Monthly Archives: October 2008
Fun With Photos
I have discovered the fun of finding and using stock photos in my blog posts and on my web pages. For certain posts, or sites, finding just the right image can really set the tone or add to what you want to say, conveying the message with a visual.
One of my favorite places to look for stock photos is www.iStockPhoto.com. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I want to find a fun image for a blog post, or a set of images, like I used to set the “place” at Mom’s Online Retreat. The pictures aren’t free, and purchase price depends on the size of the image you want – but for my needs I can purchase 10 images for $14.
You can get a lot of uses out of one image though with a little photo editing. Here’s a good example, my latest, favorite image…
has already been turned into this…
I love this because I can get so many uses out of this one image – adding text for my Coordinator Challenges that will be starting at Mom’s Online Retreat, or maybe as a “Specials’ board to post on the front page to draw visitor’s to The Shoppes.
So, consider using images in your blog posts and websites. Gives the reader something more to look at than just ads, and can really aid in creating a nice visual for your visitor. What a way to spice up your pages. 
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Banking, Bills and Laundry
It must be Wednesday! Don’t even have to write it on the “to do” list anymore, just part of the weekly routine.
I’ve found if I can keep laundry down to 2 times a week I don’t feel as if I’m always doing it. So Wednesday’s and weekends is how I’ve conquered the Laundry-Monster! Guess I’m lucky our kids are small enough I can keep up with it this way. LOL!
As far as the banking and the bills…I have found I feel a lot better about paying bills after I’ve gotten home from the bank. Hubby’s banking gets done on the weekend, and mine (when I have it) on Wednesdays. So at least it feels like there’s always money going in to cover what’s definitely always going out!
Back at Mom’s Online Retreat
She’s my baby – my very first website. I go weeks at a time working on the site – updating everything, freshening it it up, but am so bad about actually staying up-to date! Mom’s Online Retreat still has so much room for growth! It’s evolved as I have online, and with my higher speed on the internet I’m finally finding the time to bring her back to life!
I had to take down the Scrapbook Shoppe as I am no longer with TLC, but have added a new Home Spa Shoppe (a desire of mine for awhile) and am featuring the handmade/homemade bath and body products created by a fellow Mom, and owner of The Scented Tub. For now, I’ve listed the HomeSpa Shoppe in my side navigation at Mom’s Online Retreat, and in the Retreat Shoppes Directory. The full line of products is available for purchase through my links to the store. Soon though I will have a HomeSpa Shoppe page that will feature some specials of my own, from Mom’s Online Retreat. I’ve got some specials in mind just in time for the holiday shopping season. Oh, wait that seems to have already started! LOL!
There are lots of ideas I have for building up The Shoppes at Mom’s Online Retreat – next will be the Holiday Shoppe, which I plan to keep open all year round, and to round them off will be the Greeting Card Shoppe. Posts for the near future.
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