New Look!

Things are about to look a lot different around here.  

Stay tuned :) 

Guest Post: Sam from Bits and Pieces

It's time for a guest post from my fav fellow blogger friend, Sam from The Bits & Pieces Life.  

Sam has helped teach me HTML and worked on the layout of my blog, which you can read more about here.  I asked Sam to do a guest post so that she can share her story on learning web design and understanding the language of computers.  

Design is such a funny word. In it’s bare bones definition, it’s a creation of a process/plan for an object. When it comes to word “design” people often think fashion or interior designs.  I, for one, still look to my mother to help me out with fashion and I literally just copy the interior designs in Ikea to get a decent looking room. But when it comes to web design, it sort of come natural to me because it blends two of my favorite seemingly clashing worlds, technology and art. 

I got my artistic side from my mother, who encouraged me to sketch and draw, act and sing. And I got my tech know-how from my father, who was introduced me to videogames at the age of two and taught me how to build a functioning computer by the age of seven. As for when I got started in web design, it was in the days of Myspace, where you were able to customize your MySpace profile page with whatever you felt expresses you. I didn’t realize what I was doing was graphic and web design at the time; I just wanted to make my Myspace page awesome. So I learned how to copy the bits of code of profile themes I liked and paste it along with other bits of code until it formed a cohesive profile. I remember tirelessly creating backgrounds with Microsoft Paint (I couldn’t afford Photoshop back in the day.) When I did finish my first profile page that I actually loved, I felt so proud of myself. But then I had a thought creep into my head “I could do more.” Creating something so artful out of little pieces of code lit a fire within me. I remember in high school I spent hours researching and teaching myself basic HTML and CSS, and offering to do my school’s Drama Department site as well as taking commissions online to make blog webpages. However I realized there was only so much I could do with Paints, and with so many talented graphic artists using Illustrator and Photoshop, web design just fell into the background when I started college.

For my minor I had to take a basic computing class, where one of the projects was to actually build a cohesive website. By this point I finally got training in Photoshop and I knew all the basic coding that was covered in class! I remember getting an A- on the project because I didn’t follow the professor guidelines (Even though he made note that I had the one of the best looking sites he has seen a student do.) However, it reignited that spark and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve designed websites for my chapter of my sorority, my father’s budding business, projects my friends started, and I try to keep improving myself every day by looking at other web designers and figuring out piece by piece on how they coded their websites. You wouldn’t think it’s fun, but I actually enjoy designing blogs more than actual blogging!

So that’s how I learned how to do web design and whatnot. If you’re a budding web designer, who has the creative side but doesn’t have the computer chops to back it up, here is my advice. Don’t be afraid of the code. Seriously, it’s just a bunch of characters, HTML is super easy to pick up and if you can’t get something right, there are so many resources that the internet has for troubleshooting, you just got to look. But if you find yourself, knowing the tech sides of things but have trouble getting an artistic scheme to your site, look around! Discover what elements of sites you do or do not like. And just break it down, structurally. No matter what though, when it comes to web design, I just want to say, you might just surprise yourself with how much you actually do know. 

Thanks Sam!  

How did you learn to code?

Makeover

Purple Flowers has been an evolving project. 

I'm always learning something new about webdesign, html, and editing. It has been so fun!  My sorority sister Sam from The Bits and Pieces Life is so talented and great at all things computers and design.  After hours of sending her blogs that I loved, she figured out pretty quickly that I loved minimalist looks and flat images.  She 'threw together' a template that she thought I might like[which I loved] and walked me through the steps to make my blog what I envisioned.  The best part, she's so cool & funny; the second best part was how EASY everything was.  I really enjoy learning new pieces of html.  

So in addition to my new design and layout, there's another new piece that I'm really excited to launch.

Link the link to check out a sneak peak of my style.  

Did you build your own blog? 

Did you read any books along the way or watch tutorials?

I'd love some suggestions!

Why?

As my blog has started to get more exposure and I think about its development, I've spent a few moments pondering its name. 

My previous blog, The Anchor Drops, came from my absolute adoration of all things nautical, anchors, my high school mascot (the sailors), and also from the idea that "home is wherever you drop your anchor."

It started on Blogspot one summer and then I transferred all of my posts to a WordPress account.  I blogged maybe once a month for the past couple years until I went abroad where I documented most of my travels and commented on Danish culture and life while I lived in Denmark.  The more research I've done, the more blogs I've read, and the more skimming I've endured, I wanted to learn web design.  

So, I bought a book, HTML & CSS: Design and Build Websites.
And here we are on Purple Flowers.  I'm not very good, and I'm still learning, mostly from other blogs who have their own tutorials, but it's a start.

Back to flowery things... (lol).

It's amazing how my goals and dreams have changed.  

I think it's so important to reevaluate yourself, and do it often.  To understand how we change and grow is the key to success, happiness, and personal understanding.  

But the one thing I've always loved, regardless of my travels, my age, and my ever changing taste

are purple flowers.  

They make me smile when I see them whatever mood I'm in.
I also do the same thing whenever I see babies or puppies, but seeing as I have neither, the title of a blog might be odd.

So, my hope for Purple Flowers is to develop into a website where I can discuss the experiences, events, and happenings that make me the happiest.  By reading along, I hope you can find your own 'purple flowers,' those things in life that put a smile on your face every single day.  

Creating A Signature

Paying for a new webdesign can be expensive. 

Luckily I've found some resources that give great step by step directions to design your blog on your own!

So, here are some highlights from RyleeBlake's "Write Your Own Post Signature"

^^^ I knew I wanted to follow her tutorial because all of her fonts are so pretty! 

She breaks in down to 3 easy steps for you to always have your signature on all of your posts.  

After creating your own signature on Photoshop, you will save it as a PNG or JPEG & upload to your Photobucket account. 

RyleeBlake

Copy this link! ^^ 

& Paste it here 

RyleeBlake

This is super brief, make sure you check her post for the full directions!  

It was so simple & so easy!  

A huge thank you to RyleeBlake, I highly recommend all of her blog tutorial

Ta-da! 

Social Media Buttons

The whole reason I started up a new blog spot was to learn blog design from scratch.  

I've been playing around with everything to find what works for me.  It's going to be a long process but I'm having so much fun learning the in's and out's of html, coding, and web formats.  I want a blog design that looks professional and put together.  Right now, it's a little playful and fun, but I can deal!   I'm proud because I made my header on my one on Photoshop and taught myself how to implement all of my buttons and layout.  Baby steps, ya know?

I found these funky vintage social media buttons on Pinterest.  

Click the image below to download and the see the original source.

More to come on how I made my header and whats next for Purple Flowers.

xo Hil

Cute Free Things

Yesterday during my lunch I found some cute, free printables.  It all started with wanting a printable calendar for my cubicle and it turned into a lunch-long exploration on Pinterest.  While most of my day is spent in my cubicle writing and researching, dressing up my cubicle for the summer seemed appropriate.  I went to town, but its my happy little corner of the office and I love it!

Here's how I have my cubicle decorated at work!

On my second day I added tons of post cards I had gathered during my study abroad trip to Copenhagen, Denmark.  While I was there I was lucky enough to travel a bit around Europe, and I always made sure to grab post cards!  My Danish Flags are a little obnoxious, but I love them none the less.  They are a great conversation starter, since most people don't know the Danish flag and lets me retell my tale of my 5 months across the pond.

Looking to dress up your cubicle?  I've attached some great links for the free printables I found!

The perfect summer background.

I have a serious crush on this calendar.   

The rich water color, the objects;  I want one for every year!

From How About OrangePhoto by How About Orange

I have this at my desk as well, because they are both just so cute!  Loving the colors and the aztec design.

From Love vs. Design,
Photo by Love vs. Design

I printed off enough of these to last until the end of my internship.

They are absolutely perfect for me to glance in the morning and a great way to start off Mondays. 

The most perfect 'To Do' List

I'm taking French this fall, how cute is this calendar?

French Calendar from Minireyve; photo by Minireyve.

So cute for your desk!

I've attached all the link, click to go to their original source and to download as PDF's!

This week I was lucky enough to catch up with a close friend who I met in Copenhagen. Originally from Australia, Lucy spent the last semester at Boston College.  She's a law student and has fallen absolutely head over heels in love with DC.  The Capitol and Library of Congress brought her to tears, needless to say she belongs here.  She loves all things political, sassy, and international.  Lucy is absolutely fascinating and I had the most wonderful time catching up with her, reminiscing our semester in Copenhagen, and discussing her thoughts on American culture.  She has traveled virtually everywhere, read up on her travels here.

Happy Thursday ! xo Hil