How to move from Google Reader to BlogLovin

I was recently asked how to add the blogs you follow via Google Reader to BlogLovin because Google Reader will be closing it's doors on July 1, 2013. This is a big deal for those of us who read blogs almost exclusively through Google Reader. 

Last year, I put together a post on how to set up BlogLovin and transfer your subscriptions from Google Reader over but Google's changed their options a little bit. So here's an updated infographic for you. I've also edited that first post on How I Set Up BlogLovin too :) 

What will YOU use instead of Google Reader?

It's a Vacation - Unplug!

I am getting so excited for my trip to St. Maarten! Tonight I'm spending the night at Mary's house because we have to catch a bus really early tomorrow morning. The bonus is that it will feel like I'm extending my vacation an extra day!

Maybe we will get lucky & catch this bus again:

Is it totally lame that I want to bring my laptop (aka Big Mac, Mac Daddy, the Precious)? Yes, I fear it is. Would you like to hear the 'excuses' I'm telling myself for why I need to bring it?

• What if one of my lovely clients has a design problem, that can't wait till next Monday?
• What if I have a stroke of genius & need to type or Photoshop it? 
• But I can't just not answer my email.
• It will be useful, we can watch movies on it at night.

I think it's partly guilt over taking a vacation and partly separation anxiety. I should leave work & the laptop behind, right? If I really need the internet, I will have Paddy with me (yes, my iPad has a name too.) The funny thing, is this wasn't even a Question until I saw this video on Katelyn's blog today. Not a question, as in of course my laptop is coming.

Hi, my name is Katie and I might be addicted to my computer/the internets.

Do you have problems unplugging? or is it just me...

5 TV Series You Can Watch with Your Guy

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words on Thursday. Your comments really helped me get through the day & look at the bigger picture. You all are so wonderful.

Chris and I did a lot of sleeping, eating, and watching TV yesterday & Thursday. We started watching Game of Thrones and are halfway done with the first season. Let's do a little TV update, shall we? Here are 5 TV Series that you can watch with your guy & both enjoy.

1- Game of Thrones

When I heard people talking about Game of Thrones (IMDB link) I always envisioned it was set in space (why? isn't all science fiction set in space?) but actually, the story takes place back in the days of kings & knights & dragons. It is sci-fi, but it's also old school. Your guy will love you for watching it with him, and it really is interesting. If you liked the Tudors, you will like this.

2- Mad Men

I'm working on the second season right now. Mad Men is another series that I had the wrong idea about. My first thought was it was about comic book heroes. Ya guys, I really pay attention. Actually, it's about the men and women who work at an ad agency in NY during the early 60's. It's full of glamour, drama, and will make you shake your head at how different things were back then. Chris wasn't interested in this one, but it's definitely geared at both men & women.

3- House

Yes, we watch House religiously! It's been more & more fun as Chris can play doctor alongside Chase & Taub. Recently, the drama has overtaken the medicine a little bit, but it's still top notch in my book. If you have never watched House, give it a shot. p.s. It's never sarcoidosis!

4- Dexter

We finished up Dexter a few weeks ago, and can't wait for season 7. I was really skeptical that a show about a serial killer who kills serial killers would interest me. I'm not a fan of blood & guts or scary movies. Dexter though, is just so love-able.

5- Weeds

Weeds is one of our very favorite series, especially the first few seasons. Nancy Botwin is a suburban housewife whose life spirals out of control after she starts selling pot to help make ends meet. This show is hilarious & fun & overall awesome. Season 8 starts July 1 so you have time to catch up!

Bonus for the Ladies- Downton Abbey

I recently finished up Downton Abbey and want more! This series by PBS is set in the early 1900's around the first World War. It chronicles the lives of both the servants and the Lords & Ladies of Downton Abbey. For those of you who have seen it, check out this spoof, Downton Arby's.

Do you watch any of these? Have any other recommendations?

How I set up Blog Lovin'

Did you guys know that I read blogs via RSS? Yes, I'm one of those. Until recently, I exclusively read my blogs using a cool little mac program called Reeder, which syncs with Google Reader. But I started getting frustrated at the inability to pin the cool things I found without re-opening the blog in my browser, and also how frustrating commenting could be. In steps Bloglovin'.

A few weeks ago Emmy June did a Review of Bloglovin' and I couldn't help but wonder if I might like it better. Go read her post, it explains why Bloglovin' is awesome & also the basics of how to set it up. I love the little navbar on the bottom, that lets you click "next" and move on to the next blog.

My main concern was how I would get all of my blogs from Google Reader into Bloglovin' because there are well over a hundred blogs that I follow. But, I found a solution for that. I know what you are thinking,

If you have a gmail account and follow blogs via Google Friend Connect // Google Followers then you already have a Google Reader list set up of all the blogs you follow! Google owns Blogger & is smart like that. They automatically import your Google Followers into your Reader, even if you have never set it up!

I bet you've already put two and two together! Instead of having to add all your blogs one by one, you can export your blogs from Google Reader & import them into Blog Lovin'. Problem solved!

And because I'm hip like that, I made y'all an infographic to walk you through how to add the blogs you follow via Google Friend Connect // Google Followers to BlogLovin'. Give it a shot, and if you have any questions, let me know!

NOTE: INFOGRAPHIC UPDATED MARCH 2013

GOOGLE READER SHUTS DOWN JULY 1, 2013

Blogger Pet Peeves

I've had Priceless Adventure for nearly two years now. {Read my first post!} In that time, I've transitioned from a purely personal blogger to branching out into the blogging community. Over the last few months I've been putting my heart & soul into blogging and interacting with other bloggers. In that time, I've come across a few things that just irk me. Let me share.

• Comment Moderation

Turn it off! You will not get spammed, promise! Nothing is worse than going to leave a comment and then having to guess at the word verification. Be kind to those of us who might be reading on our iPad or phone. Leaving a comment from my iPad is nearly impossible if comment moderation is turned on. At this point, if I don't get it the first try, I just don't comment. You don't want that! Turn the darn thing off.

Here is how (you didn't think I'd leave you hanging, did you?)

It doesn't matter if the word verification is on, so long as Comment Moderations is set at "Never." Please, for the love of the blogging community, turn the comment moderation off!

• Sponsor Integrity

I love sponsor swapping with like minded bloggers. I have met a few great people that way. My pet peeve is when someone asks you to swap but doesn't read your blog, or offers a teeny tiny spot in exchange for your large space, or says they are putting up your button, but never do. Have some integrity!

Please read (& enjoy) my blog if you are going to swap with me. I read every blog on my sponsor list, and I comment regularly because I'm genuinely interested in what you have to say and think others might like your blog too.

*p.s. I tidied up my sponsor section today, if you'd like to be considered for the rest of April please send me an email. For the sake of my own integrity, I'm only going to share buttons of like minded bloggers who are active followers of my blog. {check out Kate's awesome post on this topic!}

• Daily Link Ups

There is nothing wrong with a weekly feature or two, but when everyday is a link up it gets old quickly. Sunday Confessions, Wordless Wednesday, Thursday Thirteen, Friday Fancies.. The thing I love most about reading blogs is getting to know other people. It's sort of like reality TV. When I read the same things over and over, it bums me out. Be original! Tell me a story about your day or week. That's the reason I read, not to see some fantasy outfit that neither of us can afford.

• Display Fonts

Please, make the main text of your blog a readable, clear, reasonably large font. {do I need to say neutral color? or is it obvious?} No one wants to read your blog if it is written in a hot pink cursive font at size 10 (or 16 for that matter). There is a reason Verdana, Arial, and Georgia exist: they are readable. Please, have all the fun you want with your header & sidebar titles. Even your block quotes. But make your blog text plain & readable!

Commenting System with Disqus

I owe you all an apology. For months now, I have been reading all your wonderful comments that come into my email box & then replying through that email's thread. It never occurred to me that those replies were not emailed to you but rather only posted on my site (thanks Disqus). I always appreciate it when I get emailed comment replies, and I couldn't figure out why no one ever kept the conversation going.

Well, Emmy June helped me figure it out. With Disqus, even though I reply by email, the comment goes straight to my blog. So for everyone who thought I was just ignoring their comment, it's not true! I doubt you want to go back & read them now, but they are there. Hundreds of replies that probably never saw the light of day.

This changes today. Anyone who enters their email with their comments is going to get an emailed reply (if the comment warrants it). But really, if you don't have an account at Disqus, why not spend 2 minutes right now & make one? They don't spam you & you can upload a pretty picture of yourself.

What commenting system do you use? Do you like it?

Manic Monday

Well, it's just another manic monday here in Dominica. Chris is off taking his mid-term, which means I got up super early & am on my second cup of coffee already.

The good news is that he will have the rest of the day off and be able to go out tonight! Usually we go to The Tomato for dinner & drinks. The food is way overpriced but it's about as close to an American restaurant as they come here. And they serve real-ish margaritas.. so that's a bonus.

What did I do this weekend?

  ➵  finished up a new blog design for Tess at Human Sparkler. This blog was SO much fun to do!

  ➵ joined in on the #blogbrunch twitter party. I never really "got" twitter until recently. Liking it just sort of crept up on me, and now I check it daily. Well, maybe more like 3 times daily!

  ➵  got hooked on Downton Abbey..  the first season is only 7 episodes, so I'm more than halfway done already. Do it!

  ➵   Thank you to Colette from Caffeinated Conversations for giving me a Sunshine Award! I just started following her recently & am loving her writing style.

  ➵ spent some time away from the computer, reading a book & doing my toes. I really miss pedicures. Have you ever seen Anjelah Johnson's Nail Salon comedy sketch? yeah, miss that too.

 ➵ had some pool time with the girls, Skyped with my mom, and just (sort of) relaxed.

Now it's time to get back to work. I've got 2 new blogs to start on, Leah and Amanda, and several other island adventures coming up this week. I LOVE working from home!

The Liebster Award

Remember Emmy June from yesterday? She's a world-traveling and fun-loving gal from Australia. If you perused her blog, you might have noticed that she awarded me the Liebster Award last week!

I was really excited and touched to be given my first award. I've been reading blogs for over a year now, and have seen various people get awards somewhat enviously. So thank you Emmy June for sharing the love, I appreciate it.

Liebster is a German word which means “dearest” or “beloved.” It can also mean favorite. The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to upcoming bloggers (with fewer than 200 followers) in order to create new connections and bring attention to wonderful growing blogs.

Part of the fun of getting the Liebster Award is that you get to pass it on to 5 other up-and-coming bloggers! I have been following these 5 bloggers for some time now, and they each bring something unique and special to the blogging community.

Kelsey @ Rising and Shining

{for her honest & positive spirit} 

Bridey @ Life of Bridey

{for beautiful photos & generous sharing} 

Torie @ Lattes and Love

{for her excellent writing style} 

Nikki @ Life of Ikkins 

{for encouraging posts from her journey}

Abby @ A Dab of Abby

{for openness about her dreams} 

If you have been awarded the coveted Liebster award, here’s what’s next:
☞ choose five up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award
☞ show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
☞ hope the 5 you nominate will keep the cycle going to spread good blogging karma!

Emmy June {born in May}

☝ visit Emmy's blog!

Have you guys been to Emmy June's blog yet? I have a soft spot for her, because she is living internationally right now in Sydney, Australia. International bloggers need love too, we get to listen to all these fun stories of bloggers attending AltSummit and BlogHer, but never have the chance to go ourselves. I guess the flipside is that bloggers in America have to listen to the internationals talk about their fabulous travels. Eh, I guess it's even.

Speaking of fabulous travels, Emmy is doing a fabulous series called Tuesday Travel Diaries where she asks people to write a bit about their recent trips. She asked if I would do one about Dominica, even though it has been my home for about a year and a half now. How could I say no?

☝ read my guest post

Blog Party!

I've been having a lot of fun learning more about blog design this week.  Clare and I worked together to create a fabulous new header for her blog C Squared.

It's especially fitting that she came up with the byline "mustaches & other musings" on the same day she posted a picture of her husband sporting a new flavor saver. 

Heidi and I have also been working on her blog, which I'll be sure to share once it's finished.  In the meantime, take a few minutes and explore my new Priceless Adventure design!  It is still a work in progress, but I'm happy with the changes so far.  Let me know if links aren't working for you, or if there's any problems on your end. 

too funny

Does anyone else read The Bloggess?  If you don't, then you are missing out.  Case in point, this blog post that had me laughing so hard I cried And that's why you should learn to pick your battles.

Then today, the sequel Knock-Knock, motherf-er. Giant metal chickens revisited.

Just go read them.

For me.

Happy Domain Day!

Beginning today, you can now visit www.pricelessadventure.com to view my blog!  I am so excited to have a real domain for my priceless adventure.  You can still reach my blog by using blogspot.com.  Please let me know if you are having any trouble with my links.

I promise more blog posts soon.  My master's classes have been kicking my butt this semester for several reasons.  This is a shorter term and I'm also waist-deep in building my global learning project's website.  I've been spending a good 6 to 8 hours every day building my website, making graphics, or writing content for one class.  Not to mention I'm also taking a philosophy of education class at the same time. 

*le sigh

Back on the Rock

I'm back in good ole Dominica after just barely catching my flight from LAX as I sat at the gate listed on my ticket, not the actual gate the flight was leaving from.  When I was a kid, flying was so exciting.  As an adult, it's tolerable at best mostly due to red-eyes, screaming children, and overly crowded airports.

Homework is calling my name, but I thought I'd share this hilarious blog post from Brandi.  Everything she says is right on the money. 

Brandi and me at Pagua

Real Life

Please don't read my blog and think my life is perfect.  It is far from it.  Sometimes I read other people's blogs and think: I'll never have it together like she does.  A blog is like good makeup.  We enhance what we like, and hide what we don't.

Today though, I'm washing my face and showing you what's underneath.  Stress.  As of today, our tenants have paid neither rent nor utilities since January.  You wouldn't believe how hard it is to actually evict a tenant from your home in CA.  Even if they haven't paid you a dime in 4 months!

There is a multi-step eviction process, and we are on round 2 waiting for a judge to give us permission to have the sheriffs forcibly remove the tenants and their belongings from our home.  Did you know that if you turn off their utilities or change the locks, the tenants can sue you?

In real life, I'm an anxious mess about what is going to happen.  I've been worried every day for the last 3 months about what is going to happen when our savings runs dry, and now we are there.

On top of which, we now owe the IRS 5k in taxes from last year.  Because we are no longer living in our home, we have to pay back the housing credit we took when buying the home.  We didn't realize when we took it that if you don't live in the home for 3 years you have to pay it back in full, immediately. 

So today, I'd like to send out a big "SCREW YOU!" to our tenants and the IRS. Better watch out for the Karma Police.

Camtasia (like Fangtasia.. only better)

For my EdTech program, we had to download a free trial of Camtasia and learn how to use it to create a screencast project.  Using Camtasia was easier than I expected and also a lot more fun!  At it's most simple level, the program lets you video tape what is happening on your computer's screen while also including any talking you do while recording.  The program seemed quite intuitive, and somewhat mirrored the setup of Apple's iMovie.  Before beginning my project, I visited TechSmith's Learning Center and watched the Getting Started tutorials.  From there, recording and creating my own screencast was fairly straightforward.  I can see the potential for using Camtasia as a classroom tool for creating demonstrations and project instructions for my students or as a fun way to show how to do things on my blog!

So, here is my screencast on how to create a favicon and upload it to Google Sites.  This video is best viewed in fullscreen mode.  

For anyone would like to add a favicon to your personal website or blog, after you import your image you would choose "Publish under an open license" and create a free account with favicon.cc.  Once logged in, you would select your created favicon and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page to add the html script to your website or blog.  

RSS

The truth is, I've been entirely too busy reading blogs to post in my own.  There is this thing called RSS: Really Simple Syndicate.  I've always wondered what that funny symbol was, but never cared enough to find out.  It turns out that when you click the RSS button, it's kinda of like subscribing to that blog.  Then if you go to Google Reader (which if you have gmail, you already have) all your "subscriptions" are there waiting for you.  And if you use Blogspot already, all the blogs that you "follow" on Blogspot are already set up, ready to go!  So then, instead of going to check 15 different people's blogs everyday all I have to do is go to G-Reader and voila!  All the updates are there waiting for me.  What an awesome system, and a time saver!

Google Reader

More Info
Google Reader is called an aggregator which basically means a sorter for the RSS feeds.  You can also download aggregators like NetNewsWire which works on your computer, iPhone, or iPad or try a browser-based one like Bloglines or Feedlooks. 

NetNewsWire

There are things I like about G-Reader and NetNewsWire.  At first both were a little overwhelming, but once you catch up on reading what you've missed it's rather easy to stay on top of it all.  I like that I can categorize things with both programs, and I like that you can save an article to read later, or tag it in case you want to find it again.  You can also easily switch between just looking through one blog at a time to reading updates from all the blogs you follow at once.  If you are a blogger like me, you should definitely try it out!

Font-a-licious!

My absolute favorite place to get free fonts is kevinandamanda.com.  They have incredible handwriting fonts and scrapbooking fonts.  She will even make your handwriting into a font, for free!  Installing fonts is super easy, and something you shouldn't be afraid of.  Here are some directions.  My next step is going to be change the fonts for my blog titles, which Amanda gives instructions for here.  And last but not least, here are some of the fonts I downloaded today. 

   

Go Get Em!

Priceless Reads

I spent most of this afternoon reviewing the last 8 books that I've read.  In my other blog, Priceless Reads, I've been keeping a review list/ account of the books I read.  I started it last year when I learned about Advanced Readers Copies and how publishing companies are always looking for book reviewers to promote their books.  Since we've moved to Dominica I haven't been able to participate, but last year I received 2 different books as ARC's.  What happens is you promise to review their book (in any light) and post it to 2 different online sites like Amazon or Barnes and Noble and they give you the book for free!  The site I've been doing it through, LibraryThing,  uses an honor and check system.. they send you the book and then you send them the links when you are done.  You have several months to do it, but can't receive another book until the review links are verified.  Want to check out my other site?

I have the last 3 books here on the island if anyone is interested in borrowing one before I get around to doing a Book-Swapping Night.  Mennonite in a Little Black Dress seriously made my week last week!

Design

My latest blog creation!  Stinking cute, right?