Why and Why? Care to Know Why?

"What you see, what you read is the poetry behind me. This is what it takes to live a life."

Why and why I incorporate blogging tricks right here at SB, and why I challenge you all to know about it little by little?

1. Content is not enough. We need to have a virtual home where we can accommodate our readers and friends.

2. With helpful, humorous or content that can certainly draw readers attention, plus a welcoming blog looks, our blogging experience is truly unforgettable.

3. SB is built in an effort to bring you a different concept of blogging, where the author, I, do not absolutely believe that 'content is the King'. It's not enough.

4. I can recommend you a must followed tutorials on how to build a totally distinctive blog, where you can call it your own, why I bother sharing you the tricks right here? Well, it's different, in here I can totally feel you, because few months ago I was once a totally complete stranger of the spices that will add the taste to our blogs.

5. Well, where is the poetry, where are the life matters? Let me think for a while, ummmmmm, I got you the answer. What you read now, is the poetry and life behind me. This is what it takes to live a life...

If I won't tell you now, you won't feel I was furious couple of hours ago right? Well, I was. I was bursting with disgust. Care to ask me what it is? Well, it's secret for now. It's work related again, what I do now is think, think, reflect, smile, smile, laugh, focus, breath, breath again... I am on the process of letting go... and sharing you these wonderful things is part of the process. Let us all smile guys!

Well, as for the challenge, you must respond to it...

A sincere gratitude to A Certified Blog Master ~ mybloggertricks.com
Image Credit: Surachai / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/10/2012 09:34:00 PM in Maintain Your Blog, Productivity, You the Blogger

A Sunday Special - The Subscription Widget 4 You!

If the Princess of Passion gave us the challenge of poetry, I'll give you the challenge of my passion as well, don't say no:)

(Updated! - With Visual Aid or Illustration)

Well, tonight must be special, it's Sunday night... I talked to my B and after I put her into a tight sleep I start adding one helpful function at the top right corner of the comment box here. It's the subscription widget. Well, these days, we do not want to miss any post of our blogger friends... Is that true guys? We want that all of us here will experience the so-called productive blogging. I keep on writing because I know that you will be here. So despite of our busy schedule we managed to read one's blog, this time we will make it easier to both of us. SB is a community of bloggers, so let's make it at our convenience.

In my simple way I am glad to know that at first, Balqis and Princess Fiona appreciated the bold prints. Most of us can do this when we are writing our post, but don't you know we can do this too when writing our comments to give that so-called emphasis? Just envelope the words with the opening <b> and the closing </b>! So it may look like this, <b>My Sunday Special Post!</b>.

Yet so much for that, aside from the bold thing, and my sincere invitation for you to add your blog links to our New! SB Blog Directory, I have one humble present, the customized email subscription widget for your blog right here! I love this stuff and I want to share it here with you guys. I am not really into writing tutorial here, but I feel the need to give this to you. Anyway, have you put your subscription box or widget already at your blog? If not, this one is for you.

Go to your Blogger dashboard, open Design and select the add widget/gadget, choose HTML/Javascript and copy and paste the one I have for you below, but first you need to edit it... oh come on Prime, I forget asking you if you have the feedburner account already, but for now I'll assumed you have one, or if not please create yours here.

Kindly click the link provided to see the illustration below.
1. From Dashboard to Design
2. From Design to Add Gadget
3. From Add Gadget to HTML/Javascript

Here is the code... please copy them all, paste it at your new widget/gadget.

<style>
.sbbar12{width: 300px; float: right;padding:0 0 8px 0;}
.sbbar12 .emailsub1{border-bottom: 0px solid #e6e6e6; padding: 0 0 0px 0; float: left; width: 100%; font-family: Helvetica, Arial;}
.sbbar12 .emailsub1 .emailicon11{background: url(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR60I1ob5BFnAZfXlBOcMZ7idTloYRdP7Jqa_fB1L6p8MbFQl2NpCX_A5BpYzDHeS-BrasPznXQQz7lbTw2YKndxBUWkLXDnIANHEu5G36Xu3EuG06_CoioBDk2Q5aA62_BX8rGy8gg87I/s1600/sbemailsubsPURPLE.jpg) no-repeat 0 2px; float: left; padding: 0px 15px 0px 40px; margin: 0 0 0 0; width: 300px; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: middle; font-size: 14px; color: #333; }
.sbbar12 .emailsub1 .emailupdatesform{margin: 5px 0 5px 5px; width: 300px; float: left;}
.sbbar12 .emailsub1 .emailupdatesform input.emailupdatesinput{background: #fff !important; float: left; border: 1px solid #347235 ; padding: 0px 8px 0px 8px; color: #000000; font-size: 12px; height: 25px; width: 185px; border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px;}
.sbbar12 .emailsub1 .emailupdatesform input.joinemailupdates{background:-moz-linear-gradient(top,#347235 0%,#347235 100%); background:-webkit-gradient(linear,left top,left bottom,from(#347235),to(#347235)); border: 1px solid #347235; text-transform: uppercase; font:bold 12px arial; color: #fff; height: 25px; padding: 0 12px 0 12px; margin: 0 0 0 5px; border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; cursor:pointer;}

</style>

<!--[if IE 9]>
<style>
.sbbar12 .emailsub1 .emailupdatesform input.joinemailupdates{background:#347235; border: 1px solid #347235; text-transform: uppercase; font:bold 12px arial; color: #fff; height: 25px; padding: 3px 12px 0 12px; margin: 0 0 0 0; border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; cursor:pointer;}
</style>
<![endif]-->

<div class='sbbar12'>
<div class='emailsub1'>
<div class='emailicon11'><p style='width:270px;color:#000000;font-size:13px;font-weight: normal; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; padding:0; margin:0;'>Replace with your message, at least two lines just like the one we have here!</p></div>
<div class='emailupdatesform'>
<form action='http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify' method='post' onsubmit='window.open(&apos;http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=SimplifiedBlogging&apos;, &apos;popupwindow&apos;, &apos;scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520&apos;);return true' target='popupwindow'><input class='emailupdatesinput' gtbfieldid='10' name='email' onblur='if (this.value == &apos;&apos;) {this.value = &apos;Enter your email to subscribe...&apos;;}' onfocus='if (this.value == &apos;Enter your email to subscribe...&apos;) {this.value = &apos;&apos;;}' type='text' value='Enter your email to subscribe...'/><input name='uri' type='hidden' value='SimplifiedBlogging'/><input class='joinemailupdates' type='submit' value='Submit'/></form></div></div></div>

All you have to do is change some value, no, it's not what you think, it's simple guys.

1.- if your sidebar is a bit smaller, you need to change the number there from 300 to 250 and the like, I indicated all the numbers that are needed to be adjusted if it doesn't fit with the size of your sidebar... let's do some experiments.

2.- Put your message, at least two lines, or it depends to the size of your sidebar, if it looks nice then go with shorter one.

3.- The most important one, if you have the feedburner account, you can see this at your address, mine is http://feeds.feedburner.com/SimplifiedBlogging, yours will looks just the same except for your title or name, so please replace SimplifiedBlogging to your feedburner name. Remember, there are two SimplifiedBlogging in the codes, replace the two of them with yours.

4.- Save and drag it to the desired part of your sidebar where this customized subscription widget you want to appear. Good luck guys.

I challenge you all to do this, let's spice up the coming week with the pleasure of this experiment. You can make it for sure. Tell me all the troubles that might block your way in putting this email subscription widget, I will always extend my hand.

Goodluck guys.

Subscription Code Widget Credit: mybloggertricks.com
Image Credit: scottchan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/08/2012 10:46:00 PM in Custom Email Subscription Widget, Maintain Your Blog, Sunday Special

The Cinquain - Happiness

Hi there, as promised I got you here the response of the talk about in town ~ The Cinquain Challenge!


~Happiness
Cheerful, delightful, gleeful
Laughing, giggling, rejoicing
Laughter is the secret of longevity
Blessedness~


All of us can try this poetic style, I gladly scribbled this down after I cleaned my desk at work. See? I may not be the best of the challengers but I enjoyed what I did, that what really counts!

First line - Noun
Second Line - 3 adjectives
Third Line - 3 ing for of the verb or what we call gerunds
Fourth Line - 1 complete sentence that describes/relates to the first line
Fifth Line - The synonyms of the first line

Secret: consult thesaurus.com or your handy thesaurus and dictionary will do. See you guys.

Image Credit: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/07/2012 08:44:00 PM in Happiness, Poetry

I Got News

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence” ~ Aristotle

Hello SB Community! Now I am back with some news. I was not able to bring you some 'thing' to ponder yesterday because I was busy trying to add the 'thumbs up and thumbs down' feature for comments. But, sometimes things wont work for a reason, that's what I believe for spending a long evening making some nice mess on the other experimental blog I have. But for now, life is back to normal, actually I am doubling my speed at work because I have so much to do just to meet my deadline, and blogging will be always part of the routine.

Here are the good news:

1. Last time I successfully added my animated signature, you can see it on the comment section... so what? Well, I am giving a free animated signature giveaway! How about that?

2. Instead of the one I failed to do, sharing is made a lot easier, at your comment section, you can instantly support and promote the SB Community using the addthis sharing widget! :) (You will see that on the right bottom of your response just before 'reply' button.)

3. We have something new! Look at the top sidebar and you will see our customized social icons exclusive for the SB Community! You can also easily subscribe via email!

4. Where is My B's blog? Well, I respect her as I love her, I know she is kind enough to answer that for you guys... (She is going to be here...)

Do we have the reason to smile now? Yes, we always have!

Quote Source: thinkexist.com
Image Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/06/2012 09:14:00 PM in Happiness, Productivity, You the Blogger

One Thing About Laughter

Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. ~ www.helpguide.org

How are you SB Community? Well, I am back now more energetic, I refueled myself with thoughts of goodness, like you, and like anyone else we want to live happier than ever. Stress? Well, we cannot really run from it, can we? But the most important thing is that...

'Life is full of stress, you just need to know how to handle it.' ~ Berlina

Yes, we don't have the choice but to handle it, but the question is, how?

'The first and foremost thing is whether you are at peace with yourself. Only then you can attain the next level - Happiness.' ~ Saru Singhal

What? Oh well, yes, yesterday, I was not at piece, it seemed that I was in a chaotic world. Bad for me, but the world rotates on it's axis like a wheel...

'Being sad & stressed just uses up energy that could be better spent being happy or doing something you like. Take a few moments to relax, breathe, take time out for you. Go back in your memory & recall pleasant moments...we all have them.' ~ Andy

Today I realized that to be happy is a thing that can be done through practice, do you agree with me? Practice makes perfect right? According to the helpguide.org, laughter is our birthright, which means a natural part of life which is innate and inborn! Wow! Just like talent which is a natural gift to all of us, laughter can be also attained through developing our sense of humor, not just during the times that we are down, yet everyday!

Please read the article about Laughter is the Best Medicine by the helpguide.org! Please don't miss to know that benefits of being happy. See you:)

P.S. I know most of us enjoy the emoticons, I am trying my best again to provide you another new set sooner :)

Image Credit: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/04/2012 09:16:00 PM in Happiness, Stress Management

Can You Make Me Laugh?

What are we going to resolve today? I know, I supposed not to bring this topic, but it seemed this made me exhausted lately, maybe after the New Year, well, I hope you will gonna handle this positively, but I am under stress. Can you make me laugh guys one more time? It is so true that no matter how you stay positive you will still be trapped with negativity... well, trying to walk towards optimism is not that easy. It requires a lot of energy.

let's bring this stress vanished in nowhere... come on :) Oh well, this is the first part of the twist, where you will comfort me :(

Image Credit: chrisroll / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/03/2012 10:04:00 PM in Happiness, Stress Management

Voice

'No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.' ~ H.E. Luccock

Hello SB Community! I am back now to tell you what is really the awaited 'Twist'. Here, you voices matter! Like a democratic government, people always got the power, and so you got the power friends.

Simply, we will conduct a weekly activity throughout the year, yes, unlike The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity, this posting and pondering activity will revolve all year round with your presence.

1. Mondays ~ We will present a topic, mostly based on interviews, research, observations, events offline and online.

2. Tuesdays-Thursdays ~ Time to ponder. That's the time SB will recognize your voices, and these might be your views and opinions.

3. Fridays ~ Voting. SB Community will pick up the best voice of the week.

4. Saturdays ~ A. I will personally visit the blog of the chosen voice and do the 'new comment style', a more detailed opinion or view with one of his posts and an opinion with his blog as a whole; B. One of his posts will be featured here at as our main subject every Saturdays. [his refers to both gender, applies when sex is not specified.]

5. Sundays ~ Poetry. A time to relax and think something new, as promised, I will try to nurture my humble talent in poetry such as haiku, short poems maybe, another Fibonacci (I hope I can make another one again), and some collections of inspirational quotes, I am also willing to learn another new forms of poetry, perhaps with the help of our University of Poetry!

This Twist will only become successful as planned if you will cooperate and willing to be permanent residents of the SB Community! We are always looking forward for you presence.

Quote Source: Quote Garden!
Image Credit: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 1/02/2012 09:00:00 PM in Communication, Team Building, Time to Ponder

I Want To Be Human plus The Twist 2012

Finally, there is one deserving winner for My 2012 New Years Resolution - An Article Writing Contest! Congratulations to white witch Hi_D! Our task, let's ponder her heart-written resolution:

I want to be Human

By White Witch Hi_D

Have you ever asked yourself the definition of New Year’s Resolution? As an Engineer, I would have defined ‘resolution’ as the measure of digital quality of an electronic system. But who am I kidding, right? Certainly not you. In writing this article I first had to know what New Year’s Resolution really means. An online encyclopedia, wikipedia.org defines it as the commitment that an individual makes to one or more personal goals, projects or the reforming of one’s habits. Very rational, isn’t it? But have you ever defined this so called resolution in your own perspective?

A lot of people creates this simulation by changing their lifestyle such as to quit smoking, avoid drinking too much, or stop cheating on their wives, while others don’t believe in it at all.

Allow me to introduce to you a person who didn’t believe in New Year’s Resolution. I was very curious and was wondering what ‘her’ opinion about New Year’s Resolution was. So I asked her if she has a New Year’s Resolution. She answered, “I don’t believe in it. People only use those words to escape their imperfections.”

Then I asked her a different question, “Even if you don’t believe, how would you define New Year’s Resolution?” She didn’t answer right away. She was baffled and it took her three days before she could respond and I think her answer is the best one I’ve heard so far. I would like to share it with you. But first let me tell you how this lady came up with that definition.

I’ve known her for my whole life. She is this one person that I thought who was very strong that no matter how many times she fell, she always got back up. Her whole world seemed so battered. She cries but she never weeps. She had seven relationships, which were all failures. She recently had a break up with a more-than-two-years-relationship. She had been through so much and now her family seems to be breaking apart because her parents are having issues. And I believed she was strong until she told me, “I’m not really strong.”

It was a shock for me to hear her realization. “If you’re not strong, what then?” I had to ask. Despite the things that push her down I’m quite impressed with how she could push back up. But now she’s telling me that she’s not really strong.

I was surprised with her answer. “I’m numb,” she said.

NUMB, yes, that was the word and the exact definition of what she really feels—nothing. It never occurred to me until now that the strength she was showing was actually numbness. She had been hurt for so many times and now she fears getting hurt again, which is why she forced herself to hold back on her emotions. To hold back even on love. To act like she doesn’t care even when her world is falling apart.

I remember back in college we had a religion course. The topic ‘To become fully human’ was tackled. Becoming fully human was becoming like Jesus. Struck down and beaten to death, yet he offers no hate but only love.

To reject pain and suffering is like rejecting one’s own humanity. And she was rejecting all her being.

At this point, you might be wondering who in the world I’m talking about. Some of you might have already guessed it.

Yes, she is me. Sound crazy? I know. But sometimes I do talk to myself. It’s a normal thing. It makes me realize that I don’t know myself very well. It makes me judge myself the way I would judge others and see my own imperfections. And this time I just saw my biggest imperfection. Through all the pain, I have become numb.

I’ve never really thought about having a New Year’s Resolution before. But now I’ve even figured out its better definition.

New Year’s Resolution is one’s commitment to becoming human.

It is human to fear, yet it is also human to be brave. If you do not fear, then you can never be brave.

Becoming human is not as we Filipinos say, “Sorry, tao lang (Only human).” But it is as the Americans ask, “What would Jesus do?”

It is human to be tempted, yet it is also human to be strong and restrain against temptation.

It is human to cause mistakes, yet as humans we must also take responsibility.

By writing this article I have truly realized that for the first time in my life I want to have a New Year’s Resolution.

I am afraid but I will be brave. Instead of staying on top, I want to fall then get back up.

I want to feel.

I want to weep.

I want to be human.

The Twist 2012 - Secret Revealed!

I and Ed had a talked about this couple of months from now, from the result of The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity, the plan has came out naturally, I told him it's because we are dedicated for it. The secret - not much really, but SB Community will rule SB! From now on your voices matter! A detailed plan will be posted tomorrow, for now let's celebrate New Year! See you soon guys...

Image Credit: Sarunyu_foto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/31/2011 09:46:00 PM in Offers and Prizes, Team Building

Blessings - The Completion of The Self-Evaluation 2011

Your participation of The 1-Week self-Evaluation Activity is so much to be thankful for! That will make me and Ed more dedicated to bring you the awaited twist for 2012. The announcement will be today, before the clock turn to 12:01 A.M., two posts will greet you a Happy and Prosperous Year 2012!

Let's take some look:

The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity
1. "I'm happy to tell that I've learned a lot not just about life, but all about me, yes about who I am." ~ Sagittarian at Do I Know Myself-Day 2
2. 'I admit that sometimes bad experiences make my heart grow cold.' ~ white witch Hi_D at When The Heart Grow Cold-Day 3
3. 'Making mistakes is not a sin but ignoring it and making excuses are.' ~ Sui generis Writer at Mistake Is Not A Sin-Day 4
4. The person I am today is definitely a product of one who decided to "make lemonade of out lemons". ~ Princess Fiona at What Doesn't Break Us, Makes Us-Day 5

'Life is not a bed of roses, but if you really work hard at it, it can be moonshine and roses with some thorns in between.' ~ Berlina

I've been always listening to this song a week from now:



We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

I and Ed is wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year! ~ Long Live SB Community...

Lyrics Source: lyricshall.com
Image Credit: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/31/2011 09:01:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures

What Doesn't Break Us, Makes Us - Day 5

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Oh well, before The One-Week Self-Evaluation Activity ends, we will put more emphasis why the so-called hardship eventually makes us even stronger!

They say "what doesn't break us, makes us" and I feel that I am living proof of this wonderful quotation. I have been given more than my fair share of hardships throughout my entire life. Ones that would have most likely made the average hearts grow cold. Instead I decided to make my heart warmer in spite of them.

The person I am today is definitely a product of one who decided to "make lemonade of out lemons". ~ Princess Fiona

Today, one of the experts of this community overwhelmed us with her come back and with a priceless present that will surely change the way we perceive life. Hardships and struggles we always encounter are not meant to stumble us down, they shaped us to become stronger us human beings rather. Would you give up or continue? The decisions lies within us, but if we choose to surrender we will surely miss the purpose and the essence why God decided us to be a part of His wonderful creations!

Life has so much to offer, and that is something that we will tell ourselves we are never wrong to choose to go on, no matter how hard life seemed to be.

My sincere thanks to Princess Fiona who resides and owns the Palace of Passion where Passion is always in Fashion ~ the-princess-passions.com!

Quote Source: BrainyQuote.com
Image Credit: Just2shutter / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 12/30/2011 09:49:00 PM in Building a Better Life, Productivity, Self-Evaluation, Success and Failures