Another Deviantly Domesticated Anniversary

"So...this may sound silly, but what is a blog? I mean--how does it work?"

This is query I have often found myself answering in the past 2.5 years. Because the reality is that although many of us are familiar with blogs and tweets and status updates, there are still many fine citizens out there who can't tell an RSS feed from a Big Mac. Citizens who I thought might enjoy my ideas and posts but were unlikely to visit my site.

And so a little over a year ago I decided to launch an email newsletter in an attempt to include non-blog readers into the world of Deviantly Domesticated. Thus "Steph's Circle," as I affectionately called it, was born.

Since then, the newsletter has grown into more than just a place for non-bloggers. It is also a place for me to share regular updates about my life as blogger/crafter/business owner, to make special announcements about projects I'm planning, and to occasionally offer raffle prizes.

And since last spring even the design of my newsletter has gotten better! These images here, for instance, are from my latest email. Each image is a link that you can click on to learn more! (seriously--click on the pics and you'll see what I mean.)

So, on this anniversary-of-sorts for "Steph's Circle," I thought I would invite you to sign up if you haven't already, and to thank those of you who have! And if you have crafty, creative friends who "aren't into that whole blogging thing," I'd love for you to invite them to meet me through their email instead!

Thank you, as always, for your love and support in every new (and old) thing I do!

To sign up for my newsletter, enter your name and email in the boxes to the right OR email me your info at shillberry@stephaniehillberry.com and I'll get you set-up!

RSS Feeds--My Favorite Way to Stay Up-to-Date

Prior to venturing into the blogging world I had no idea what an "RSS Feed" was.  Even now I can't tell you what RSS actually stands for (trust me--it's not really that important).  But I can tell you that it has become my favorite way to keep in touch with the websites and blogs I read regularly online.

As I mentioned, understanding the technical parts of RSS is not really important.  What is important is knowing how to use it, and why you'd want to.

Regarding the latter--why you'd want to use it--it's simple: when I subscribe to an RSS feed from one of my favorite blogs or websites, I know that I'll receive automatic updates when those sites post something new.  I even subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog so that I can make sure it updates when I write something new here.  And sure enough, whenever I publish a new post for the day, it pops up in my email program minutes later.  

Subscribing to RSS feeds also saves me time.  I can just log into my email and instantly see which blogs and sites have new goodies to read.  I don't have to go site-by-site, checking to see if they have updated or not.  I can just visit the sites that I know have new material.

As for how to use RSS feeds, subscribing to them varies from program to program.  For instance, I have a Mac and use their mail software, so I just click in my browser window on "rss" and "subscribe in mail" from there.  Presto--the feed is added to my email program.  Other programs operate differently, but all of them are simple and user-friendly.  Use Hotmail or Gmail or another popular email site?  Most of them have instructions for feeds right on their homepage.  Use Outlook?  Check out the "Tools" or "help" menu to learn more about adding feeds there.  Having trouble?  Google "help with rss feeds" and your email program and go from there!  

Finally, I invite you to subscribe to Deviantly Domesticated's RSS feed to receive instant updates from me!  It's the easiest way to keep up with new Marketplace Mavens or Smarty Pants posts or my latest thoughts on domestic experiments.  

Happy Feeding!

Blog Favorite: Housemartin

Everyone has their short (or long) list of favorite blogs.  Well, mine includes Housemartin.  I first read about this blog from a long-ago issue of Sunset magazine (they since have referenced it several times), and decided to take a gander.  What I found was a visual treat!  

Housemartin is a home and floral design blog created by the owner of Ink & Peat, a floral boutique in the Northwest.  The posts always highlight fun design finds (like the one shown above), great for inspiring ideas.

Housemartin is also the gateway through which I found Etsy.com, the online marketplace for crafty and artisan types.  For those of you who know that I now operate a small online boutique, you can see why I'm thankful for stumbling upon this blog.

Take a minute or two to check it out!

This post is part of August's Summer Squeeze series.

Email me your favorite blog at shillberry@comcast.net.

Daily Dose

I confess that after reviewing today's headlines, I am at a bit of a loss on what to post about.  I could talk about yesterday's Super Bowl, but I doubt an audience of primarily female readers would appreciate that (although the end really was spectacular to watch).  I could discuss Super Tuesday (certainly everyone else is), but I have to confess that though I do follow politics, I'm not prone to writing about them.  I could write about the economy, since January's employment numbers are coming in (hiring is apparently slipping), but even I'm a little bored by the coverage on it.  

So, I guess instead of covering the news, I'll just encourage you to get a dose of it yourself, by visiting some of my favorite links for staying informed.  

Christian Science Monitor: some people might be turned off by the name, and it is true that there are some religious aspects to this newspaper.  However, I first learned about the paper attending Colorado State University from my political science teacher, and quickly learned why she was a fan: the news coverage is exceptional, particularly from the international correspondents.  Plus, a lot of their stories are written by staffers as opposed to the AP Wire, which makes them a little more independent than a lot of other sources.

The New York Times: I confess I'm a little overwhelmed by the vastness of their site, but the NYTimes does offer a little bit of everything.  One top reason to check them out would be their blogs--and there are many of them--written by some well-respected intellectuals and commentators.  I personally like Thomas Friedman (who is apparently on assignment currently) and the fellows from Freakonomics.

National Public Radio: probably my all-time favorite source for news, probably because you can catch it in the car running errands or on the way to work.  I even listen to it while I'm working out (I know...it's a little strange).  I love Marketplace report and Talk of the Nation "Science Friday."  And their podcasts are highly revered in the news community.

So, when you have some time, check them out.  Part of being "adornable" is knowing what is going on in the world, so I try to treat the headlines like they are my daily multivitamin, and invite you to do the same.