Archive for February, 2007

I was trying to embed a video in my previous post but after I copied and pasted the url using my html mode to write, the video didn’t appear.

Being a bit technically challenged, I googled “embed video on wordpress blog” and found the answer I was looking for on ShandyKing.com’s blog post titled: Embed YouTube Videos in Wordpress.

It was so simple. All I had to do was go to “Users”, then under “Personal Options” unmark or turn off the Rich Text Editor. Then copy and paste the embed url in the blog post again and voila the video appeared like magic.

That just goes to show that everything you need to learn about blogging or just about anything else for that matter can be found on the internet if you look hard enough. *grin*

I have only a couple of blogs. I know many others who have lots more. I wonder where they find the time to maintain all of them? If I had more time, I surely would like to have more blogs too….. to house my split personality. I would have a blog to portray the different sides of me and for each and every topic that interests me. Lol!

So whats the benefit of having several blogs?

1. You still get to post when the server of one of them is down. Just make sure you don’t host all of them at the same place. Hehe. Take for example, this morning I just can’t seem to log in to my blogger, but I can still post here. This is very important to satisfy the blogging needs of a blogaholic. Lol!
2. You make more money. More blogs means more ad space etc.
3. You can hide some posts in those blogs which you know has less readers. Sometimes I like to rant or post some other personal stuff, I spread them out over my blogs. I know no one actually reads ALL of my blogs. They may follow just one. So by spreading it out, I still get some privacy even though I like to blog on a public blog and I don’t like to password protect my posts. I don’t read password protected posts even though the blogger sends me the password. Its just too troublesome. As it is there is never enough time to bloghop. I just read from my feedreader most of the time. Why not just write in your personal diary if you want some privacy some might say but then its just not the same. Posting on my blog gives me the convenience of putting everything in one place (or rather several places) plus I can add photos, animations, cartoons and videos too. By spreading it out, no one can read me like a book. I’ve had new readers read each and everyone of my backdated posts and telling me so. Its a bit unnerving to have a stranger know so much about you at one reading so by spreading it out, now readers only get to know a part of me. If you think this is strange and weird, well, I am strange and weird. Lol!

I read on the ReviewMe blog that you can now set your own Review pricing for your blogs. I’m happy with my pricing and the reviews that I have been receiving for the time being so I probably won’t change anything for now but its an interesting development. Although my Review orders have been few, they are very relevant to my blogs and I have enjoyed doing most of them. The subject fit is certainly there because the Advertisers get to choose the bloggers instead of the other way around.

However, I do wonder how does one get noticed when its so competitive. There are so many blogs for the Advertisers to choose from. How do they have the time to sieve through all and notice or find the right ones that will meet their needs? Perhaps they will miss out on some good bloggers as well as some good fit?

You will now also be able to manually update your blog statistics to reflect the latest numbers plus watch out for the ReviewMe affiliate program which is expected to go live on March 1.

All very interesting changes which I’m watching and looking forward to.

I have recently installed the Alexa Site Widget on the sidebar of all my blogs because I read that it can boost your Alexa rankings. I’m not sure if this is true or just a myth but I’m trying it out anyway. Others have tried it and some claimed that it worked and some said it actually had a negative impact on their Alexa rankings. Well, the only way for me to find out is to try it out myself.

I’ve always only paid attention to my Google Page Rank and didn’t bother very much about my Alexa ranks. However now that I’m writing for PayPerPost and ReviewMe, that ranking is rather important because Advertisers do look at them and use them as a gauge about your sites popularity, quality of links as well as traffic.

If you’re a paid blogger, you might want to check this out yourself and lets report back here on whether it worked for you. It’ll be interesting to watch the numbers however, it will mean having to watch yet another statistics on my blogs. Watching numbers has become very much a part of my blogging now too. What about you?

At this point of writing the Alexa rankings for my blogs are as follows:

Parenting Times (a blog for parents on crafting for kids and bringing up kids) = 941,740

Mothering Times (a blog for mothers to share the joys of motherhood) = 2,024,047

Mumsgather (this blog) = 894,665

I’ll check back in a week or two to see if those numbers have improved after I installed the Alexa Site Widget.

I thought that living in a house or landed property would be different from condo or shared community living. However, I discovered recently that its really not all that different afterall. Here are some of the similiarities I have observed.

• Laundry - In a condo, your neighbours bring down your property value by hanging their laundry in the balcony like ugly flags that don’t match. In a house, your neighbours hang their laundry over your fence!
• Rubbish - In a condo, your neighbours throw rubbish all over the common areas or place them outside their door (and yours) for you and your visitors to sniff. In a house, your neighbours throw rubbish in your bin!
• Car Parking - In a condo, your neighbours park in your designated parking bay. In a house, your neighbours park their cars in front of your gate!

Errr.. those are my main observation for the time being. If I come across anything else to share I will. How about sharing some of your observations?

Its back to work today for most people who have taken a whole week off for the Chinese New Year festivities. And so it is for me too. Hehe. I’m back! Back to blog that is.

Its back to home school for the kids too. Their lessons have been badly neglected for some time now since we’ve been busy moving and because of the holidays. So this lazy mama has to prepare to teach them again.

Another thing which I have been dreading. Its now time to toilet train both the kids. One for daytime, the other for night. Now, I’ve really been lazy at this one but theres no avoiding it now. I’ve got to prepare myself to wipe accidents all over the house for a time and be very, very, patient. Phew! I hope it works out.

Immomsdaughter tagged me, so here goes.

Hmm… lets see….

1. I can down a couple of beers, a tequilla pop, a margarita etc at one go without getting drunk. Hehe. But I haven’t touched a drink since I got pregnant and breastfed and got pregnant and breastfed again. Must take care of the baby mah.
2. I used to be a Conference Manager (which required me to run around a fair bit), then I quit and became a remisier (which required me to be at the office to execute trades), now I’m a SAHM and a blogger (which requires me to be at home most of the time).
3. I love prawn fritters and fried wantons. (or anything deep fried for that matter). Very unhealthy hor.
4. I love to sing (in the bathroom at home) and dance (with the kids at home)
5. I have a bad temper and poor communication skills. (Poor Mr MG have to put up with me. Hehe.)

Thats it! I think everyone else has been tagged by now so I won’t tag anyone but if you haven’t and would like to do this tag. Consider yourself tagged. (Let me know and I will link you too.)

I’ve got no chocolates for you,

No flowers or champagne too,

This is the best that I can do,

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

Hiya all. I’m just taking this opportunity to wish all my blog visitors a very Happy Valentine’s Day 2007. Hey! Don’t play play you know. I had to queue up for a very long time while dealing with two crying, clingy babies, just to get these for you. (Some of the customers almost ended up in a fight with those who tried to cut queue.)

And then I had to spend a considerable time trying to figure out how to increase the size of the “bak kua” picture for your viewing pleasure. (I find working on my own domain not so user friendly as before.) Anyway, Enjoy! (Looking that is, I’ll eat on your behalf. Heheh!)

All of us crave for financial freedom and to be debt free. However, how many of us make and keep our resolutions to become debt free? Its the second month of the year now so its still not too late to make and keep those financial goals.

Why not start off by getting some useful tips? Bills.com’s Debt Freedom guide site  is giving away a free personal household budget guide. This free consumer guide called “Debt Freedom: You Can Be Debt-Free, Starting Today,” is available electronically in PDF format by sending an e-mail message to guide@bills.com or by visiting www.bills.com/guide.

Brad stroh, co-CEO of Bills.com says, “The key to success in any endeavor is setting attainable goals. In the financial arena, set specific goals that are meaningful to you, and those resolutions will be easier to achieve.”

Tips to stay financially savvy include knowing your goals, keeping a budget, don’t charge it or stop adding to your debt, guard your credit and getting good insurance coverage.

Creating and maintaining a good household budget can be the foundation to a strong financial game-plan. Learn everything you need to know about establishing and keeping a personal household budget and you’ve taken your first step towards financial freedom and becoming debt free. So why not get your free step-by-step 17 page free budget guide today.

LoudLaunch - Compensating bloggers for their unbiased opinions, reviews, and analysis. View the LoudLaunch campaign release this post was based on.

I’m thinking of holding a family gathering soon. However, I have many nieces and nephews within the family who are teenagers. I’m wondering how on earth to entertain them so that they don’t tell their parents they want to go home soon because they’re bored. Lol!

I don’t have any playstation or other exciting stuff that teenagers like. Heck! I don’t even have Astro so they can’t watch TV. Hahaha.

I’ve consulted my sister but she says, “don’t worry about them lah”. Just let them learn to entertain themselves without thinking up of entertainment for them. However, I feel that as host, I must think of all my guests, even if they’re teenagers.

So, can anyone help me out with this?