Blog Template & Header Change

Since the powerful and convenience of Social Network, we hardly update our blog nowadays, yes this including myself, all the times already allocate to Social Network, as sharing status and photos are much more faster and easier there, and the reader gets your update is almost the same like reading blog. I still have a passion to keep up my blog, I don't want to abundant my effort of starting this blog since Sept, 2004.

The idea of having a very nice blog template and blog header is what I always want. But my skill is so limited in design it myself. Thus, stick back to what Blogger offers is easy, simple and nice (no head cracking moments).

What you are reading now is Ethereal template get from Blogger Template Designer, Background Image selected from the Abstract image and finally the new and fresh Header Image I just added in, it does match my taste and feel for the template, real so in love the vintage look now. (The header image credits goes to VintageMadeForYou)

After the header image added in, I found that the original Blog Title appeared to be too high up on the left top corner (the red box), just like this show here -

It looks not so right, so I went figure out how to move the Title alignment to the center of the header image. I begin to check on the template html code on header part.

After added some codes like in the text-align center, it does not took any effect too. Back to the root, I went to check on Blogger Support side to seek Help. Finally I figure out how to do, there is nothing to do with the template code, just do this - go to Template > Customize > Advanced > Add CSS
- by adding in custom CSS code like below to Center the image and title.

#header-inner {background-position: center !important; width: 100% !important;}

#header-inner {text-align: center ;}

.titlewrapper {padding-top: 90px  !important;}

After added in the above codes, you need adjust the height by changing the padding top alignment px. Here I used 90. Save and there goes my header with title are all in place now.

Meeting with beauties

After so long of saying "want to meet, want to meet", finally the meet up plan turn on last Sunday (11/4). At first she planned to make it on last Saturday at Sunway Pyramid, but she forgetten her chauffeur hubs got something on. So, we changed it to Sunday at IOI Mall. I went to meet them tagging along my naughty boy and together with my good friend and Yan Yan.

So, who were we meeting .........


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The ever funny, friendly and chatty Irene and her family.
We met at Breeks Cafe for lunch. We couldn't really chat much and so do the kids not play with each other too as Krystal was not feeling well and she was crying for comfort throughout the lunch time.

We ordered their RM19.90+ value set meal.

(Click to enlarge)
I had Cajun Chicken Chop while the rest having spaghetti. Heard that it was nice. We are happy for able to meet up with another blog friend of us although it was a quick one. Totally forgot about snapping, understand that Irene is a bit uneasy over her lil missy tantrum, anyway is ok Irene, be a patient mummy ya? we sure can make it again when Krys in good.

Thank you very much Aunty Irene for the Ronald plush to Terry. He has been hugging it like his "bao bei"..no one can grab it away.

Mummy Blogger & Kids Christmas Gathering

It was another wonderful round of Blogger Mum gathering which I'm looking forward happened on 17th Dec (Thurs). We have it at Mid Valley Megamall with Mummy Moon, Mummy Gwen and Cynthia and not left out together with the bunch of happy kids to meet up in this jolly season.


While waiting
First, we have lunch at Kenny Rogers before we proceed for other programs. Notice we always ate Kenny Rogers ya? Reason being the place is comfy and the food is suitable for the kiddo too with varieties. Terry was no shy at all being the first time having a small baby princess in the gathering. He was also the 'thorn among the roses' that day *wink*

There is a photo session with Santa at 12.30pm, we brought the kids for it right after the lunch. It was for charity, RM10 per shoot with the photo, a helium balloon and gift from Santa.

Last year, the boy was not very ok with the shoot. This time round, with Gwen, Yan Yan and Breanna along and I did told him before hand about this shoot, I thought he was more ok to join by seeing others doing it.

Yan Yan and Gwen put on the cloak for shooting, very cute!
Not that I know, he got so horrible fraid of the Santa. Once we step on the stage to get ready for it, he gave a loud scream and kept pulling my hand to walk away. I think the Santa must have remember him by now, there is no way to comfort and coaxing him to go for it with me. So there when we walk away from it, he was alright again.


There go, he is more comfortable with his little friends. Later we went over the Boulevard Hotel to give more rooms for the kids to do gift exchange.

Christmas tree at Boulevard Hotel
Can't wait for the gift exchange


Gwen always ready with her signature pose
They also have the fun time to run around and play with the balloons.



The kiddos continue to have some rides and games fun at Jusco amusement park. We called it a day after the collection of photo with Santa earlier on and we bid good-bye as it was the time for the kids to rest too.


Terry can't wait to unwrap all the pressie once we got back home. He loves all the gift very much. Many thanks to all mummies for taking time to join this gathering and sending the thoughful gifts. Thanks Cynthia for the delicious yogurt banana cake too (the cake is so tempting till I gobble it down without a snap...silly me =.= )

It was definitely a happy and fun day to everyone of us and we were not shy to each other as like we have known for so long time ago. Hope to catch up with all of you soon with others mummy and kids.


Related post: -
Christmas Gathering @ Mid Valley
Christmas Gathering on 17/12/2009
Christmas Gathering with Mummy Bloggers

Blogger Mum & Kids Meet

Backdated @ 26/10/09 (Monday)

This is another overdue post to share, hope my readers still be on track with me :P


Scrapbook Quick Page designed by KathrynMhire
It was our 2nd time having a meet up with blogger's friends. This round with Mummy Gwen and also Mummy Moon, apparently was my good friend since secondary school cum mummy blogger now. Since we known the same group of blogger mum, we wish to meet them up personally.

We late to for the meet up due to Yan Yan not feeling well on the way. She had a bad cough and thrown up in the car. We met at IOI Mall and had our lunch at Kenny Rogers. It was a real quick meet up for all of us, as seeing Yan getting more and more uncomfortable throughout the eating time, we not really got chance to chat and stayed on longer. Thanks Mummy Moon for the lovely meet-up gift.

Gwen is such a sweetie-pie and not shy to all the new faces she first met. She is a bubbly girl too through the way she talks and smiles. So do her mummy, a pretty and soft spoken mum. We will organise a Christmas meet up pretty soon and hope it is a fun one for all of us.

Related post:-
Bloggers Meet Up
Poor Yan Yan

Paid from Nuffnang Ad

I never think of earning big by placing ad. My Google Adsense was just reaching USD10 not long ago since placing it more than 2 years ago. So poor, nobody wants to click. I do feel the same hopefuless when I first placed Nuffnang ad since May 2007. Cause people normally don't read ad. It is just the same when the media ad is show on TV you will take the time to go toilet or drink water.

For Nuffnang, it did work but slow. The accumulation of few cents by few cents grows kinda fast. I'm not sure whether got people really go and click and read the ad, but sometime when I saw something interesting I'll click on and check it out (*Pls note, I'm not clicking 99% by myself to earn the CPC). My last login the earning is just half way more to go for the first payout.

Today I login again, I saw the amount RM 51.27. It is eligible for the first cheque, I just try to blink my eye to read and double confirm the figure again...Yes, it is. How happy I am on this Saturday first time earning from placing ad. Btw, I will only get the cheque after 30 days.

Change new header

It has been a year since I use this template and the header. Have been thinking want to do a face life to my blog and change header quite sometimes ago. But couldn't find the time to do. Tonight, I couldn't sleep after patting my boy sleep. So, got up and place my idea in.

Old header, just for memory

The old header just simply do last time cause don't want the white background. What is the different is last time the header I used to host it somewhere, cause that time Blogger got problem loading in header picture by clicking "Browse" and even problem with photo URL. Now OK already. I just browse the header picture out then Save. It's done!

Thats my idea how the new header looks like, but I feel this design is too simple. Also, another reason why I can't sleep. I got something happy thing to do in the morning. Is like my dream come true to own it. But don't know can or not la..just see how is it.

More are coming

Writing paid posts have been quiet for sometimes. I'm not login to all those I used to do to grab offer too. Few months ago, I'm actually having these few advertiser or webmaster (I'm not sure) always approach me to write credit card reviews for them and the payment is like I got to do 4 Payu2blog. Of cause money and offers come to my front, why not? I just sapu everything. Since lately the USD is raising, I urge to write more now. These 2 weeks manage to do some from PPP and LL. Not bad..few words and ideal pay.

Mainly because my blog is back to PR2, I can see those offer coming in, else is like nothing for me. I will fully utilised the opportunity now to grab as many as I can. Really quite sometimes my Paypal have not been doing any cash out.

Time for Judelittle.com

Last week beside doing things in a slacking mode, I gear up my engine to work on my almost abandon domain. Since I've got a few templates downloaded and yet to give a change to my blog. But, I'm not doing that yet cause I don't know where to begin to do when want to change template.

Finally, my hardwork paid off, I discover it after a night work. I begin to work on it and get the template change immediately. I'm so happy for what I did. Later on, I felt the original header is not what I want. So, I begin to design something and find some scenery picture. My skill is just sucks when comes to design. Glad that Sasha offer her very kind help to put up a nice and bright header for me.

Thank you very much, Sasha. I like it very much. If time allows I will try to come up with one later, but I don't have any idea now on how to design it. Header is the very first thing readers see, so I want to have something special. The blog title there is - Life Notes. It is basically record down what happens around me in my daily life as a SAHM with my lovely boy.

From now on I'm will be blogging at both side equally. I hope so...also hoping that I have more things to share (not only with "Vitamin M" posts). So, remember to continue visit Judelittle after you drop by here.

Many thanks!

Another batch shit

Yesterday, after all the verification update on URL done. I wrote them a ticket of complain like this.

To: asupport@smorty.com
Subject: Verify post URL

I would like to express my dissatisfaction on Smorty system whereby recently a Warning note about payment on-hold due to deleting posts.

I have not been deleting any post ever to any Smorty posts and I'm not sure what is the reason a total of 26 post's URL need me to update again.

Since I'm not been doing anything to those paid posts, thus I have Update back to you the same and exactly URL. Pls have your system to check again on all the URL to make sure it is work. It should not have any post in missing link.

I hope you guys check properly before send me those problem. It has been so bothering me and yet we have not been earning good with low PR, but keep giving us all the kind of non-sense in verifying.

Hence, I will not want to see any those missing post again in my next login. No any further reason I need to provide in further. There is none of the posts missing. It should be your system problem could not display it.

Thanks.

This morning, got a simply reply from them.

Hi Judy,

We have fixed the stated problem. Everything works fine now.

Smorty

Next, I login to Smorty. Again, the Warning note is still there. What are the things have been fix? I suppose do not want to see any of the missing posts. Things is not fine yet. The on-hold figure is lesser now and there are 4 posts to ask for verification.



The first batch of shit have been clear last night, it is now appear under "Corrected Posts (Waiting for next payment)". Oh? Waiting next payment? they going to pay again? Don't think so la...they are really on something wrong to ask us to verify each and every post we did.

Don't they have powerful system to check whether the URL is still exist? So, a total of 30 links I have verified now and all in all the total of 33 posts I did with Smorty. So, is there the remain one will also ask for verification too?

Looks like all the members also got the same thing to do. Really waste of time, lousy system.

Shit work from Smorty

I have not been login to Smorty paid post system for a few weeks. Reason being as everyone knows, low PR, no offers, so automatically login times also lesser now. Just now, I login again see if there is anything there.

First, I need to make a selection on my blog type. After that done, the page of the offer is display with the same old notes on top, a reminder for not deleting posts and bla bla bla. There after I saw this on left side bar,
I was so frustrated to see this shit warning, as I'm not doing any deleting to Smorty's posts and yet they listed out a total of 26 posts I've done got MISSING.

What the heck! I begin to click on each link to make sure that it is working and not gone missing. To each and everyone listed there all the posts are still appear in the exact URL. Since I'm not doing any changes to those post and URL, I just click on the "Enter URL" and copy paste back the same exactly URL and hit "Update".

I'm not sure if anyone of you working with Smorty facing this problem? And, something so funny in the Warning note. Those missing posts payment have actually paid to me long time ago and how they're going to on-hold them? After the shit verifying work done, I even write them a ticket to ask them check properly before sending the chunk of missing URL list to me. I'm not writing in a friendly tone to them. You see, we are not earning much since PR drop, yet on and off they are bothering us with all kind of rules, regulations and limitation.

Really wan sek kan nan lorr....

No update for 18 months yet?

*This picture was captured and upload to Blogger through my mobile.*

I'm posting the picture only from my mobile with the feature Send as Email. It is work! Now, we can compose email to Publish blog post, it is just so convenient. We do not need to login Blogger and wait the browser to load. It takes longer time to load Blogger when access Internet using GPRS. Now, I can make new post whenever I want. Yeah, I know Blogger have this setting, but now I only try using it and realised that it is really so convenient.

Very easy to do this setting. Go to Settings -> Email. At Mail-to-Blogger Address, it shows yourblogname. <blank> @blogger.com. In the blank space fill in your desire extension you want to complete the email address. For eg. judychow.abc123@blogger.com. Follow by check the Publish emails immediately then you are done. Posts submit everywhere using the email address judychow.abc123@blogger.com, you will get your post immediatedly up in the blog.

When compose using email, this is what you need to do. At subject line put the title of the post. To insert picture - you can either copy the image and paste into the text column or send as file attachement then write your post like usual. By using copy-paste, you can adjust where you want your image to be appear. For file attachment, the image will be appear on the top part of your post only. Click Send and you are done. Your post will appear in your blog immediatedly.

As mention in the title, this lagging mummy is not update her son's 18 months old progress yet.

Life is not easy blogging for $

Since the "G" King monopoly the blog ranking, which now make our blog for money life so miserable. The roller coaster changes on PR brought many of us so hard to earn now. Almost all I know who doing paid post the PR is a BIG FAT ZERO now. So what happen is mostly all advertisers still depends on PR rating to give out an offer. They are not looking at poor rating blog now and thus this makes us not having much to write since then.

PPP came out RealRank (RR) also not something good also. The RR number is a daily change rating and we don't know based on what they going to check our blog everyday in giving a RR number. So that means, advertiser are the one who still do the setting on RealRank out and see if our RR of the day is fulfil then only we can see the opps appear. The RR applys is like twister now. I can get my RR in over 2000+ and somedays in 1700+ to 1900+. With RR changing everyday, the PR also check side by side actually. So tell me how can we get good offer from PPP now? It is all being monitor tightly with the stupid number.

With the PR issue raising, one thing for sure we not getting much paid post to do. Now paid post company also want us to do something in related to that. I begin to house keep my paid posts in hope can help to get a better PR and not let the "G" King to index so much of those paid posts done which will causes the PR pull down. I also try rename all the labelling for paid posts. Thats how paid post company want to help us in this "G" battle.

If you still believe that back links or doing tags can help increase PR, I believe it is not the theory now. In fact, if we try to link back to a low PR blog, our own blog PR also will get effected. Though bloggers are still tagging me, I still happy to accept that with a link back as well. It is still fine to go on, just that try not to put many links in the post. Somehow I find tags are interesting posts too. Lately some new visitors saw the whole lot of tags I'm doing and start name me as "Tag Queen" *roll eyes* It is not anyway, just that when all tag posts are popping out is my free time to settle the homework.

Our first Blogger meet

Yesterday, finally me and my boy make our first blogger meet with Darren and The Blue Ranger. For mummies, after many times asking for a meet up, finally 3 of us make it for this round. We brought our kids to met at IOI mall, inside the Jusco Kid's Adventures mini playground. It is a wide and comfortable area for kids to play and run with 2 inflatable castles, slides, sea-saw and rocking animals with the wall and floor padded.

Right after my boy wakes for nap, immediatedly we went there. Thanks my mum drove us there and accompany me else without her I couldn't turn up. I'm 30 mins late to reach there. When I saw Darren and Ethan, quickly I bought the ticket and let my boy go in and join them. Don't know what happen my boy just very scared and quite relunctant to let off and go join them to play. I can see Darren and Ethan enjoy very much running, climbing and rocking. When put 3 of them together, Terry was like being scared or what, or those other elder kids playing there try to pull him. Needless to say, he was first time playing at this kind of playground. I can see that he is not used to it. So, he kept on cry and cry, but that easy to calm down after I carry him away and walk to other area.

Try to snap a good photo of 3 kids, but look at my boy...
I just accompany him around to play the slide and the mini house. All he likes is playing the mini house's window. He feel comfortable running around there only. May be he used to play before in paed there. It is hard to get 3 of them together and snap a good photo. An hour later, kids started to get tired. We proceed to A&W to have a quick drink and the kids have some waffles and biscuits.

Terry is dead tired and lazing in the stroller without making much move after we bid Good-Bye. May be too tired to make fuss too. We continue to shop a pair of shoe for my boy. Since he started to walk his feet grow bigger now. It is time to buy another new one. After browsing at Jusco shoe department, can't get any we like. Then, proceed to Bata and get a Bubble Gummer beeping sandal for him. Still Bata suit my taste with good quality and reasonable price.

On the way back, we packed our dinner and finally Terry fall asleep in the car. I feel tired too run and play with him. A happy Sunday for us.

Related post:-
Fun time with Ethan and Terry

Why Google PR going up and down?

Few weeks back, Google PR did an update, many new bloggers getting a good PR for their blog. Mainly those blog with less paid posts are being promoted (as what I noticed). But for many also got the PR demoted, especially for blog host at Blogspot with paid posts. I can't run away from that, from a good PR 3 dropped to 2.

2 weeks later, Google do an update again. Can it be so soon? it suppose to be update every 3-4 months right? A few bloggers already start making noise their PR is fluctuate, sometimes shows N/A, sometimes shows 0. But what we can do, their update period is so short now.

Everyday I keep my eye close in checking the PR meter. It has been in PR2 for about 2 weeks and today I got a BIG FAT ZERO!!! Is this the penalize we got for doing paid posts? Blogging for money need a good PR, but Google don't give blog with paid post with a good PR. Now they are trying to give all of us a ZERO, even for those with less paid post also deserve a ZERO now.

So you tell me what can we do now to get a PR and keep doing paid post? If you always find the PR meter not functioning well, you can try this PR checker from 3P very accurate.

Does Google PR really matter?

As many of us aware, our blog PR is being revised by Google. Many of my blogger friends, especially those doing paid posts very hard are getting a demoted PR. My humble blog also in the same shoe, from PR 3 drop to 2 now. If I'm not doing paid post, I don't really care what this PR got to do to me. But the fact is that all paid post company are very much looking at our blog PR on what offer to give us.

With the PR demoted my paid post offers also getting a bit lesser. PR ranking guideline is getting more strict now. We also don't know what algorithm they used to measure our blog quality. Can they be changing every time? hard to predict also. Last time many of us do tags and place blogroll in order to get more back link and believe that it did helps to increase PR. The latest PR update tell us that, seems they not check on how many back links we have.

I think our blog quality and reader's visits is still the important fact to look at all times. A blog in well balanced of paid post and own post is very important. Looks like I need to work more harder on writing more own post instead of what you see now, loaded with full of paid posts. In my own domain I will work out more quality post there to build a PR rank place before start doing any paid post.

So sorry to my reader I know you have not been reading any of my own post this week. Let me clear off the pending posts first and I will have my own write up soon.

Interview from Mother & Baby magazine

The interview called from Joy last month talking about blogger mummy is out on Mother & Baby November issue. Although the part mentioning about my blog is not much, but that is good enough to let other readers know about my blog existence in the blogsphere. Today I only manage to grab it and read on for the rest.

A few of those blogger mummy that I know also being featured here like Lilian, Chinneeq, jazzmint, Karen Yiau and some other blogs which I not come across like Shamira Karim, Mummy Lian and Leah.

This blogger mummy article is the hot topic for this magazine issue. Talking about nowadays mummies are stay connected to the social network through blogging in exchanging ideas and to keep us update about what's happening in the society. It promoted that blogging is also another way to release stress of motherhood and a place helps to ease burden. Very happy that nowadays blogger mummies are being so encouraging and the mummies blog post is so informative.

My new home - www.judelittle.com

Within the past 24 hours, finally I got my domain registered and blog set up with WordPress. Specially thanks to benghan for offering FREE blog hosting. He did the set up for me and everything up very fast upon I got my domain registered. Today Double 10, mark a meaningful day to me as I'm finally own my new home.

http://www.judelittle.com

Today is just soft opening, hopefully by 1/1/08, I can get everything up nicely on template and others. You are most welcome to drop by :)

Currently I'm still not used to WP platform and not much done there. Still need time to explore and it is very much different from Blogspot platform. I will remain active in Blogspot and will update posts in new home slowly.

Do remember, please link me up in your blogroll ya ;)

Related post:-
Go for own domain

Go for own domain

I have been so struggle and reluctant to get an own domain for blogging since many months ago. As I know I would be spending more time in manage it and at the same time at Blogspot too. I just don't want to waste the time and money if I couldn't do so. This is a long run decision for me. No point if one day I longer like to blog and just abandon it, it going to waste all my effort.

The urge of getting it is becoming so strong lately. Everywhere is talking about getting own domain and shifting to own domain. Somehow I know one day, for those doing paid post we no longer can sustain for long under Blogspot. For doing paid post in own domain, I can see the brighter future.

Just 2 days ago, I saw my PR meter reading from PR 3 drop to 2, how can that be leh?? My blog is doing better than before. I don't know where goes wrong. Check everywhere is reading as 2 now..but tigaP still not change. Hmm..I can't do anything for it, that is how Google ranked me. Once Beelibaala found out from Google why there are many Blogspot is getting a N/A rank. It is because Google will not going to give any review on PR ranking for new bloggers sign up with free blog hosting site (like Blogspot). Another one is from LovelyMummy, this piece of news still not so sure yet..tigaP will kick out all Blogspot postie in November. Soon or later free host will not be favor in the blogging world. So I think it is the time now.

I have been start searching some web hosting packages info and try to make some comparison. Prices are vary depends on what are the things the hosting company include for you. Today I even found free hosting blog from benghan. Somehow it is quite attracted to me..coz FREE ma..just only need to pay domain registration fee. Most important is getting a domain registration done first, hosting package are yet to choose.

I'm start thinking a domain name now and I have no idea what name to give. Will stick to go on a .com at the back. Basically I just check out that judychow.com is taken, left only with other extension. Lemonjude, judelittle, judethelittle is fully available. I have also think of some other names like livetolove and littleme but all are not available anymore. Many others too, but all those I can think of is no longer available for .com. Any good suggestion? Hopefully I can fully roll out everything on 1/1/2008, don't know possible or not.

Paypal withdraw with Debit card

All the while since I'm start to cash out money from Paypal, I did it through Bryan. It is the fastest and easiest way to deal with money directly bank into my local bank. Doing withdrawal with them there is some bank transfer charges occur which is quite high too (like 3.4%+0.30 or 4.5%, depending what type of account).

I still looking for a way to do my own cash out as can't depends on other to do for me in long run. Some used VMI which is virtual debit card and they complain that it needs charges each month. Many got it, but not using it. Cash out the money using credit card is also another way which we can do all the while. But the charges when you withdraw is high like 5% from Citibank. So the cash out seems like losing here and there with all the bank charges going through.


Now is the time you can eliminates all those charges. After I got to know from her, we can cash out Paypal money directly to Visa Debit/credit card. This is the new withdrawal feature in Paypal, which only charge USD5 for the fund transfer. Since credit card need charges on withdrawal, we can get Visa Debit card from local bank to do it.

Public Bank is offering Visa Electron card. The annual fee is RM24 and waived for cash withdrawal from Public Bank ATM. It is just a very good news to us. With only $5 charges we can get our USD back in MYR just as easy as that.

Interview by Mother & Baby magazine

Yesterday, I was being interviewed over a phone call by an editor from Media Corp Publishing about being blogging mummy. I was referred by Mummy Karen, which she did the interview too. It is just a short phone call asking some general on blogging. Like since when I started to blog, my blog URL, what I blog about and which blog I like to read.

I'm not getting any complementary for this short interview, hopefully that when this write up comes up on magazine will help me drive more traffic to my blog. This blogger mummy's article write up will be publish in Mother & Baby - November issue.