Drupal is a little more intense than Joomla and has a way steeper learning curve than WordPress but it more than makes up for it in options. I by no means have it all figured out yet but I have managed to bend it to my will.

No related posts.

My parents decided to dump their satellite TV and go totally online and I must say they haven’t missed a thing. The only problem is, the usual wireless mouse and keyboard setup is cumbersome and bulky. So, for Christmas I went on the quest for the ultimate wireless mouse and keyboard you could use with a TV.

There are a lot of options out there, but you can lay down a huge chunk of cash for a good one.

I was about to throw my hands up in the air and give up, when I stumbled upon the Fly Air Mouse with Keyboard Remote. It’s small, plug-n-play, super easy to use and stylish. Plus it won’t break the bank if you know where to buy.

This thing is so easy my 6-year-old uses it to play online games like Wizard 101 and Jump Start without missing a beat. Sure the instructions are in Engrish but you don’t need them. You put the batteries in, plug the wireless usb transmitter into your computer and it works. It’s about the size of a universal remote and comes in several colors including black and white. The best part it’s a single unit, both a keyboard and a mouse.

As far as price, I bought one for my parents on Ebay for about $50 bucks. Now I just need to get one for myself.

If your interested you can buy it here. Mine showed up in my mail box in about 2 weeks. oh, I do love a good gadget!

No related posts.

Related posts:

1. Hypnotizing and fun website

Email is just like any other form of communication, the catch is, it is the easiest to misinterpret. What you see as a short, concise, and to-the-point email can be viewed as rude. You have done away with the niceties to cut down on time, no good morning Emily, no Thank You. Some people don’t even sign off with their contact information–just a first name.

I learned the hard way, what you don’t put in your emails counts just as much as what you do.

Take a step back and examine your emails from another perspective. If you received one of your emails would you see it as rude? Would you like to have more information? From the day I started working in the professional sphere it was hounded into me “Start every message with a hello and always end with a thank you and your information” whether it be a phone call, a letter, a fax or an email. For a brief time I stepped away from this cardinal rule and it stood up, slapped me and threw a drink in my face.

Rules of the game

1. Always start with a salutation. If you know the name of the person you are emailing, use it. If you have no name to reference, good morning and good afternoon are always acceptable.
   Examples:
   • Name only
     Bill-
   • Name plus more
     Good morning Bill-
   • Even friends appreciate a little courtesy
     Hey there Bill-
2. Always include a signature with your contact information. It may make the difference between getting a reply and losing the customer. Never assume someone has your information. People get hundreds of emails a day and you are not the only Bill they know. You would never call a client and leave just your first name and no way for them to contact you back, so why would an email be any different. Plus, it’s free advertising for your business and your website.
   Example:
   
   Thanks
   ——————
   Emily Beach
   Graphic and Web Designer
   ESQUARED Design
   559.834.8270 office
   559.288.7609 cell
   emily@esquareddesign.net
   www.esquareddesign.net
3. Use please and thank you whenever you can. Both these phrases have the ability to soften any written communication. Your correspondence transforms from a demand into a kindly worded request. People are more apt to respond when you ask nicely.
4. THESE RULES DO NOT CHANGE JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE EMAILING FROM YOUR PHONE. Most phones that provide email also provide the ability to add a signature. It is not as important to know that you sent the message from your Blackberry, as it is to know how to get a hold of you. Please, I implored you, change the default signature on your phone.
5. Slow down. Just because you can answer emails at lightning speed doesn’t mean you should. Look over every email and make sure it is pleasant and conversational. Write as if the person was standing there in front of you. It is easy to slip into impersonal habits when using technology that does not include face-to-face interaction.

Business is about more than just getting the job done. Business is about people and how you interact with them. Client return rate is based on more than just your ability to get the job done, but also how you make the client feel. If they feel like you don’t have the time or you just don’t care to take the time to be pleasant or courteous they will find someone else.

No related posts.

This site is by no means complete but more a work in progress. Check back often to see what is new and if you have a recipe you want me to try or a bit of gardening wisdom send it on over.

No related posts.

Today is one of those days. It has been building for weeks now. I am fed up with the business tango. My feet hurt and I want to go home. I have always prided myself on being honest with my customers, my colleges and my vendors. If something is not going to work, I will tell you. If I don’t know how to do something, I will tell you. If something is going to be late, I will tell you. If you are going to be over budget, I will tell you. It has been brought to my attention that this is not the normal business model.

We are now the generation of the runaround. Don’t have the money to pay bills, lie. Customer is going over budget, lie. Let them figure it out. What ever you do, do not miss out on that sell. Even if you have to throw every moral value your mother installed in you out the window, sell, sell, SELL.

Sure, I’m in business to make money but I’m also in business because I like helping people. I like creating things. I like helping my customers get one step closer to their dream. If you are in business just for the money than you are living a sad life. Business is more than just money. It is about people. Without the people you would have no one to sell to.  Without honesty there are no people. You can fool people the first time and maybe even the second time but after a while they stop coming back and soon you find yourself out of business.

I challenge my generation to revolt. Conduct yourself in business as you would conduct yourself anywhere else. Treat your customers as you would want to be treated at any store you frequent. Treat your vendors how you wish your customers would treat you. The golden rule applies to business as much as it applies on the playground and in your social life. Honesty and integrity are easy to lose and harder than granite to get back, guard them closely.

No related posts.

That is where Clean CSS comes in. It is an  online tool to clean up your code. Using a CSS optimizer code originally developed by CSS Tidy Clean CSS optimizes your CSS resulting in a cleaner, more concise and smaller file. You get to choose how compact your code becomes using several options. It is a needed tool for any web designer. A word of warning though it is not a validator so if your code is wrong it won’t fix it just make it look prettier.

Related posts:

1. CSS Master Reset Style Sheet
2. Resizing Images with CSS
3. Creating Separate Style Sheets for Internet Explorer

What do I love about it?

1. It’s easy to use. Upload and log in.
2. It installs in the same directory as your website. You have control over it not your web host.
3. It’s free!

Bonus: A pretty well designed interface.

You can download your copy of SQL Buddy here.

SQL Buddy - Structure

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 3

No related posts.

I was nervous spending all that money but I have to tell you I am pleased with my purchase. Easy to set up, fast as a jack rabbit and it shipped early. Now all I need is a smart phone and I never need to go home again. Ha, ha!

Of course, I know what your thinking: A PC what is she doing!? Designer’s use MACs! Well, I mainly do web design and seeing as most of the market is still cornered by Internet Explorer I opt to work on a PC. Personally, having used a PC at home and a MAC when I worked for an advertising agency and publisher, both crash too often (sorry Apple but it’s the truth). I think it is just the nature of the programs I use. They use a lot of resources and any operating system has trouble keeping up.

Related posts:

1. Salutations and Signatures – Basic Email Etiquette in a Fast-Paced World

In an effort to help our clients understand the world of the web we added Web 101. It’s a brief definition list of web jargon. It helps alleviate miscommunication and confusion. If you want to know about something but don’t see it on our list, ask us. We are always happy to help.

There is debate on whether you should post your prices on your website or not that will more than likely last longer than humanity itself. We have decided if you want to know what it costs we are going to make it as easy as possible for you. Our pricing is for out of the box websites. If your site does not fit one of our packages you can aways email or call us for a custom quote.

No related posts.