Bloggiesta Update: After Day One

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So, it's been almost 24 hours since I started my bloggiesta, and I estimate around 6 of those hours, I spent fixing my blog. I'm still not done with everything I'd like to do (ah, will I ever be done?), but here's what I've accomplished so far
  • Catch up on last year's reviews.
  • Fix and update my right column. Partly done
  • Clean up my tags.
  • Improve my banner. Done
  • Get a better background.
  • Organize my archive page. Done
  • Get a gravatar and a favicon. Gravatar - Done
  • Put tabs on top of the blog for easier navigation. Done

Not bad, if I do say so myself. After posting this, I actually plan to improve the tabs on top of the blog. My hubby helped me figure out how to create links within an image so that the tabs can be in the banner itself. So fun to finally learn how to do stuff.:)

Though I haven't officially joined any mini-challenge yet, I have been checking all of them out. And these are the ones that I've unofficially "joined."

Challenges from last year's Bloggiesta:
  • Clean Up your Feedreader (c/o The Book Lady's Blog) - I currently follow 64 book blogs and book-related sites, so I've tried to group them into two simple folders.
  • The Google Alert Mini-Challenge (c/o Emily's Reading Room) - I've created Google alerts for my blog name, url, and my name.
  • Favicons and Gravatars (c/o Hey Lady! Watcha Readin'?) - This is where I first learned about favicons and gravatars last year, and now I finally have a gravatar. It's super easy to do!

This year's challenges:
  • Backing Up Your Blog (c/o Farm Lane Books Blog) - I finally backed up my blog on a different platform. Now, at least, I don't have to worry about losing all of my content in case Blogger shuts down. Unless Wordpress shuts down at the same time, too. Eep.
  • Dead Link Hunt (c/o Karin's Book Nook) - I didn't really go on an all-out hunt yet, but I did check out the videos I embedded. And those which were removed, I already replaced. Whew.

Anyway, now I've spent most of my time on the look of my blog, maybe for the remaining hours, I can spend more time on the content. This may sound nerdy, but--I'm really enjoying myself!

Good luck to all the bloggiesta participants!


Comments

Ash said…
Looks like you're doing well! I love your header, it looks fantastic.
January 9, 2010 at 7:56 PM
fantaghiro23 said…
@Ash - I changed it so many times today that I'm not sure which one you saw. I hope it's still this one.:)
January 9, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Christina Villacorte said…
How do you have any time for all this? I'm impressed. Good luck.
January 10, 2010 at 12:22 AM
fantaghiro23 said…
Hey, Chris! Um, determination? Or obsession. Your pick.:)
January 10, 2010 at 1:30 AM
Aarti said…
You've done really well! I like the new header (though I liked the old one, too). And congrats on the gravatar!
January 11, 2010 at 2:09 AM
Patrick said…
I was about to ask the same question as Christina. Hehe! But yeah, congrats on the blog makeover! As for me, I've already spent too much time tinkering with my blog's look last year that's why it doesn't even have much content yet. So I'm better off just doing what book bloggers should actually be doing first and foremost: read and review. Hehe!

Oh, just one more thing. I can't seem to see in here your favicon. That's the one which replaces the Blogger logo in the address bar right? :/
January 11, 2010 at 10:45 PM
fantaghiro23 said…
@Aarti - Thanks! Wanted to take my face off my header, and finally convinced my husband (who is the header-maker) to agree.

@Patrick - Thanks! Had fun working on the blog. If I build it, the reviews will come.:P Oh, that's why I marked the 7th bullet point "partly done." Still haven't got my favicon. It's a bit trickier than the gravatar.
January 12, 2010 at 12:43 AM
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