If you read my post last week on the pros and cons of blogging on WordPress.com, you learned that one of the major drawbacks of blogging on WordPress.com is that the platform does not allow the use of Javascript. If you’re like me, you have no idea what that even is! I have learned that Javascript is a coding language that allows bloggers and developers to use certain tools, often known as “widgets.” There are a lot of other uses for Javascript as well, but like I said, that is WAY over my head into the land of coding.

One popular use of Javascript in blogging lately has been the addition of the “Pin It” button for Pinterest. Pinterest has a cute little built-in way to generate a button for your blog or website, but if you’ve ever tried to add it to your WordPress.com blog, you figured out pretty quickly that it wouldn’t work, because it functions by using Javascript.

It took some finagling and experimentation, but I finally figured out a way to add a “Pin It” button to individual blog posts, and I’m going to share with you how to do it. Unfortunately, there is no way to automatically add a button to all of your posts at this time. But this manual work-around will get the job done.

1. Save this button image to your hard drive and upload it to your Media Library. (It will not have that black border around it when you use it, I just added that to make it easier to grab.) I did not create, nor do I own this button image. It is from Pinterest.com, I converted it from a Javascript object to an image.

2. Go to the Pinterest Goodies page and scroll to “‘Pin It’ Button for Websites.” Fill out the form to include the URL of your post, the URL of your most “pinnable” image, and a suggested caption (your users will have the opportunity to change this).

3. Make sure the radio button next to “Basic” is selected and copy the code that has been generated in the box.

4. From your WordPress dashboard, go to the post where you want to place your button. Click on the HTML tab.

5. Paste your code where you want to place your button. Click “Save Draft” (do not yet click “Publish” or “Schedule”).

6. After your page refreshes, you will notice your code has changed slightly because WordPress has removed the Javascript. Find the words “Pin It,” and replace them with the image tag for your button (you should remember this from my post How to Add Social Media Buttons to Your Sidebar!).

<img src="IMAGE URL">

7. Save your draft again, and publish or schedule it because you are done!

For tips on how to get started on Pinterest, check out my Pinterest 101 post.

Hopefully everyone had a fantastic weekend, even if you had to go back to work today. My weekend certainly had some highs and lows… Let me tell you about the important lesson I learned…

Fill up your gas tank! Everyone knows that LA is legendary for its traffic. On Friday afternoon, I left a client’s house to be met with some of the worst traffic I have experienced yet – it took me over an hour to travel two miles to the freeway! My gas light had gone on the previous day but I never drive very far or for very long so I wasn’t super concerned. I jokingly texted Marcus to say I hoped I wasn’t going to run out of gas.

I should’ve knocked on wood or something because as I was rounding a curve on the lovely Pacific Coast Highway, I felt my car start to sloooow down. I put my flashers on, pulled onto the shoulder, and rolled as far as I could until my trusty vehicle finally rolled to a stop. My immediate thought was absolute panic – despite never having an accident or getting a ticket of any kind, I am not confident driver at all. I actually had really bad anxiety about it after moving to LA that I’ve finally mostly gotten over. But a took a deep breath and relaxed – I wasn’t going anywhere anyway!

I called my office and told them I wasn’t going to make it to my next appointment. “Car trouble,” I told them. Indeed. Then I called Marcus who was trying his best not to sound super disappointed in me. He was already on his way home from work so he said he’d head my way. Luckily there was a gas station literally around the corner, so I walked over there, bought a gas can, and filled it up. In case you’re wondering, you have to push the nozzle thingy in pretty hard to get any gas to come out – for a Jersey girl who only learned how to pump her own gas about two years ago, I was pretty proud of myself.

I walked back to the car and was glad I wasn’t any further away because two gallons of gas was getting kinda heavy. I was all pumped up at the prospect of being an independent woman – fueling my car from a plastic can without any help! Then I couldn’t figure out how to put the little spout thingy onto the can and didn’t want to risk spilling gas all over myself, so I opted to wait for help to arrive. That’s when I started tweeting about the whole thing – apparently running out of gas is a lot of your worst fear! Marcus arrived after a few minutes, helped me with the spout thingy, then we headed home. So thankful to have him!

Saturday was much less exciting. We went to our farmers market to grab some breakfast. We both got french toast – this is seriously the best stuff ever. Made to order, they soak the bread in the egg-y mixture then sort of scramble it up in the pan as it cooks, then add in fresh cranberries and golden raisins. Mmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it! I enjoyed it with some delicious fresh iced coffee.

On Sunday, we spent most of the day lazing around the house, then went out to dinner at a sushi place and had ice cream for dessert. I live for dessert!

How was your weekend? Did you learn anything new?

Do you have a favorite quote? This is mine. A few years ago, I saw it written on a board at the school where I was working, and it has stuck with me ever since. I try to keep it in mind when I’m feeling like a total grump – we all have those days once in a while, right? ; )

Download the Lincoln happiness quote PDF

Print out this quote, hang it up, and remind yourself that happiness is a decision! That Abraham Lincoln, he was one smart dude.

Download iPhone lock screen wallpaper • iPhone home screen wallpaper

I also created an iPhone wallpaper so you can carry this reminder in your pocket every day. The version on the left is meant to fit on the lock screen, the version on the right looks lovely on the home screen with three rows of apps.

What’s your favorite quote? Share!

I blog because I LOVE blogs – I read blogs every day and love discovering new blogs. I recently discovered a blog called Shrimp Salad Circus, written by a lovely girl named Lindsay. The reason why her blog struck such a chord with me is because the content is similar to mine – Lindsay writes about photography, DIY, and now, blogging! When Lindsay mentioned starting a new series called “Blog Better,” I decided to reach out to her and offer the perspective of a WordPress blogger if she ever needed one. Lucky for me, she did!

via MementoMori, edited by Lindsay

The first point Lindsay and I decided to tackle is the first decision any new blogger needs to make: Blogger or WordPress? With Lindsay as the Blogger guru and me as WordPress expert, we are hoping to address any questions you may have about which platform can better suit your bloggy needs! Check it out here:

The Pros and Cons of WordPress (by me!)

The Pros and Cons of Blogger (by Lindsay)

What do you love (or hate) about your blogging platform?

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted a general “life update.” Frankly, I just felt like I hadn’t really been doing anything that was very “blog-worthy,” so I dove into the DIY and blog-centric posts. I absolutely love sharing those things, and I am so thankful for the new followers and fans those posts have brought me, but I also miss sharing a little piece of my life. Hopefully with time, I can find a balance between the two!

After recovering from an icky bout of the flu, Marcus decided I needed to get out of the house. We had a little walk around our neighborhood and picked up pizza at a local shop.

On Saturday evening we went to see Cirque du Soleil! The tickets were a very generous gift from Marc’s parents for my birthday a few weeks ago. The show we saw was called Ovo and it was so good! We both enjoyed it. On Sunday, we spent time with a few friends hanging out at home, then walking to get smoothies. We walked up to the pier at the beach but the sun was already setting and it was getting chilly! Los Angeles is very warm during the days but cools off a LOT at night time – that was something I never knew before I moved here!

And then I discovered that Hipstamatic’s Incredibooth app is free this weekend. So we had a photo shoot on the couch.

Did you catch all of my Valentine’s Day projects? There’s still time to make something for your Valentine! Choose between my painted ceramic mugs, printable sweetheart bunting, and the heart-shaped surprise ball. (Oh yea, and the cupid’s arrow hair pins! Somehow I forgot to Instagram them.)

Did you do anything fun this weekend? Share your “life update!”

I wasn’t kidding when I said I was planning to make surprise balls for every occasion! A surprise ball (or prize ball) can be filled with any number of tiny treats, is a snap to make, and is tons of fun to open! Check out this video of me unwrapping one of my holiday surprise balls. Prize balls are an inexpensive and FUN gift for anyone to receive!

You will need:

• stiff card stock
• pretty paper
• crepe paper streamers
• candy and prizes

To prepare your crepe paper, cut about three arm-lengths off your roll, then fold several times. Use scissors to half the width of the streamer. I used about six of these streamers but you may need more or fewer, depending on the size of your center heart.

1. Start by cutting out a heart shape from both your card stock and pretty paper. The card stock should be pretty stiff to hold the shape of the heart.

2. Use glue or a glue stick to attach the paper to the card stock.

3. Stick the two layers together.

4. Write a love note to your Valentine on the heart shape.

5. Place your surprise and start wrapping. This is a small self-inflating balloon that I picked up at the dollar store – they are so cool!

6. Continue placing you treats and wrapping the crepe paper to secure in place.

7. Keep wrapping!

Write a message on the outside or decorate however you like. I used these pink alphabet stickers to tell my Valentine what to do.

Have you used a tutorial or inspiration found on Her New Leaf to create a project of your own? Share it on the Her New Leaf Facebook page!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

When I was doing a little photo shoot for my Valentine hair pins last week, I was totally charmed with the conversation hearts I used to style the photos. They’re so nostalgic and adorable, the perfect inspiration for February crafting!

I came up with this printable sweetheart bunting that you can print out and string up to remind someone how much you love them!

You can choose from two different sets: Classic (True Love, XOXO, Kiss Me, Be Mine, and Love You) or “Blogger Style” (I Blog 4 U, <3, Thx 4 the RT, I ‘Like’ You, and Tweet @ Me) or you can mix and match both sets.

Download: Classic Sweetheart Bunting • Blogger Style Sweetheart Bunting

All you need is:

• Conversation heart print-outs
• Something to string them on (I used large felt rick rack)
• Something to attach them (I used plain old staples)

Carefully cut your hearts around the edges, then attach to your strings. You can use rick rack, ribbon, baker’s twine, whatever you want!

String them up and enjoy!

Resources:
• Heart Photoshop shapes from Shapes4Free
• Bebas Neue font from Da Font
• Blog photo layout from Pugly Pixel

What’s your favorite conversation heart saying? Mine is “Fax Me”!

The pins I used are slightly larger than standard bobby pins – I picked them up at my dollar store. Using a dot of hot glue, I attached the shapes cut from glitter-covered scrapbook paper (shown above). The set below was made with red glitter stiffened felt from a craft store.

Whether you’re going out to a fancy dinner with your honey or staying in with friends in protest, these cute hair pins will make the perfect addition to any outfit!

How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? For or against?

For all of you good little photographers who have made it this far, I have a little treat! A new printable template to record your daily photos. As with my last printable calendar, I did my best to make this template as user-friendly as possible, so I made up a Photoshop version, as well as a version for plain ol’ Microsoft Word.

Again, signing up for Instagrid is an easy way to download all of your Instagrams. To make your photos fit the template properly, resize each image to 90 px x 90 px, then copy and paste each picture into its place! Unfortunately, there are no dates on the Word template, since there is no way to create layers in Word. It will still be cute though, I promise!

Download for Photoshop • Download for Word

As usual, this printable is for non-commercial use only.

If you run into any issues using this template, feel free to leave a question in the comments.

How is #click366 working out for you?

I’d also like to take a moment to share that you can now follow Her New Leaf on Facebook! I plan to use the page to communicate with my readers, find out what you want to read more about, and even provide some exclusive content for Facebook followers only!

The buttons that I use in my own sidebar are courtesy of Isa Maria of The Academy. I had been searching high and low for a cute set of icons that included a button to link to my Pinterest, and when I discovered Isa Maria’s adorable icons based on the Pantone Color of the Year, I knew they were perfect and couldn’t wait to share. Please click over to her blog and subscribe to her newsletter, they are full of wonderful tips and advice for your blog or business!

I wanted to share this fantastic resource with you all, so I decided to put it together with a teeny, tiny html primer. Don’t be scared! Way, way back when I was a wee geek of twelve, I taught myself enough html to create my own pages on Angelfire and Geocities. Remember those? So if I could do it then, you can do it now!

Rather than just giving you code to copy and paste, I figured I’d break it down a bit and teach you so that you can add a bit of html to your blog design repertoire. But if you just want to copy and paste and get it over with, I promise not to hold it against you. ; ) You can scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how.

From your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Widgets, and click and drag the “Text” Widget from the box on the left to your sidebar box on the right. It will open up a blank box.

From your Blogger dashboard, go to Design, then click “Add a Gadget.” Select “HTML/Javascript” from the menu. It will open up a blank box.

First, we’re going to learn how to create a link. You can use this basic html tag in your blog posts, email, anywhere you can use html.

<a href="URL of link">Text to Link</a>

Your link will look something like this:

My Facebook!

You can also edit this tag slightly so that your link will open in a new tab or window. This is helpful since you don’t want your readers to leave your blog to look at your pages.

<a href="URL of link" target="_blank">Text to Link</a>

But we want to show our cute buttons, so you’ll need this tag to place an image:

<img src="URL of image">

Finally, we combine the two tags to add a link to the image:

<a href="URL of link" target="_blank"><img src="URL of image"></a>

This is the same code, with my links as examples:

 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Her-New-Leaf-Blog/
329109590455030" target="_blank"><img src="http://hernewleaf.
files.wordpress.com/2012/01/facebook.png"></a>

Continue adding links and images until you have added all of the buttons you want! Make sure you test all your links because one incorrect character is all you need to send your readers to the wrong place!

Enjoying the Primp My Blog series so far? Consider adding my button to your blog!