This is my first blog…and my first post so I start by saying thanks for stopping by!

I’m a recently (November 22, 2013) published children’s book author who loves family, the outdoors, kids, furry family members, reading and much more. I intend to blog about all of those things…and maybe more, we’ll see where it takes us. It will also be kid friendly.

Today, as the tag line says, I’ll share what I recently learned about building a web page.

Several weeks later and after a lot of time invested (more than 20 hours over just this last weekend), I finally have a web site and, if you are here, you’ve found it so I’m thinking that’s a good start.

If I was starting from scratch, knowing what I know now, here is what I’d do differently:

1. I’d start with https://websitesmadeeasy.tv, with James B. Stafford. This is an AMAZING site. For a small fee, you’ll be guided through all the steps needed to build your WordPress site.
2. It is recommended that you “start here” on the web site.   A lot of the information in the 1-hour video is repeated in the modules that follow; and the modules are much shorter. I’d skip the “start here”, but since I didn’t do it that way if you start the modules and feel lost, return to the “start here” and let me know so I can modify my advice.
3. Review lots of related web sites to see examples of the type of site you would like to build. Keep track of what you like and don’t like. If you do this prior to beginning the modules it makes it easier to set up as you go.
4. You really can use any web host you like; I chose iPage because I like that they are “green”. Understand in advance it means a few options suggested will not be available since James Stafford uses Host Gator.com.   However, you should still be able to understand (this is true for whatever YouTube instructional videos you use).
5. Speaking of watching different YouTube instructional videos, I wanted A LOT before finding James’ (see #1 above)…enough said.
6. I’m still learning…I seem to have lost my “search” area on my home page, but my widget (you’ll learn what these are) is still in the area I originally placed it…so I’m not even sure where I lost it.

All in all I’m feeling very positive, although exhausted from staying up ‘til 4 a.m. this past Saturday night building my site (not to mention I have an 8-5 job outside of building websites or writing children’s books). I’m happy that, by building my site on my own, I have the ability to update the site anytime since I know how (even if I need to take or repeat a lesson reminding me this isn’t like needing to repeat a grade in school).

I’m excited to start this journey and look forward to hearing from you!