot of blogs.  

Thanks for buzzin' in!  

I can't wait to see what some of you have done to freshen up your blogs or hear your suggestions!