This afternoon, I decided my blog needed a softer look, so I changed a few things and updated my header and button. If you have my blog button installed on your blog, feel free to update it with the code below. Thanks!




<center><a href="http://lilcountrykindergarten.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s55/marlanajill/Blogging/LilCountryKindergartenButton.png"/></a></center>

On my last post, several of you mentioned that you would like to learn how to add pages to your Blogger blogs. I promise it is super simple. :) Instead of coming up with something myself (that would likely be way too drawn out), I just did a Google search and found the following link to be the most descriptive. Plus, I'm a visual learner, so I like the pictures for each step. Let me know if you have any questions.


http://shabbyblogsblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-add-pages-to-your-blog.html

Good luck! Be sure to come back and comment if you added pages to your blog. I'd love to check them out!

I'm not proud to admit this, but my normally patient self has turned into a horrible-thought-sending-meanie-with-a-touch-of-evil-glare kind of person every time I've turned the computer on this past week and it would immediately shut itself off. Even worse, sometimes it would decide to come up with a screen that was eerily similar to the "blue screen of death".

So, my sweet husband took a hint and lugged the sickly thing to the computer ER today. I hope they get it fixed STAT! Apparently, I'm super attached to my computer and all it's cutesy fonts and clip art and fabulous family pictures that not all other computers have on them. :)

While my computer is away, I'm praying that all of my pictures & files will be okay because I am the world's worst at backing everything up. :( Silly me! I totally regret not doing it in times like this!

I promise you a freebie as soon as I get back up and running! Thanks for sticking with me!

For some reason, when I convert my Microsoft Word documents to a PDF file, the two sheets I have on one page end up turning into two full pages. I have read a zillion and one articles and help sections online and cannot find my particular problem and a solution.

My emergent readers aren't very valuable when they only print one whole page instead of two small ones that can be cut in half. :) 

Any suggestions? I'm using Microsoft 2010 and the PDF conversion that comes with it.
 

KPM Doodles

If you haven't heard of Free Technology for Teachers, you HAVE to check it out. There are tons of amazing technology links, resources, tips, etc. that have been very beneficial to me and I've only known about the site for  a week and a half. It's the kind of site you want to go back and read everything from the beginning so you don't  miss out on all the great tips.

Today's great find was the Common Core Standards App. I love it because now I don't have to lug my binder back and forth between home and school. Check it out on the side of my blog. How cool is that? I'm all about things that make life easier!

You can embed it like below or have the widget to the side. I like it better on the side for myself. What do you think?

You can find out about it at MasteryConnect. 

For me, summer vacation is the perfect time to spruce up my blog. So, last night, I searched for valid tutorials for adding a favicon to my blog. (If you aren't familiar with the term favicon, it is the little image that shows up next to your web address where you would normally see the orange and white Blogger b.  Favicon is short for favorite icon.) It also helps your link stand apart from others in a bookmark list.


Here's what I found that worked for me. I'm sure others that are more talented at this will have WAY easier instructions, but this worked for me and it was free. (I was leary of signing up on sites that I knew nothing about just to be able to upload & host an .ico file and I didn't want to pay anyone to host the picture for me.)

Now, if I haven't completely scared you off, here are the instructions I followed.

1. Go to www.favicon.cc. 
2. Click on the import image button. Then, browse to choose which image you would like to use. Keep in mind, you want something that will show up even when it's teeny tiny. 
3. Upload the image.  (When it shows up on the screen it will look like a lot of tiny squares. This is normal. :) Just look at the preview image a little further down the middle of the page.)
4. Under the preview area, click Download Favicon and save the file.  

Now, go to To The PC and follow the directions for adding your favicon to Blogger draft.
My settings were a tiny bit different than theirs. I had to go to Dashboard > Layout. Then, I was able to click the Favicon edit section.

****Although my favicon uploaded immediately following the instructions above, it did take about 1/2 a day before it actually showed up for me. Just be patient!***

If you try this, I hope it works for you, too! Be sure to leave a comment when yours works for you. I'd love to check it out!